Before Madison Central was opened in 1991, Madison Ridgeland High School and East Flora served as the public high schools for Madison County. Madison Central originally was for grades 9 through 12. However, the 9th grade was relocated to the old middle school Rosa Scott, and the middle school students were relocated to a newly constructed school, Madison Middle.
Academics
Madison Central High School has a well-established tradition as one of the state's best high schools academically. Based on superior test scores, the school has earned level 5 accreditation, the highest offered by the Mississippi Accountability System. MCHS met the Adequate Yearly Progress standards set by the federal No Child Left Behind system. Madison Central was recognized as one of the "Top Ten Best High Schools in America" by Redbook magazine, which considered such factors as superior academic and extra-curricular achievement coupled with parental and community involvement. Madison Central offers the following extracurricular activities: 22 varsity sports, varsity band program, varsity dance, AFJROTC and over 25 clubs. Since 2003, Madison Central has dominated the Mississippi Academic Decathlon, winning ten consecutive state championships and earning the right to compete in the United States Academic Decathlon national finals. In national competition Madison Central decathletes have won a Division II national championship, a Division II first runner-up, a Division II second runner-up, and multiple top ten finishes overall and in their division. Competitors from Madison Central have won 28 individual subject medals at the national competition in economics, mathematics, interview, art, music, science, social science, language and literature, and essay. At the 2012 national finals, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico in April, the team finished third in Division II and thirteenth overall. In the national competition in 2014 held in Honolulu, Hawaii, the team placed 1st place in Division II. Madison Central had 31 students recognized by the College Board in 2012. Twenty-one students were named National Merit Semifinalists, seven were named National Merit Commended Scholars, two were named National Achievement Semifinalists, and one was named National Achievement Outstanding Participant. Madison Central once again led the entire state of Mississippi in number of National Merit Semifinalists.
Athletics
Over the past two decades, Madison Central had won 5A and 6A state titles in football, basketball, baseball, golf, powerlifting, soccer, tennis, and many other sports. The school is nationally ranked for girls and boys soccer. Madison Central was one of 32 schools in the state and eight schools in District 6 to be reclassified from 5A to 6A by the MHSAA beginning in the 2009-10 school year. It is now a 6A school.
Performing arts
Madison Central has participated in the National Adjudicators Invitational, The Disney Honors, as well as performing in Carnegie Hall in New York City in April 2008.
