Madison Central High School (Mississippi)

For other uses, see Madison Central High School.

Madison Central High School
File:Madison Central High School Crest.png Truth, Honor
Address
1417 Highland Colony Parkway Madison, Mississippi United States
Coordinates
Information
Type	Public
Established	1991
Principal	Austin Brown
Grades	10 through 12
Gender	Coeducational
Color(s)	Orange and Blue
Mascot	Jaguar
Rival	South Panola, Northwest Rankin, Clinton, Tupelo
Newspaper	The Uproar
Yearbook	The Pawprint
Affiliations	Madison County School District, Mississippi High School Activities Association, The College Board, Star School
Literary Magazine	Harvest
Website	Homepage
File:Madison Central High School.JPG The main entrance of Madison Central High School

Madison Central High School is a public high school (grades 10-12) located on Highland Colony Parkway in Madison, Mississippi. Madison Central is part of the Madison County School District. Madison Central has a student body of 1377, and the current principal is Austin Brown. It is one of the four largest public high schools in the state. In 2002, Madison Central was the only high school in Mississippi to host President George W. Bush. The school colors are orange and blue and the school mascot is the jaguar. Madison Central is classified as a 6A public high school by the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA).

History

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. The current grades for Madison Central are 10 through 12.

Athletics

As a competitor in the MHSAA 6A North Division, MCHS is second to Tupelo High School's 16 in The Clarion-Ledger's annual All-Sports awards over the last two decades. Over that timespan, Madison Central boasts 5A state titles in football, basketball, baseball, golf, powerlifting, soccer, tennis, and many other sports.

Madison Central was one of 32 schools in the state and 8 schools in District 6 to be reclassified from 5A to 6A by the MHSAA beginning in the 2009-10 school year. Madison Central is now a 6A school.

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, Madison Central High School has earned level 5 accreditation, the highest offered by the Mississippi Accountability System. MCHS has also met the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards set by the federal No Child Left Behind System. Madison Central is 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 is the home of the State Champion Academic Competition Team, the State Champion Economic Council Team, the Academic Decathlon State Champion Team, and the MHSAA state champions in both Public Forum Debate and Lincoln-Douglas Debate. In addition to a strong college-preparatory curriculum, 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 (2006), a Division II first runner-up (2008), a Division II second runner-up (2012), and multiple top ten finishes both 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 2012, the team finished third in Division II and thirteenth overall. In the most recent 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.

Performing arts

Madison Central High School has an excellent band and choral program. Duncan Goff has been the Director of Bands at MCHS for the past 20 years. His bands have consistently rated superior in marching and concert at state and regional festivals. Madison Central has achieved many Grand Champion titles in marching and ranks in the top three of other competitions. His bands have not only excelled in marching but in concert as well. Madison has participated in the National Adjudicators Invitational, The Disney Honors, as well as performing in Carnegie Hall in New York City in April 2008.

Notable alumni

• Ryan Bolden - professional baseball player
• Liz Davis - Winner, P. Diddy's Starmaker 2009
• Sarah Beth James - Miss Mississippi 2010
• Stephen Gostkowski - Kicker, New England Patriots
• Parys Haralson - professional football player
• Chris Spencer - professional football player
• Mike Espy Jr. - former professional football player
• Chamar McDonald - LSU signee and former professional baseball player

References

• http://www.usad.org/competition/winners.asp

External links

• Madison Central High School
• Madison County School District