Madison Central High School (Mississippi)
Encyclopedia
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 Edith Mitchell. It is one of the four largest public high schools in the state. 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).
.
Madison Central originally was for grades 9 through 12.
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 among many other sports
Madison Central is now a 6a school.
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, and the Academic Decathlon State Champion Team. 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 nine 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), and multiple top ten finishes both overall and in their division. Competitors from Madison Central have won 27 individual subject medals at the national competition in economics, mathematics, interview, art, music, science, social science, language and literature, and essay. At the most recent national finals, held in Charlotte, North Carolina
in April 2011, the team finished seventh in Division II and nineteenth overall.
Madison, Mississippi
Madison is a city in Madison County, Mississippi, USA. The population was 14,691 at the 2000 census. The population is currently 16,930. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is currently the highest income city in the state...
. Madison Central is part of the Madison County School District
Madison County School District (Mississippi)
The Madison County School District is a public school district based in Flora, Mississippi .In addition to Flora, the district serves the cities of Ridgeland and Madison, a small portion of Jackson that lies in Madison County, the community of Camden, and most rural areas in Madison County.-High...
. Madison Central has a student body of 1377, and the current principal is Edith Mitchell. It is one of the four largest public high schools in the state. The school colors are orange and blue and the school mascot is the jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
. Madison Central is classified as a 6A public high school by the Mississippi High School Activities Association
Mississippi High School Activities Association
The Mississippi High School Activities Association is the official sanctioning body of all public and some private junior high and high school academic and athletic competitions in the State of Mississippi. It is a non-profit organization and is headquartered in Clinton, Mississippi...
(MHSAA).
History
Before Madison Central was opened in 1991, Madison Ridgeland High School and East Flora served as the public high schools for Madison CountyMadison County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 74,674 people, 27,219 households, and 19,325 families residing in the county. The population density was 104 people per square mile . There were 28,781 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile...
.
Madison Central originally was for grades 9 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'sThe Clarion-Ledger
The Clarion-Ledger is the Pulitzer Prize winning daily newspaper of Jackson, Mississippi. It is the second oldest company in the state of Mississippi and is one of only a few newspapers in the nation that continues to circulate statewide...
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 among many other sports
Division
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. Also, MCHS has met the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards set by the federal No Child Left BehindNo Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
System. Madison Central is recognized as one of the “Top Ten Best High Schools in America” by Redbook magazine
Redbook
Redbook is an American women's magazine published by the Hearst Corporation. It is one of the "Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines.-History:...
, 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, and the Academic Decathlon State Champion Team. In addition to a strong college-preparatory curriculum, Madison Central offers the following extracurricular activities: 22 varsity sports, varsity band program, varsity dance, AFJROTC
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a Federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools across the United States...
and over 25 clubs.
Since 2003, Madison Central has dominated the Mississippi Academic Decathlon
United States Academic Decathlon
The United States Academic Decathlon is an annual high school academic competition organized by the non-profit United States Academic Decathlon Association. The competition consists of seven multiple choice tests, two performance events, and an essay...
, winning nine 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), and multiple top ten finishes both overall and in their division. Competitors from Madison Central have won 27 individual subject medals at the national competition in economics, mathematics, interview, art, music, science, social science, language and literature, and essay. At the most recent national finals, held in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
in April 2011, the team finished seventh in Division II and nineteenth overall.
Performing arts
Madison Central High School has an excellent band program. Duncan Goff has been the Director of Bands at MCHS for the past 9 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
- Stephen GostkowskiStephen GostkowskiStephen Carroll Gostkowski is a placekicker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League...
- Kicker, New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... - Parys HaralsonParys HaralsonParys Sharron Haralson is a linebacker in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers. He was drafted by the 49ers in the 5th round in the 2006 NFL Draft. He went to Tennessee where he played defensive end.-Early years:Haralson attended Madison Central High School in Madison, Mississippi...
- Linebacker, San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... - Chris SpencerChris Spencer (American football)-Seattle Seahawks:In his first season with the Seattle Seahawks, he played 7 games. In the 2006 season, he played in all 16 games for Seattle, starting 13 of them, most at the guard position, next to longtime Seattle center Robbie Tobeck...
- Center, Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Mike Espy Jr.Mike Espy (American football)Michael William Alexander Espy is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
- Son of former US Secretary of Agriculture, Mike EspyMike EspyAlphonso Michael "Mike" Espy is a former United States political figure. From 1987 to 1993, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi. He served as the Secretary of Agriculture from 1993 to 1994. He was the first African American Secretary of Agriculture...
, and wideout for the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... - Larry Hart - Linebacker, (Jacksonville Jaguars)