Madison City Schools is ranked the 2nd best public school district in Alabama for 2021-2022, according to a national education research group. The report by NICHE placed MCS behind only Homewood City Schools out of 138 public schools statewide.
Individual MCS schools also fared well in the NICHE report with all in the top tier. Our seven elementary schools in Madison City ranked 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th of more than 700 public elementary schools NICHE evaluated in Alabama. Discovery Middle ranked 1st and Liberty 6th of public middle schools in Alabama. James Clemens claimed the 4th place slot and Bob Jones 6th of public high schools in Alabama.
In addition to its #2 ranking as the best school district in Alabama, MCS ranks 3rd in the "best teachers" category and 8th in the best district to teach in.
Madison City Schools Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols said being in the top 1 percent or less in almost every category is a reflection of a “true community effort” that everyone can be proud of.
“Certainly, teachers and staffs in our schools deserve much of the credit. They are the ones where the learning happens every day. It is also a reflection of the great parents and kids we have in the district, and an administrative team and board that continuously look for ways to improve.”
Supt. Dr. Ed Nichols
“I think what this also shows is that no matter where you live in Madison, no matter what level your child is at – elementary, middle or high school – he or she will go to a top quality school,” added Dr. Heather Donaldson, Chief Academic Officer for Madison City Schools.
Dr. Heather Donaldson
Superintendent Nichols credited the Board and community for decisions - sometimes difficult ones like rezoning and the recent tax increase for new schools - that continually keep MCS at the forefront.
NICHE says it bases its annual evaluations using a variety of criteria including state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, public school district ratings and opinions from students and parents.
Nationwide, Madison City Schools ranked 93rd out of 10,760 public school districts in the latest NICHE findings.