Madison County Schools & Education
Madison County, Alabama
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
53/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
93.3%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
93.3%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 90.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,592
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,270
School Score
53/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#15
of 67 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Madison County
Measured School Summary
Madison County performs at an average level with a school score of 53/100 and a solid graduation rate of 93.3%.
Funding Context
At $6,592 per pupil, Madison County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 32% above the Alabama average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Madison County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
86 public schools and 3 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
53/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #15 of 67 Alabama counties with school score data.
Completion
93.3%
2.6 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,592
$322 above the state average
School coverage
86
3 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Madison County has 86 public schools across 3 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Madison County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Mixed school landscape
Madison County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.
State position
#15
of 67 Alabama counties with school score data. The county score is 13 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 99% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Huntsville City
Elementary to high school visible
23,776 students
45 listed schools in this county slice.
Madison County
Elementary to high school visible
20,551 students
30 listed schools in this county slice.
Madison City
Elementary to high school visible
10,324 students
10 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Huntsville City is the largest listed district slice, with 45 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Madison County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Madison County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?
Education Overview
About Schools in Madison County, Alabama
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
The Engine of Alabama's Education System
Madison County features an expansive network of 86 public schools serving a massive student body of 54,651 across three districts. The system is highly developed, consisting of 48 elementary, 19 middle, and 14 high schools. This infrastructure includes specialized facilities like special education schools and alternative learning centers.
A Powerhouse of Three Major Districts
Huntsville City is the largest district with 45 schools and nearly 24,000 students, followed closely by Madison County's 20,551 students. Madison City is a highly sought-after third district, managing 12,473 students across 11 schools. No charter schools are currently operating, as the three traditional districts provide extensive specialized programming.
Diverse Locales from Urban to Rural
Educational settings vary from 46 city schools to 25 suburban and 13 rural campuses, offering a lifestyle for every family. Major high schools like Virgil Grissom and Bob Jones serve nearly 2,000 students each, providing college-like atmospheres and vast extracurriculars. This diversity makes the county one of the most versatile educational regions in the Southeast.
School Overview
Total Schools
86
in Madison County
Reported Enrollment
54,651
85 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
86 Public Schools in Madison County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 14 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 86 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil Grissom High School | Profile | Huntsville City | Huntsville, 35802City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,974 |
| Bob Jones High School | Profile | Madison City | Madison, 35758Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,920 |
| Huntsville High School | Profile | Huntsville City | Huntsville, 35801City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,826 |
| Sparkman High School | Profile | Madison County | Harvest, 35749Suburb: Large | 10–12 | High | 1,738 |
| Liberty Middle School | Profile | Madison City | Madison, 35758Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,493 |
| Hazel Green High School | Profile | Madison County | Hazel Green, 35750Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,348 |
| Discovery Middle School | Profile | Madison City | Madison, 35758Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,334 |
| Buckhorn High School | Profile | Madison County | New Market, 35761Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,287 |
| Madison Cross Roads Elementary School | Profile | Madison County | Toney, 35773Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 1,035 |
| Monrovia Middle School | Profile | Madison County | Huntsville, 35806Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,003 |
| MidTown Elementary School | Profile | Madison City | Madison, 35758Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 999 |
| GoldsmithSchiffman Elementary | Profile | Huntsville City | Big Cove, 35763City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 964 |
| Columbia High School | Profile | Huntsville City | Huntsville, 35806City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 954 |
| Mill Creek Elementary School | Profile | Madison City | Madison, 35758Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 940 |
| Rainbow Elementary School | Record | Madison City | Madison, 35758Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 926 |
| Heritage Elementary School | Record | Madison City | Madison, 35758Suburb: Large | KG–5 | Primary | 876 |
| Sparkman Middle School | Record | Madison County | Toney, 35773Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 859 |
| Providence Elementary | Record | Huntsville City | Huntsville, 35805City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 848 |
| Jemison High School | Record | Huntsville City | Huntsville, 35810City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 843 |
| Lee High School | Record | Huntsville City | Huntsville, 35811City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 840 |
Virgil Grissom High School
Huntsville City
Huntsville, 35802 / City: Midsize
Bob Jones High School
Madison City
Madison, 35758 / Suburb: Large
Huntsville High School
Huntsville City
Huntsville, 35801 / City: Midsize
Sparkman High School
Madison County
Harvest, 35749 / Suburb: Large
Liberty Middle School
Madison City
Madison, 35758 / Suburb: Large
Hazel Green High School
Madison County
Hazel Green, 35750 / Town: Fringe
Discovery Middle School
Madison City
Madison, 35758 / Suburb: Large
Buckhorn High School
Madison County
New Market, 35761 / Rural: Fringe
Madison Cross Roads Elementary School
Madison County
Toney, 35773 / Rural: Fringe
Monrovia Middle School
Madison County
Huntsville, 35806 / Suburb: Large
MidTown Elementary School
Madison City
Madison, 35758 / Suburb: Large
GoldsmithSchiffman Elementary
Huntsville City
Big Cove, 35763 / City: Midsize
Columbia High School
Huntsville City
Huntsville, 35806 / City: Midsize
Mill Creek Elementary School
Madison City
Madison, 35758 / Suburb: Large
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,592
State avg $6,270
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Madison County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Alabama counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Alabama?
How should I read the school score in Madison County?
What is the graduation rate in Madison County?
How much does Madison County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Madison County, Alabama — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Madison County, Alabama?
Madison County features an expansive network of 86 public schools serving a massive student body of 54,651 across three districts. The system is highly developed, consisting of 48 elementary, 19 middle, and 14 high schools. This infrastructure includes specialized facilities like special education schools and alternative learning centers.
What are the major school districts in Madison County, Alabama?
Huntsville City is the largest district with 45 schools and nearly 24,000 students, followed closely by Madison County's 20,551 students. Madison City is a highly sought-after third district, managing 12,473 students across 11 schools. No charter schools are currently operating, as the three traditional districts provide extensive specialized programming.
What is the school experience like in Madison County?
Educational settings vary from 46 city schools to 25 suburban and 13 rural campuses, offering a lifestyle for every family. Major high schools like Virgil Grissom and Bob Jones serve nearly 2,000 students each, providing college-like atmospheres and vast extracurriculars. This diversity makes the county one of the most versatile educational regions in the Southeast.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.