schoolsbycounty

Madison County Schools & Education

School Score

58/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

91.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,728

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,969

School Score

58/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 40/100

State Score Position

#14

of 100 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Madison County

Measured School Summary

Madison County performs at an average level with a school score of 58/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.0%.

Funding Context

At $7,728 per pupil, Madison County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 44% above the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 11% 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

7 public schools and 1 district 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

58/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #14 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.

Completion

91.0%

3.0 pts above the state average

Funding context

$7,728

$759 above the state average

School coverage

7

1 district 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 7 public schools across 1 district, 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.

Parent decision brief

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.

Small-system county

Madison County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.

State position

#14

of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 18 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% 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.

Madison County Schools

Elementary to high school visible

2,108 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 3Other 0

7 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Madison County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 7 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?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Madison County, North Carolina

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.

Personalized Learning in a Rural Mountain Setting

Madison County operates a focused educational network of 7 public schools serving 2,108 students. The infrastructure includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools, all managed by a single central district. This small-scale system ensures an intimate learning environment across its predominantly rural landscape.

Madison County Schools Leads Local Education

Madison County Schools serves as the sole district for the area, managing all 2,108 students across its 7 campuses. Currently, there are no charter schools operating within the county, concentrating all public resources into the traditional district system. This unified approach provides consistent curriculum and oversight for all local families.

Quiet Rural Campuses with Small Class Sizes

Education here is defined by a rural feel, with six of the seven schools situated in countryside settings and an average enrollment of just 301 students. Mars Hill Elementary is the largest campus with 500 students, while Madison Early College High provides a more specialized experience for 249 students. This scale fosters a close-knit community where teachers and students know each other well.

School Overview

Total Schools

7

in Madison County

Reported Enrollment

2,108

7 schools reporting

School Districts

1

district

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary3
Middle1
High3
Other0

1 School District in Madison County

Madison County Schools

7 schools
2,108 students enrolled

7 Public Schools in Madison County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 7 of 7 matching schools

Mars Hill Elementary

Madison County Schools

Mars Hill, 28754 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–5Primary500 students

Madison Middle School

Madison County Schools

Marshall, 28753 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle452 students

Madison High School

Madison County Schools

Marshall, 28753 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High414 students

Brush Creek Elementary

Madison County Schools

Marshall, 28753 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary333 students

Madison Early College High

Madison County Schools

Marshall, 28753 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–UGHigh249 students

Hot Springs Elementary

Madison County Schools

Hot Springs, 28743 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary140 students

Madison Velocity Learning Center

Madison County Schools

Marshall, 28753 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12Alternative20 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,728

State avg $6,969

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Madison County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which North Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?
Jones County (97.0%), Pamlico County (95.7%), and Currituck County (95.0%) currently lead North Carolina among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in North Carolina?
Across North Carolina counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,969. The highest current county values are Hyde County ($10,356), Tyrrell County ($9,655), and Orange County ($8,629). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Madison County?
Madison County has a school score of 58/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Madison County?
The high school graduation rate in Madison County is 91.0%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Madison County spend per student?
Madison County spends $7,728 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Madison County, North Carolina — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Madison County, North Carolina?

Madison County operates a focused educational network of 7 public schools serving 2,108 students. The infrastructure includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools, all managed by a single central district. This small-scale system ensures an intimate learning environment across its predominantly rural landscape.

What are the major school districts in Madison County, North Carolina?

Madison County Schools serves as the sole district for the area, managing all 2,108 students across its 7 campuses. Currently, there are no charter schools operating within the county, concentrating all public resources into the traditional district system. This unified approach provides consistent curriculum and oversight for all local families.

What is the school experience like in Madison County?

Education here is defined by a rural feel, with six of the seven schools situated in countryside settings and an average enrollment of just 301 students. Mars Hill Elementary is the largest campus with 500 students, while Madison Early College High provides a more specialized experience for 249 students. This scale fosters a close-knit community where teachers and students know each other well.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.