The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in Science. The lowest is 69% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Madison-plains Junior High
Madison-Plains Junior High serves seventh and eighth graders from the Madison-Plains Local School District, which covers a wide rural footprint anchored in London, the county seat of Madison County about 25 miles southwest of Columbus. The school draws students from the city, surrounding townships, and a blend of suburban and agricultural areas now experiencing rapid growth tied to regional semiconductor and battery manufacturing projects.
The school's 2024-25 testing results show solid proficiency across subjects. In science, performance is notably strong, with the majority of students meeting or exceeding state standards. Mathematics proficiency is also above the middle, and English language arts proficiency sits just under that level. The school participates fully in state assessments, so these results represent all tested eighth graders as well as seventh graders in the cohort. Across tested subjects and grades, the school ranks in the top quartile among districts in Madison County.
The student body is small and predominantly white, with a handful of students from other racial and ethnic groups. Demographic data on special education enrollment, English learners, and free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility were not available. Enrollment is split nearly evenly between the two grades.
Like the broader district, Madison-Plains Junior High operates from aging facilities. The district has faced three ballot rejections since 2023 for bonds to replace an elementary building approaching 50 years old, consolidate scattered facilities and trailers, and upgrade an athletic complex of similar vintage. The school itself remains open and functional, but uses portable classrooms to house some grade levels. The district sits at the state's lowest residential tax burden among Madison County districts and has no existing bond levy, meaning property taxes have not risen to fund capital projects. School leadership has begun exploring partnership with the state's facilities commission on a potential new building.
London itself is undergoing substantial growth. Major employers like Stanley Electric and an expanding Madison Health hospital campus anchor the local economy, while proximity to Intel's semiconductor plants in neighboring Licking County and a Honda-LG battery facility in Fayette County are driving residential investment. Multiple large home developments are underway with hundreds of units expected over the coming decade. This context means the school may see enrollment growth, though data on the district's current capacity and future projections were not available.
A parent considering Madison-Plains Junior High should weigh the school's solid academic foundation and county-leading proficiency against the reality of aging physical infrastructure and the district's ongoing challenges in securing voter approval for facility renewal. The school offers a traditional junior high environment in a growing, economically diverse county.
See more original research from School Decision →