According to Newsweek magazine's 2014 list of the top U.S. high schools, Madison was ranked 93.

U.S. News & World Report named it a Silver Medal school in 2010.

[4] James Madison's sports teams play in the Concorde District and 6A Northern Region.

[5] The James Madison High School "Pride of Vienna" Marching Band, under the direction of Michael Hackbarth, has won three consecutive Virginia state championships in 2018, 2019 and 2021 as well as being a 4 time Virginia class 5A state champion.

[8] Madison's resident newspaper is The Hawk Talk, run by students and advised by staff.