JMPS was founded by the Batchelder brothers to "challenge committed students with a robust, traditional education emphasizing America’s history and system of government.

"[1] The vision the Batchelder brothers were aiming for at James Madison is a Midwestern, traditional education from about 50 years ago, with some positive modern influences sprinkled in.

[1][2] JMPS offers English Grammar, Civics, American History (one year in junior high and two full years in high school), World History, Geography, Algebra, Geometry, Astronomy, Economics, Biology, Latin, Chemistry, Calculus, Geology, Western Philosophy, Physics, Physical Education, Political Science, Fine Arts, Composition, and Literature.

Also included in their curriculum are a few courses designed to provide students with real world, practical life skills.

Balancing a checkbook, living within a budget, paying taxes, shopping for insurance, cooking a meal, changing a car tire, and sewing on a button are among the many varied skills that students are exposed to in "self-reliance" classes.

House points are earned in a wide variety of ways, and a scoreboard that shows the current standings is kept up in the front office.

A trimester club-class meets for two class periods a week and is worth half a credit for high school students (two in total each year).

The final event of the day is the Super Quiz in which the entire team competes in a game-show type setting in front of an audience of family and friends.

The school participates in: Fine arts programs include a choir, string section and a rock band.