The school is named after James Madison, the fourth President of the United States.

[5] In 2007, a study by the Associated Press and Johns Hopkins University referred to Madison as a "dropout factory" where at least 40% of the entering freshman class does not make it to their senior year.

[5] Houston neighborhoods served by Madison[11] include portions of Almeda, Link Valley and the Hiram Clarke area, including Dumbarton Village, Almeda Plaza, Almeda Manor, Brentwood, Keswick Place, Westbrook, Krogerville, Briarwick, Townwood, Cambridge Village, Corinthian Pointe,[12] Glen Iris (including Angel Lane), Meredith Manor, Pamela Heights, Post Oak Village,[13] Summerlyn [1], San Pablo [2][permanent dead link‍], Willow Glen, and Windsor Village.

[14] In 1970 Westwood, along with some other White communities, was rezoned from Westbury High School to Madison because of a court ruling.

In 2019 principal Outley Brown instituted a dress code for parents visiting the school.

[10] The principal instituted this after objecting to the dress of a parent trying to register her child for school.