Top Rankings
Athens City School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Alabama for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 9 public schools serving 5,405 students in Athens City School District. This district's average testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in Alabama.
Public Schools in Athens City School District have an average math proficiency score of 30% (versus the Alabama public school average of 30%), and reading proficiency score of 54% (versus the 47% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Alabama public school average of 50% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (AL)
# Schools
9 Schools
1,532 Schools
# Students
5,405 Students
751,099 Students
# Teachers
283 Teachers
43,215 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Athens City School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 145 school districts in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 90% has increased from 89% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#47 out of 145 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
30%
30%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
54%
47%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
38%
Graduation Rate
90%
90%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)15.9%
22.6%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.64
0.64
Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
Showing 2008–2023. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
% Asian
2%
2%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 30-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
21%
12%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 27-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
17%
31%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓
% White
54%
50%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
4%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,845 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,699. The school district revenue/student has declined by 18% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,065 is less than the state median of $14,867. The school district spending/student has declined by 21% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$80 MM
$11,791 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$65 MM
$11,166 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$14,845
$15,699
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$12,065
$14,867
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Athens City School District Public Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Brookhill Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
320 Brookhill Dr
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 233-6603
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 233-6603
Gr: PK-3 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #22.
Julian Newman Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
601 S Clinton Street
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 233-6630
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 233-6630
Gr: PK-3 | 409 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #33.
Athens Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
515 N Madison St
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 233-6609
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 233-6609
Gr: PK-3 | 474 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #44.
Athens Renaissance School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
405 South Street East
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 614-3708
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 614-3708
Gr: K-12 | 606 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #55.
Athens Intermediate School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1916 Us Hwy 72 W
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 230-2880
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 230-2880
Gr: 4-5 | 641 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #66.
Athens Middle School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
100 Hwy 31 North
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 233-6620
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 233-6620
Gr: 6-8 | 935 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #77.
James L Cowart Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1701 W Hobbs St
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 233-6627
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 233-6627
Gr: PK-3 | 332 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #88.
Athens High School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
655 Hwy 31 North
Athens, AL 35612
(256) 233-6613
Athens, AL 35612
(256) 233-6613
Gr: 9-12 | 1,278 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: n/an/a
455 Us Highway 31 North
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 771-0752
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 771-0752
Gr: 4-12 | 350 students Student-teacher ratio: 44:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Athens City School District?
Athens City School District manages 9 public schools serving 5,405 students.
What is the rank of Athens City School District?
Athens City School District is ranked #46 out of 145 school districts in Alabama (top 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Alabama school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Athens City School District?
54% of Athens City School District students are White, 21% of students are Hispanic, 17% of students are Black, 6% of students are Two or more races, and 2% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Athens City School District?
Athens City School District has a student/teacher ratio of 19:1, which is higher than the Alabama state average of 17:1.
What is Athens City School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $12,065 is less than the state median of $14,867. The school district spending/student has declined by 21% over four school years.
Recent Articles
When a Public School Cancels a Course Your Child Needs
Learn what parents can do when public schools cancel essential courses, including protecting graduation credits, finding approved alternatives, requesting substitutions, and preventing disruptions to college or career plans before deadlines.
Verify School Assignment Before Buying a House
Before buying a house, learn how to verify your child's assigned public school, check conflicting property listings, confirm enrollment eligibility, and avoid costly school assignment surprises before closing on a property.
School Bus Commute Times: What Parents Should Know
Discover how long school bus commutes really take, why routes vary, and what parents should ask about pickup times, student fatigue, transportation reliability, and daily schedules before choosing schools.
