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 8 public elementary schools serving 4,127 students in Athens City School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in Alabama.
Public Elementary Schools in Athens City School District have an average math proficiency score of 31% (versus the Alabama public elementary school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 45% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Alabama public elementary school average of 50% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (AL)
# Schools
9 Schools
1,086 Schools
# Students
5,405 Students
522,452 Students
# Teachers
283 Teachers
29,608 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%
1%
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%
5%
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 Elementary 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: 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%
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