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Mcminn-county-courthouse1Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0
A
Schools in Athens · Athens City Schools, McMinn County School District in Athens

Athens’s public schools outscore 88% of Tennessee districts

In Athens, 45% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Tennessee average (31%). The grade covers the public school district serving Athens, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Tennessee, not nationally.

#26of 176 Tennessee townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Tennessee state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2020’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
39%
▲ 2 pts vs TN 37%
2021–22
Math proficiency
45%
▲ 14 pts vs TN 31%
2021–22
Spent per student
$11.1K
▼ 15% vs TN $13.1K
FY2024 · Athens City Schools
Schools in town
5
1,748 students on the public path
In brief

Athens’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 236 Tennessee towns with household incomes within a quarter of Athens’s, its schools beat 95%, higher than their 88% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 39% and math 45% in spring 2022, against 37% and 31% statewide. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $11,141 per student, against $13,059 across Tennessee (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary and one middle school

From grade 3 the district’s path is Athens City Intermediate, then Athens City Middle School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Christ's Legacy Academy (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2020; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Athens’s grade

A− Test scores

A: better than 88% of Tennessee school districts, #26 of 176 Tennessee towns. Test scores are above the Tennessee average; there is no graduation rate to add.

Tennessee school districts we grade (147)Better than 88%
Lower resultsHigher results
Tennessee towns with similar household incomes (236)Better than 95%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,018 test results could put Athens anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Athens’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,018 in math, 1,018 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Athens, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–2Athens City PrimaryAthens City SchoolsNo scores
3–5Athens City IntermediateAthens City SchoolsNo scores
6–8Athens City Middle SchoolAthens City SchoolsB+

To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Athens

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Athens City SchoolsGrades PK–8 · 3 schools · 1,748 students, down 4% since 2023–24
$11,141TN $13,059 · FY2024
A
McMinn County School District in AthensGrades · 0 schools · 0 students
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading · PK–8, Athens City Schools39%
State average 36.8% · 1018 students tested
Math · PK–8, Athens City Schools45%
State average 31.1% · 1018 students tested

Athens vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Tennessee towns that share Athens’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
AthensAAthens City Schools PK–8 · McMinn County School District in Athens

Every school in Athens

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Tennessee’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Athensby address
Athens City Primary
Elementary · Grades PK–2
657 studentsRate it →
Athens City Intermediate
Elementary · Grades 3–5
572 studentsRate it →
Athens City Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
519 studentsRate it →
Other public schools in Athensrun by other districts or the state
McMinn High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
1,272 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Christ's Legacy Academy
Grades K–12
Private · Religious
114 students6:1Rate it →

Questions about Athens’s schools

Are Athens’s schools good?

By Tennessee’s own tests, yes: the public schools Athens children attend outscore 88% of Tennessee’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #26 of 176 Tennessee towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 95%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2020.

What school district is Athens in?

Athens City Schools, which runs grades PK–8 and enrolls 1,748 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

How much does Athens spend per student?

$11,141 in Athens City Schools (FY2024), against $13,059 across Tennessee. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Athens?

Yes: Christ's Legacy Academy (religious, grades K–12, 114 students).

Parents talk

What Athens families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Athens → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2020) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Tennessee. Stars are from neighbors.