Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0

Schools in Athens · Athens Independent School District

Athens’s public schools outscore 55% of Texas districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Athens, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Texas, not nationally.

#251of 642 Texas townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Texas state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency

47%

▼ 4 pts vs TX 51%

2021–22

Math proficiency

36%

▼ 5 pts vs TX 41%

2021–22

Graduate on time

99–100%

▲ 9–10 pts vs TX 90%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$13.3K

▲ 4% vs TX $12.8K

FY2024

Students per teacher

15.2

TX 14.9

Schools in town

3,029 students on the public path

In brief

Athens’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 47% of tested students were proficient in reading and 36% in math, against 51% and 41% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

99–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across Texas (the state reports Athens’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,309 per student, against $12,815 across Texas (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Athens Middle, then Athens H S. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Athens Christian Preparatory Academy (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Athens’s grade

C⁺ Test scoresA⁺ Graduation

B: better than 55% of Texas school districts, #251 of 642 Texas towns. Graduation is above the Texas average; test scores are below it.

Texas school districts we grade (1,191)Better than 55%

Lower resultsHigher results

Texas towns with similar household incomes (732)Better than 58%

B⁻BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,636 test results and a graduating class of 223 could put Athens anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Athens’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,628 in math, 1,643 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.

Kindergarten in Athens · depends on your address

Central Athens

Grades PK–5 · 568 students · 17:1 students per teacher

Bel Air El

Grades PK–5 · 465 students · 16:1 students per teacher

B⁻

South Athens El

Grades PK–5 · 457 students · 17:1 students per teacher

C⁺

The path, start to finish

PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC⁺ to B

6–8Athens MiddleAthens Independent School DistrictB⁻

9–12Athens H SAthens Independent School DistrictC

Athens’s public schools are run by Athens Independent School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Athens Independent School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 3,029 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 15.2 per teacher (TX 14.9)

$13,309TX $12,815 · FY2024

Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading47%

State average 51.1% · 1643 students tested

Math36%

State average 40.9% · 1628 students tested

Athens vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Athens	B	Athens Independent

Every school in Athens

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

District schools in Athensby address

Central Athens

Elementary · Grades PK–5

568 students17:1Rate it →

Bel Air El

Elementary · Grades PK–5

B⁻

465 students16:1Rate it →

South Athens El

Elementary · Grades PK–5

C⁺

457 students17:1Rate it →

Athens Middle

Middle · Grades 6–8

B⁻

660 students16:1Rate it →

Athens H S

High · Grades 9–12

879 students13:1Rate it →

Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade

Athens Christian Preparatory Academy

Grades K–12

Private · Religious

159 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Athens’s schools

Are Athens’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Texas: the public schools Athens children attend outscore 55% of Texas’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #251 of 642 Texas towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 58%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Athens in?

Athens Independent School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,029 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Athens kids go to high school?

Athens H S, with 879 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is Athens’s graduation rate?

99–100% of the class of 2023 in Athens Independent School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Texas.

How much does Athens spend per student?

$13,309 in Athens Independent School District (FY2024), against $12,815 across Texas. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Athens?

Yes: Athens Christian Preparatory Academy (religious, grades K–12, 159 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 2023) 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 Texas. Stars are from neighbors.