Best Elementary Schools in Athens, GA

The city of Athens, Georgia is home to 13 elementary schools that serve students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade, all part of the Clarke County school district. While the district is ranked 150 out of 206 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, a few schools stand out as performing better than others.

Timothy Elementary School consistently ranks in the top 25-30% of elementary schools in Georgia, with a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger and the highest proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics among the schools in the data set. Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School also performs well, ranking in the top 20-25% of Georgia elementary schools and having the second-highest proficiency rates. Barrow Elementary School ranks in the top 40% of Georgia elementary schools and has the third-highest proficiency rates.

The data reveals significant disparities in academic performance and socioeconomic status among the schools, with the higher-spending and lower student-teacher ratio schools generally performing better. The schools with the highest free and reduced lunch rates tend to have the lowest academic proficiency rates, suggesting a strong link between socioeconomic status and student achievement. While some schools are struggling, the data shows that high-performing schools are possible within the Clarke County district, indicating that with the right strategies and support, the lower-performing schools could potentially improve their outcomes.