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Athens High School

Q: Is Athens High School a good school?

Athens High School ranks 106 th of 380 Alabama high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

106^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 380 Alabama High Schools

Better than 72% of Alabama high schools

Summary

Athens High School is a public high school in Athens, AL, serving 1,278 students in grades 9-12 within the Athens City district, where over half of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch.

Academically, Athens High School is a solid mid-tier school that consistently outperforms the state average in English and Science, with 40.7% of 11th graders proficient in English compared to the state's 33.7%. However, math proficiency (25.6%) lags slightly behind the state average (27.2%), a pattern that has persisted for several years. The school has also made remarkable strides with English Language Learners, jumping from the 24th percentile statewide in 2023-2024 to the 83rd percentile in 2025-2026. One of the most encouraging trends is the dramatic reduction in chronic absenteeism, which fell from 21.9% in 2022-2023 to 12.7% in 2024-2025, though this rate remains above the district average of 7.7%. The graduation rate has held steady at about 90.3%, slightly below the state average of 91.5%.

When compared to nearby schools, Athens High School outperforms most Limestone County schools like West Limestone High School and Clements High School in English proficiency, but it trails East Limestone High School, which ranks 46th statewide and boasts a 53.3% Science proficiency rate versus Athens' 36.4%. The school also falls behind high-performing Madison County and Madison City schools like Sparkman High School and Bob Jones High School in all subjects. Notably, Athens spends more per student ($13,356) than many of these higher-performing peers, which raises questions about resource allocation. The school's state ranking has been volatile, dropping from 42nd in 2023-2024 to 106th in 2025-2026, despite stable test scores, suggesting the decline may reflect changes in ranking methodology rather than a drop in absolute performance.

1,278

Students ?

16.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,356

Per pupil spending ?

53.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

655 Hwy 31 North
Athens, AL 35611

(256) 233-6613

District: Athens City

Feeder schools for Athens High School:

Elementary:	Athens Elementary School
	Athens Intermediate School
	Brookhill Elementary School
	James L Cowart Elementary School
	More...
	Julian Newman Elementary School
Middle:	Athens Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

50.5%

Hispanic:

24.2%

African American:

16.5%

See top rated Alabama high schools

Compare Athens High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 89th percentile in 2016 → 72nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Alabama median (72nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 17 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg33%

Alabama avg32%

106^th of 380

Alabama public high schools ?

Top 28%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From top 11% (2016) to top 28% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	65.3	106 of 380	72.1%	★★★★☆
2025	80.1	60 of 374	84.0%	★★★★☆
2024	85.7	42 of 378	88.9%	★★★★☆
2023	64.3	110 of 371	70.4%	★★★★☆
2022	82.4	51 of 367	86.1%	★★★★☆
2021	84.4	46 of 371	87.6%	★★★★☆
2019	80.5	57 of 366	84.4%	★★★★☆
2018	79.5	66 of 356	81.5%	★★★★☆
2017	80.6	52 of 353	85.3%	★★★★☆
2016	82.5	40 of 351	88.6%	★★★★☆
2015	82.5	43 of 353	87.8%	★★★★☆
2014	86.9	30 of 358	91.6%	★★★★★
2013	76.9	12 of 358	96.6%	★★★★★
2012	81.4	23 of 358	93.6%	★★★★★
2011	82.0	28 of 360	92.2%	★★★★★
2010	84.5	17 of 358	95.3%	★★★★★
2009	85.5	16 of 357	95.5%	★★★★★
2008	84.3	19 of 359	94.7%	★★★★★
2007	76.9	53 of 358	85.2%	★★★★☆
2006	80.4	27 of 357	92.4%	★★★★★
2005	79.8	32 of 359	91.1%	★★★★★
2004	85.4	18 of 357	95.0%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	41.6	124 of 234	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	60.9	55 of 228	75.9%	★★★★☆
2024	83.9	26 of 231	88.7%	★★★★☆
2023	46.7	100 of 224	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.3	101 of 222	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.4	31 of 228	86.4%	★★★★☆
2019	63.4	58 of 224	74.1%	★★★★☆
2018	42.7	113 of 223	49.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	41.1	103 of 189	45.5%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	67.5	15 of 89	83.1%	★★★★☆
2025	37.4	41 of 75	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.3	48 of 63	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	55.0	152 of 372	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.4	111 of 359	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	83.1	49 of 366	86.6%	★★★★☆
2023	69.6	96 of 358	73.2%	★★★★☆
2022	73.4	82 of 367	77.7%	★★★★☆
2021	84.4	45 of 359	87.5%	★★★★☆
2019	74.4	77 of 354	78.2%	★★★★☆
2018	72.1	90 of 347	74.1%	★★★★☆
2017	77.6	61 of 343	82.2%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	37.8	41 of 69	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	62.6	47 of 142	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.7	64 of 139	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	30.1	82 of 122	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.8	66 of 114	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.8	75 of 113	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.8	28 of 103	72.8%	★★★★☆
2018	39.7	55 of 95	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	31.9	62 of 93	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	43.7	200 of 377	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	62.3	110 of 367	70.0%	★★★★☆
2024	65.1	104 of 375	72.3%	★★★★☆
2023	56.6	120 of 349	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.6	167 of 361	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.2	119 of 361	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.7	75 of 358	79.1%	★★★★☆
2018	56.4	143 of 349	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	48.5	141 of 315	55.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	72.4	81 of 375	78.4%	★★★★☆
2025	88.2	41 of 363	88.7%	★★★★☆
2024	84.6	39 of 368	89.4%	★★★★☆
2023	52.8	137 of 358	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	87.6	38 of 366	89.6%	★★★★☆
2021	80.4	60 of 366	83.6%	★★★★☆
2019	82.6	48 of 357	86.6%	★★★★☆
2018	82.4	52 of 350	85.1%	★★★★☆
2017	78.0	56 of 339	83.5%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	49.5	54 of 122	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	77.8	10 of 66	84.8%	★★★★☆
2024	49.4	29 of 56	48.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.8	25 of 45	44.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.9	22 of 40	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.3	29 of 43	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.6	25 of 37	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	69.0	8 of 24	66.7%	★★★★☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	42.3	31 of 57	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.4	35 of 55	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	20.9	36 of 45	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	53.7	15 of 40	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	18.3	35 of 40	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	52.4	69 of 197	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.3	103 of 194	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.8	59 of 198	70.2%	★★★★☆
2023	35.3	111 of 182	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.6	51 of 169	69.8%	★★★★☆
2021	39.7	118 of 196	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	56.2	58 of 171	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.2	65 of 160	59.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	78.6	54 of 316	82.9%	★★★★☆
2025	83.5	46 of 325	85.8%	★★★★☆
2024	83.7	40 of 325	87.7%	★★★★☆
2023	59.1	109 of 317	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	84.1	40 of 326	87.7%	★★★★☆
2021	85.8	40 of 319	87.5%	★★★★☆
2019	81.5	50 of 313	84.0%	★★★★☆
2018	92.2	25 of 300	91.7%	★★★★★
2017	87.0	24 of 230	89.6%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2026)83rd percentile+11 vs school

White (2026)83rd percentile+11 vs school

Male (2026)78th percentile+6 vs school

Special Education (2026)65th percentile-7 vs school

Female (2026)59th percentile-13 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)56th percentile-16 vs school

African American (2026)47th percentile-25 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)47th percentile-25 vs school

Native American (2025)46th percentile-38 vs school

Hispanic (2026)41st percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

English41%+7 vs state

Science36%~ state avg

Mathematics26%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Athens High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2026)				Summative Assessment Science (2026)		Summative Assessment English (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 11th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 11th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Summative Assessment English 7th Grade	Summative Assessment English 8th Grade	Summative Assessment English 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Athens High School	Public	9-12	655 Hwy 31 North	Athens	35611	Limestone County	Athens City	No	No	No	No	(256) 233-6613	1,278	75	16.9	53.4%	645 (50.5%)	211 (16.5%)	309 (24.2%)	22 (1.7%)	5 (0.4%)	3 (0.2%)	83 (6.5%)	65.3	106^th of 380 public high schools	72.1%		80.1	60^th of 374 public high schools	84.0%	46				25.6		36.4				40.7	$13,356	$1,006	$12,338
Limestone County Area Vocational Technology	Public	10-12	505 E Sanderfer Rd	Athens	35611	Limestone County	Limestone County	No	No	No	No	(256) 233-6463																			(n/a)
Tanner High School	Public	6-12	12060 Sommers Rd	Tanner	35611	Limestone County	Limestone County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 233-6682	410	25	16.7	78.8%	118 (28.8%)	101 (24.6%)	153 (37.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (8.5%)	16.5	332^nd of 380 public high schools	12.6%		23.2	281^st of 374 public high schools	24.9%	51	18.6	7.7	12.5	8.7	41.1	15.9	23.3	32.7	50.0	11.8	$13,280	$2,451	$10,814
East Limestone High School	Public	6-12	15641 E Limestone Rd	Athens	35613	Limestone County	Limestone County	No	No	No	No	(256) 233-6660	1,216	63	19.2	34.0%	775 (63.7%)	261 (21.5%)	97 (8.0%)	26 (2.1%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	52 (4.3%)	84	46^th of 380 public high schools	87.9%		63.7	114^th of 374 public high schools	69.5%	68	41.6	38.9	45.6	38.8	60.4	53.3	71.4	72.5	60.4	40.3	$7,987	$597	$7,375
Elkmont High School	Public	6-12	25630 Evans Ave	Elkmont	35620	Limestone County	Limestone County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 732-4291	597	37	16.1	64.8%	423 (70.9%)	17 (2.8%)	136 (22.8%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.7%)	28.7	271^st of 380 public high schools	28.7%		35.8	223^rd of 374 public high schools	40.4%	48	23.3	28.1	19.7	14.5	56.3	18.1	48.0	59.4	58.6	23.2	$9,190	$1,505	$7,670
James Clemens High School	Public	9-12	11306 County Line Road	Madison	35756	Limestone County	Madison City	No	No	No	No	(256) 216-5313	2,159	121	17.8	23.3%	1,169 (54.1%)	418 (19.4%)	208 (9.6%)	221 (10.2%)	12 (0.6%)	5 (0.2%)	126 (5.8%)	97	14^th of 380 public high schools	96.3%		95.1	16^th of 374 public high schools	95.7%	2				58.4		63.0				55.2	$9,387	$717	$8,640
West Limestone High School	Public	6-12	10945 School House Rd	Lester	35647	Limestone County	Limestone County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 233-6687	736	40	18.4	57.3%	548 (74.5%)	21 (2.9%)	132 (17.9%)	5 (0.7%)	6 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	23 (3.1%)	52.3	165^th of 380 public high schools	56.6%		55.2	153^rd of 374 public high schools	59.1%	12	26.7	43.9	31.2	22.6	52.7	33.9	57.8	69.8	62.0	29.5	$9,601	$1,126	$8,459
Clements High School	Public	6-12	7730 Highway 72 W	Athens	35611	Limestone County	Limestone County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 729-6564	525	32	16.6	65.7%	369 (70.3%)	43 (8.2%)	98 (18.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	11 (2.1%)	60	124^th of 380 public high schools	67.4%		37.8	217^th of 374 public high schools	42.0%	93	26.7	20.6	20.8	30.3	37.5	42.4	48.0	59.4	38.9	23.1	$11,816	$1,231	$10,569
Sparkman High School	Public	9-12	2616 Jeff Rd	Harvest	35749	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	No	No	(256) 837-0331	1,770	88	20.1	36.6%	777 (43.9%)	632 (35.7%)	175 (9.9%)	33 (1.9%)	54 (3.1%)	7 (0.4%)	92 (5.2%)	80.2	58^th of 380 public high schools	84.7%		88.4	37^th of 374 public high schools	90.1%	21				34.7		42.9				47.2	$8,030	$650	$7,341
Bob Jones High School	Public	9-12	650 Hughes Rd	Madison	35758	Madison County	Madison City	No	No	No	No	(256) 772-2547	2,048	113	18.0	25.4%	1,096 (53.5%)	469 (22.9%)	183 (8.9%)	142 (6.9%)	14 (0.7%)	1 (0.0%)	143 (7.0%)	95.8	15^th of 380 public high schools	96.1%		93.9	22^nd of 374 public high schools	94.1%	7				53.4		61.0				53.3	$9,356	$610	$8,716

Frequently Asked Questions about Athens High School

What is the racial makeup of Athens High School?

Students at Athens High School are 50% White, 24% Hispanic, 17% African American, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Athens High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,278 students attended Athens High School.

What district is Athens High School in?

Athens City

What schools feed into Athens High School?

Athens High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Athens Elementary School
Elementary : Athens Intermediate School
Elementary : Brookhill Elementary School
Elementary : James L Cowart Elementary School
Elementary : Julian Newman Elementary School
Middle : Athens Middle School

Is Athens High School a good school?

Athens High School ranks 106^th of 380 Alabama high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Athens High School!

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Latest Alabama data All new data »

2025–26 Summative Assessment scoresNewAug 14, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 27, 2025

2024–25 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2025

2021–22 through 2023–24 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 2, 2024

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.