Summary:
Athens, Georgia is home to four public middle schools—Clarke Middle School, Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School, Hilsman Middle School, and Coile Middle School—all part of the Clarke County School District, serving roughly 2,631 students in grades 6-8 across a high-poverty area where nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
These schools split into two clear tiers. Clarke Middle and Burney-Harris-Lyons are the strongest performers, ranking in the 43rd percentile statewide and consistently beating district averages. Both excel in advanced math—their Algebra I proficiency rates (89.4% and 90.2%) are nearly double the state average—and Burney-Harris-Lyons even exceeds state averages in 7th and 8th grade math. Hilsman Middle and Coile Middle struggle by comparison, ranking in the 16th and 8th percentiles respectively. Coile posts the lowest scores across nearly every subject, with just 9.2% proficiency in 8th grade social studies and 10.8% in science, while Hilsman shows a downward ranking trend and the highest chronic absenteeism rate at 31.8%.
Key takeaways for parents: attendance matters—Burney-Harris-Lyons has the lowest absenteeism (21.8%) and the most positive trajectory, improving its ranking over three years. Science is a district-wide weakness, with even the best school (Clarke at 37.4%) far below the state average of 60.9%. Notably, higher spending does not translate to better results; Hilsman and Coile spend more per student yet perform worse. English Language Arts scores for this year are not yet available, so a full academic picture will emerge in December.
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