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Test scores delayed: 2026 rankings for Georgia do not yet include English Language Arts scores, which will not be released by the Georgia Department of Education until winter 2026.

Hilsman Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

485^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 578 Georgia Middle Schools

Better than 16% of Georgia middle schools

Summary

Hilsman Middle School in Athens, GA, serves approximately 624 students in grades 6-8 as part of the Clarke County School District, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Hilsman's most striking strength is its Algebra I program. In the most recent testing year, 72% of Hilsman students scored proficient on the Algebra I End of Course assessment—nearly double the district average (36.9%) and well above the state average (48.1%). This is a remarkable achievement, especially when compared to grade-level math proficiency rates, which range from just 15% to 25%. The school also shows relative strength in 8th grade Physical Science (36% proficient, second-highest among Clarke County middle schools) and in serving special education students, who rank in the 42nd percentile statewide—a bright spot compared to the school's overall 16th percentile ranking. However, the school faces significant challenges with chronic absenteeism (31.8%, nearly double the state average) and a wide gap in outcomes between female students (23rd percentile) and male students (7th percentile).

Compared to nearby schools, Hilsman spends more per student ($20,802) than any other middle school in the region—roughly 65% more than Madison County Middle School ($12,536), which ranks in the 58th percentile statewide. Within Clarke County, Hilsman ranks below Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School and Clarke Middle School (both 43rd percentile) but above Coile Middle School (8th percentile). The school's overall ranking has improved from the 8th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 16th percentile in 2025-2026, suggesting some stabilization. For parents, the key takeaway is that Hilsman excels at accelerating students in advanced math, but the school's high spending hasn't yet translated into broader grade-level success—a pattern that points to resource allocation, not funding levels, as the central issue.

624

Students ?

11.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,802

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

870 Gaines School Rd
Athens, GA 30605

(706) 548-7281

District: Clarke County

Students who attend Hilsman Middle School usually attend:

High:

Cedar Shoals High School

Feeder schools for Hilsman Middle School:

Elementary:	Barnett Shoals Elementary School
	Gaines Elementary School
	Whit Davis Road Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

56.7%

White:

18.6%

Hispanic:

17.9%

See top rated Georgia middle schools

Compare Hilsman Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 29th percentile in 2016 → 16th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Georgia average (25% vs 45% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (32% vs 18% Georgia)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school25%

District avg29%

Georgia avg45%

485^th of 578

Georgia public middle schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 13 pts since 2016

From bottom 29% (2016) to bottom 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Georgia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Middle Schools in the Clarke County

137^th of 201Clarke County among Georgia districts

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	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	17.0	485 of 578	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.5	451 of 585	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.8	440 of 578	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.0	399 of 569	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.9	404 of 558	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.9	446 of 542	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.2	438 of 559	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.9	397 of 543	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	35.4	353 of 539	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	30.7	387 of 545	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	38.6	324 of 537	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	31.8	417 of 521	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	28.7	429 of 527	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	45.4	329 of 508	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	41.9	339 of 504	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	47.7	290 of 494	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	36.7	351 of 466	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	23.6	398 of 462	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	22.1	393 of 445	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	22.3	369 of 420	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	11.8	468 of 480	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	12.3	481 of 494	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.9	474 of 489	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	16.4	453 of 485	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.2	454 of 482	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	21.3	159 of 166	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	47.3	71 of 199	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	34.6	110 of 157	29.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	23.9	422 of 550	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.3	473 of 567	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.6	472 of 558	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.7	440 of 553	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.4	424 of 544	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	25.2	295 of 374	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.1	310 of 400	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.4	292 of 381	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.3	259 of 380	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.6	220 of 367	40.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	11.1	510 of 550	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	22.8	440 of 569	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.2	421 of 561	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.3	361 of 559	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.4	386 of 553	30.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	36.2	245 of 425	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.0	246 of 442	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.5	294 of 437	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.7	257 of 429	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.3	241 of 431	44.1%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	56.0	176 of 404	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.9	142 of 415	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.7	163 of 417	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.7	99 of 429	76.9%	★★★★☆
2022	66.2	124 of 425	70.8%	★★★★☆

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)

White (2026)56th percentile+40 vs school

Special Education (2026)42nd percentile+26 vs school

Female (2026)23rd percentile+7 vs school

Hispanic (2026)21st percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)7th percentile-9 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)4th percentile-12 vs school

African American (2026)2nd percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I72%+24 vs state

HS Physical Science36%-25 vs state

Mathematics20%-23 vs state

Social Studies19%-22 vs state

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What people are saying

by a student
Monday, September 27, 2010

It's not very child friendly. Like, I think that most of the teachers don't consider students when they make decisions. They can also be very discouraging and a lot of the people in power are he types that like to bully students. Close Quote

Schools Near Hilsman Middle 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)				Milestones Assessment Algebra I (2026)	Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2026)			Milestones Assessment Science (2026)	Milestones Assessment Social Studies (2026)	Milestones Assessment HS Physical Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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	Milestones Assessment Algebra I End of Course	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Social Studies 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment HS Physical Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hilsman Middle School	Public	6-8	870 Gaines School Rd	Athens	30605	Clarke County	Clarke County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 548-7281	624	57	11.0	100.0%	116 (18.6%)	354 (56.7%)	112 (17.9%)	5 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (5.6%)	17	485^th of 578 public middle schools	16.1%		22.5	451^st of 585 public middle schools	22.9%	34	72.0	15.1	18.8	24.8		18.6	36.0	$20,802	$1,543	$19,259
Clarke Middle School	Public	6-8	1235 Baxter St	Athens	30606	Clarke County	Clarke County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 543-6547	718	63	11.3	83.8%	249 (34.7%)	324 (45.1%)	94 (13.1%)	13 (1.8%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	36 (5.0%)	39.9	327^th of 578 public middle schools	43.4%		49.7	268^th of 585 public middle schools	54.2%	59	89.4	30.9	38.6	39.7		35.2	37.4	$19,260	$1,205	$18,055
Coile Middle School	Public	6-8	110 Old Elberton Rd	Athens	30601	Clarke County	Clarke County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 357-5318	582	55	10.5	100.0%	30 (5.2%)	232 (39.9%)	302 (51.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.7%)	11.6	534^th of 578 public middle schools	7.6%		15.1	515^th of 585 public middle schools	12.0%	19	40.8	15.2	24.2	12.1		9.2	10.8	$20,057	$1,978	$18,079
Oconee County Middle School	Public	6-8	1101 Mars Hill Rd	Watkinsville	30677	Oconee County	Oconee County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 769-3575	940	58	16.2	18.3%	755 (80.3%)	35 (3.7%)	74 (7.9%)	35 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (4.4%)	84.6	71^st of 578 public middle schools	87.7%		94.1	39^th of 585 public middle schools	93.3%	32	100.0	69.2	70.1	71.0		69.1	64.1	$10,990	$370	$10,620
Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School	Public	6-8	1600 Tallassee Rd	Athens	30606	Clarke County	Clarke County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 548-7208	707	62	11.4	100.0%	110 (15.6%)	275 (38.9%)	289 (40.9%)	10 (1.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.1%)	39.3	329^th of 578 public middle schools	43.1%		47.7	281^st of 585 public middle schools	52.0%	48	90.2	30.3	42.4	44.4		30.3	30.7	$19,221	$1,393	$17,828
Malcom Bridge Middle School	Public	6-8	2500 Malcom Bridge Rd	Bogart	30622	Oconee County	Oconee County	No	No	No	No	(706) 310-1992	548	40	13.7	17.2%	380 (69.3%)	18 (3.3%)	58 (10.6%)	69 (12.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (4.0%)	89.7	45^th of 578 public middle schools	92.2%		97.2	19^th of 585 public middle schools	96.8%	26	100.0	76.0	75.5	78.4		79.5	71.4	$13,618	$222	$13,396
Oglethorpe County Middle School	Public	6-8	270 Buddy Faust Rd	Crawford	30630	Oglethorpe County	Oglethorpe County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 743-8146	523	41	12.7	84.5%	320 (61.2%)	95 (18.2%)	69 (13.2%)	10 (1.9%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (5.0%)	55	237^th of 578 public middle schools	59.0%		57.3	224^th of 585 public middle schools	61.7%	13	100.0	55.4	40.6	50.5	28.6	20.0		$13,265	$584	$12,681
Bear Creek Middle School	Public	6-8	228 Jefferson St	Statham	30666	Barrow County	Barrow County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 867-2116	752	59	12.8	57.7%	344 (45.7%)	115 (15.3%)	217 (28.9%)	25 (3.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (6.6%)	36.8	347^th of 578 public middle schools	40.0%		41.8	325^th of 585 public middle schools	44.4%	22	77.3	34.0	42.7	30.2	15.0	24.9	61.1	$13,768	$822	$12,945
Madison County Middle School	Public	6-8	3215 Highway 172	Comer	30629	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 783-2400	1,147	77	14.9	84.6%	740 (64.5%)	132 (11.5%)	183 (16.0%)	33 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (5.1%)	54.2	243^rd of 578 public middle schools	58.0%		50.3	265^th of 585 public middle schools	54.7%	22	94.7	44.8	36.7	45.3	21.3	37.7	80.0	$12,536	$598	$11,938
Dove Creek Middle School	Public	6-8	7915 Hog Mountain Rd	Statham	30666	Oconee County	Oconee County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(706) 310-2017	528	34	15.6	9.8%	431 (81.6%)	16 (3.0%)	22 (4.2%)	36 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.4%)	92	33^rd of 578 public middle schools	94.3%		97.6	16^th of 585 public middle schools	97.3%	17	100.0	75.4	78.1	89.7		82.2	77.9	$12,633	$112	$12,521

Frequently Asked Questions about Hilsman Middle School

What district is Hilsman Middle School in?

Clarke County

Is Hilsman Middle School a good school?

Hilsman Middle School ranks in the bottom 16.1% of Georgia middle schools.

What high school do graduates of Hilsman Middle School attend?

Students who attend Hilsman Middle School usually go on to attend Cedar Shoals High School

What is the racial makeup of Hilsman Middle School?

Students at Hilsman Middle School are 57% African American, 19% White, 18% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

How many students attend Hilsman Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 624 students attended Hilsman Middle School.

Rate Hilsman Middle School!

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Latest Georgia data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataAug 6, 2026

2025–26 Milestones Assessment scoresAug 6, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 Milestones Assessment scores (updated)Aug 6, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesFeb 19, 2026

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