Best Public Schools in Athens, PA

The city of Athens, Pennsylvania is home to three schools serving students from elementary through high school: Athens Area High School, Audrielle Lynch-Ellen Bustin Elementary School, and Harlan Rowe Middle School. These schools are part of the Athens Area School District, which faces some systemic challenges reflected in its overall 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Among the standout schools, Harlan Rowe Middle School emerges as a strong performer, ranking 335 out of 873 Pennsylvania middle schools and earning a 3-star rating. The school excels in English Language Arts proficiency, outperforming both the district and state averages. In contrast, Audrielle Lynch-Ellen Bustin Elementary School struggles with math and English Language Arts proficiency, scoring below the district and state benchmarks.

While the high school, Athens Area High School, maintains a higher-than-average graduation rate of 87.9% and a low dropout rate of 1.4%, its Keystone Exam proficiency rates are generally lower than the state average, though higher than the district average. Across all schools, the high rates of free and reduced-price lunch eligibility indicate a significant economically disadvantaged student population, which may require targeted interventions and support.