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Athens City Middle School

Q: Is Athens City Middle School a good school?

Athens City Middle School ranks 274 th of 594 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

274^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 594 Tennessee Middle Schools

Better than 54% of Tennessee middle schools

Summary

Athens City Middle School is a grades 6–8 middle school in Athens, Tennessee, serving 519 students and operating within Athens City Schools, a district ranked 49th out of 141 districts in Tennessee. The school itself ranks 274th out of 594 Tennessee middle schools (54th percentile) with a 3-star rating, placing it in the top half of the state and ahead of nearly every nearby school. It is essentially tied with Chilhowee Middle School this year and clearly outranks Meigs Middle School, Sweetwater Junior High School, Tellico Plains Junior High School, and Madisonville Middle School.

Academically, the school is one of the area's stronger performers. Math proficiency is 42.3%, tied for the best among nearby schools and right at the state average. ELA proficiency is 35.8%, matching Chilhowee Middle School and Brown Intermediate School but falling shy of the state average of 40.6%. The standout is Algebra I: 88.2% of students taking it are proficient, versus 32.3% statewide, and that figure has held steady above 84% for three years. In science, Athens scores 40.8%, trailing only Chilhowee among nearby schools, while in social studies its 45.7% trails Sweetwater Junior High School and Chilhowee but beats all other neighbors.

Attendance is another positive: 13.1% of students are chronically absent, well below the state average of 18.3% and dramatically better than Madisonville Middle School (29.4%) and Chilhowee Middle School (24.8%), though Sweetwater Junior High School (6.7%) does better. The school spends $11,779 per student, achieving stronger results than several neighboring schools that spend more. The biggest concern is momentum: Athens has slipped from a 4-star rating and the 73rd percentile in 2023–24 to its current 3-star, 54th-percentile ranking. Specific trouble spots include 6th grade science and 8th grade social studies, and outcomes for special education students have consistently lagged the state median in recent years.

519

Students ?

18.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,779

Per pupil spending ?

66.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

200 Keith Lane
Athens, TN 37303

(423) 745-1177

District: Athens City Schools

Students who attend Athens City Middle School usually attend:

High:

Central High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.2%

Hispanic:

12.3%

Two or more races:

10.0%

See top rated Tennessee middle schools

Compare Athens City Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 58th percentile in 2015 → 54th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Tennessee median (54th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school42%

District avg46%

Tennessee avg44%

274^th of 594

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Top 46%▲ up 29 pts since 2017

From bottom 25% (2017) to top 46% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

49^th of 141Athens City Schools among Tennessee 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	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	52.8	274 of 594	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.2	207 of 583	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.3	156 of 587	73.4%	★★★★☆
2023	64.6	181 of 594	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.7	125 of 569	78.0%	★★★★☆
2021	63.0	155 of 576	73.1%	★★★★☆
2019	67.3	122 of 574	78.7%	★★★★☆
2018	60.2	173 of 563	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	37.2	271 of 362	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	60.8	205 of 492	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	53.1	232 of 485	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2013	72.1	118 of 475	75.2%	★★★★☆
2012	85.8	48 of 466	89.7%	★★★★☆
2011	78.1	89 of 462	80.7%	★★★★☆
2010	80.9	66 of 435	84.8%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	40.4	180 of 328	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.5	139 of 312	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.6	114 of 318	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.1	119 of 316	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.0	111 of 299	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.1	106 of 277	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.0	155 of 293	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.6	160 of 284	43.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	60.1	188 of 546	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.3	160 of 554	71.1%	★★★★☆
2023	61.3	186 of 560	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	76.3	86 of 552	84.4%	★★★★☆
2021	68.4	122 of 538	77.3%	★★★★☆
2019	69.3	111 of 529	79.0%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	48.7	143 of 302	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.6	107 of 286	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.9	137 of 285	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.3	131 of 285	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.8	105 of 275	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.7	119 of 261	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.6	83 of 228	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.7	99 of 219	54.8%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2023	79.2	1 of 26	96.2%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	46.9	245 of 478	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	54.5	193 of 490	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.3	221 of 510	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.7	208 of 514	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.1	148 of 495	70.1%	★★★★☆
2021	48.1	204 of 483	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.0	129 of 490	73.7%	★★★★☆
2018	50.2	211 of 481	56.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	55.9	211 of 550	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.9	141 of 560	74.8%	★★★★☆
2023	64.1	158 of 557	71.6%	★★★★☆
2022	59.2	185 of 540	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.9	202 of 529	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.7	143 of 523	72.7%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	36.7	194 of 349	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.6	184 of 332	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.8	199 of 299	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.6	197 of 288	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.7	119 of 260	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.3	51 of 238	78.6%	★★★★☆
2019	47.4	88 of 222	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	35.9	174 of 279	37.6%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	45.3	261 of 494	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	51.1	223 of 492	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.6	144 of 504	71.4%	★★★★☆
2023	63.8	150 of 503	70.2%	★★★★☆
2022	70.4	101 of 500	79.8%	★★★★☆
2021	63.3	142 of 496	71.4%	★★★★☆
2019	69.3	96 of 484	80.2%	★★★★☆
2018	60.3	148 of 481	69.2%	★★★☆☆

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)

Homeless (2023)96th percentile+27 vs school

Female (2025)66th percentile~ school

Male (2025)62nd percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)53rd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)49th percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)47th percentile-7 vs school

African American (2026)45th percentile-9 vs school

Special Education (2026)44th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I88%+56 vs state

Social Studies46%-6 vs state

Mathematics42%~ state avg

Science41%-6 vs state

English Language Arts36%-5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Athens City 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)				TNReady Mathematics (2026)					TNReady English Language Arts (2026)					TNReady Algebra I (2026)			TNReady Geometry (2026)		TNReady Science (2026)					TNReady Social Studies (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 (2020)	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	TNReady Mathematics 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Algebra I 7th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 8th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Geometry 8th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	TNReady Science 5th Grade	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 7th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 8th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Athens City Middle School	Public	6-8	200 Keith Lane	Athens	37303	McMinn County	Athens City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 745-1177	507	27	18.5		358 (70.6%)	33 (6.5%)	54 (10.7%)	10 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	51 (10.1%)	52.8	274^th of 594 public middle schools	53.9%		59.2	207^th of 583 public middle schools	64.5%	67		38.2	48.1	39.3	42.3		40.0	32.6	35.0	35.8		88.2	88.2				38.8	41.4	42.3	40.8	52.7	47.8	35.9	45.7	$11,779	$813	$10,127
Meigs Middle School	Public	6-8	586 North Main	Decatur	37322	Meigs County	Meigs County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 334-9187	380	28	13.6		347 (91.3%)	9 (2.4%)	14 (3.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.4%)	42.8	342^nd of 594 public middle schools	42.4%		53.7	244^th of 583 public middle schools	58.1%	98		32.4	29.4	46.6	35.7		37.0	27.1	31.6	31.4							45.4	30.6	47.9	40.4	42.6	39.6	35.0	39.0	$11,624	$889	$9,977
Sweetwater Junior High School	Public	7-8	1013 Cannon Avenue	Sweetwater	37874	Monroe County	Sweetwater City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 337-7336	311	19	16.3	70.3%	240 (77.2%)	11 (3.5%)	51 (16.4%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.9%)	42.1	344^th of 594 public middle schools	42.1%		28	433^rd of 583 public middle schools	25.7%	89			37.8	21.8	30.0			31.8	18.2	25.2								39.7	31.3	35.6		60.3	45.6	53.1	$10,194	$824	$8,995
Brown Intermediate School	Public	5-6	135 Starrett Street	Sweetwater	37874	Monroe County	Sweetwater City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 337-5905	323	19	17.4	67.8%	242 (74.9%)	5 (1.5%)	53 (16.4%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.9%)								(n/a)	43.8	40.7			42.3	42.4	28.9			35.8						33.3	31.9			32.6	29.6			29.6	$10,426	$638	$9,196
Madisonville Middle School	Public	6-8	175 Oak Grove Road	Madisonville	37354	Monroe County	Monroe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 442-4137	416	22	18.9	61.4%	376 (90.4%)	5 (1.2%)	26 (6.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.7%)	26.7	452^nd of 594 public middle schools	23.9%		36.8	378^th of 583 public middle schools	35.2%	74		25.5	31.8	32.5	29.8		20.7	30.5	23.8	25.1							27.5	23.4	31.0	27.0	24.8	38.6	28.6	30.8	$11,913	$731	$10,348
Tellico Plains Junior High School	Public	5-8	120 Old High School Road	Tellico Plains	37385	Monroe County	Monroe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 253-2250	263	14	18.3	73.0%	246 (93.5%)	1 (0.4%)	6 (2.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.4%)	36.3	396^th of 594 public middle schools	33.3%		35.7	383^rd of 583 public middle schools	34.3%	13	26.6	27.4	43.1	30.9	31.8	29.7	32.3	29.3	27.8	29.8						29.7	15.9	37.9	29.1	27.9	30.2	56.9	34.5	40.3	$14,204	$1,120	$11,835
Chilhowee Middle School	Public	6-8	215 Schoolhouse Hill Road	Benton	37307	Polk County	Polk County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 299-0086	292	21	13.9		274 (93.8%)	3 (1.0%)	11 (3.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	52.9	272^nd of 594 public middle schools	54.2%		38.6	366^th of 583 public middle schools	37.2%	94		33.3	39.5	37.2	36.7		39.6	43.0	25.5	35.8							43.3	46.5	42.6	44.1	47.8	66.3	34.0	48.9	$12,935	$560	$11,872

Frequently Asked Questions about Athens City Middle School

What high school do graduates of Athens City Middle School attend?

Students who attend Athens City Middle School usually go on to attend Central High School

How many students attend Athens City Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 519 students attended Athens City Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Athens City Middle School?

Students at Athens City Middle School are 68% White, 12% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 6% African American, 3% Asian.

What district is Athens City Middle School in?

Athens City Schools

Is Athens City Middle School a good school?

Athens City Middle School ranks 274^th of 594 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresAug 25, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesApr 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataFeb 27, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataDec 18, 2025

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