Clarke County Schools & Education
Clarke County, Georgia
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
36.3%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
36.3%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.1%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,733
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,405
School Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 50/100
State Score Position
#125
of 159 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Clarke County
Measured School Summary
Clarke County faces educational challenges with a school score of 38/100 and a graduation rate of 36.3%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
Clarke County spends $8,733 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 25% below the Georgia average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 51.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 18% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Clarke County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
22 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
38/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #125 of 159 Georgia counties with school score data.
Completion
36.3%
51.8 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,733
$1,328 above the state average
School coverage
22
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Clarke County has 22 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Clarke County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
Clarke County carries most of the listed public-school system, with 21 of 22 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#125
of 159 Georgia counties with school score data. The county score is 12 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Clarke County
Elementary to high school visible
12,340 students
21 listed schools in this county slice.
State Charter Schools- Foothills Charter High School (Centr
High school only in this slice
2,519 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Clarke County is the largest listed district slice, with 21 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Clarke County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Clarke County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Clarke County, Georgia
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Urban Education in a College Town
Clarke County features 22 public schools that serve a total of 14,859 students. The landscape is composed of 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools. This urban-focused system is primarily centered around the city of Athens.
Traditional Schools and Charter Options
The Clarke County district operates 21 schools for 12,340 students, while Foothills Charter High School serves a large population of 2,519 students. This charter institution represents 4.5% of the schools but a significant portion of the high school enrollment. Families have the choice between traditional neighborhood schools and these larger flexible programs.
City-Centered Schools with Diverse Sizes
Education in Clarke County is overwhelmingly urban, with 18 of the 22 schools located in city settings. Average school size is 675 students, but this varies wildly from the massive Foothills Charter (2,519) to smaller elementary sites. The locale diversity is limited, with only three rural and one suburban school available.
School Overview
Total Schools
22
in Clarke County
Reported Enrollment
14,859
22 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
1
5% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Clarke County
Clarke County
GuideState Charter Schools- Foothills Charter High School (Centr
22 Public Schools in Clarke County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 3 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 22 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foothills Charter High School (Central Office - Athens) | Profile | State Charter Schools- Foothills Charter High School (Centr | Athens, 30607City: Midsize | 9–12 | Charter | 2,519 |
| Clarke Central High School | Profile | Clarke County | Athens, 30605City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,836 |
| Cedar Shoals High School | Profile | Clarke County | Athens, 30605City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,443 |
| Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30606Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 728 |
| Clarke Middle School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30606City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 708 |
| Whitehead Road Elementary School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30606City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 691 |
| Coile Middle School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30601Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 635 |
| Hilsman Middle School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30605City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 628 |
| Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30606City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 581 |
| Timothy Elementary School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30606City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 536 |
| Gaines Elementary School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30605City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 518 |
| Chase Street Elementary School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30601City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 492 |
| Barnett Shoals Elementary School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30605City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 487 |
| Barrow Elementary School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30605City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 452 |
| Whit Davis Road Elementary School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30605City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 439 |
| Judia Jackson Harris Elementary | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30601City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 407 |
| Fowler Drive Elementary School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30601City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 388 |
| Winterville Elementary School | Record | Clarke County | Winterville, 30683Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 365 |
| Howard B. Stroud Elementary School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30601City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 359 |
| Alps Road Elementary School | Record | Clarke County | Athens, 30606City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 339 |
Foothills Charter High School (Central Office - Athens)
State Charter Schools- Foothills Charter High School (Centr
Athens, 30607 / City: Midsize
Clarke Central High School
Clarke County
Athens, 30605 / City: Midsize
Cedar Shoals High School
Clarke County
Athens, 30605 / City: Midsize
Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School
Clarke County
Athens, 30606 / Rural: Fringe
Whitehead Road Elementary School
Clarke County
Athens, 30606 / City: Midsize
Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School
Clarke County
Athens, 30606 / City: Midsize
Chase Street Elementary School
Clarke County
Athens, 30601 / City: Midsize
Barnett Shoals Elementary School
Clarke County
Athens, 30605 / City: Midsize
Whit Davis Road Elementary School
Clarke County
Athens, 30605 / City: Midsize
Judia Jackson Harris Elementary
Clarke County
Athens, 30601 / City: Midsize
Fowler Drive Elementary School
Clarke County
Athens, 30601 / City: Midsize
Winterville Elementary School
Clarke County
Winterville, 30683 / Suburb: Midsize
Howard B. Stroud Elementary School
Clarke County
Athens, 30601 / City: Midsize
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,733
State avg $7,405
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Clarke County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Georgia counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Georgia?
How should I read the school score in Clarke County?
What is the graduation rate in Clarke County?
How much does Clarke County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Clarke County, Georgia — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Clarke County, Georgia?
Clarke County features 22 public schools that serve a total of 14,859 students. The landscape is composed of 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools. This urban-focused system is primarily centered around the city of Athens.
What are the major school districts in Clarke County, Georgia?
The Clarke County district operates 21 schools for 12,340 students, while Foothills Charter High School serves a large population of 2,519 students. This charter institution represents 4.5% of the schools but a significant portion of the high school enrollment. Families have the choice between traditional neighborhood schools and these larger flexible programs.
What is the school experience like in Clarke County?
Education in Clarke County is overwhelmingly urban, with 18 of the 22 schools located in city settings. Average school size is 675 students, but this varies wildly from the massive Foothills Charter (2,519) to smaller elementary sites. The locale diversity is limited, with only three rural and one suburban school available.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.