Clarke County School District
School District · Athens, Georgia
Avg Rating
6.0
out of 10
Schools
21
14 elem, 4 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$21,012
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.2:1
Avg Rating
6.0
out of 10
Schools
21
14 elem, 4 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$21,012
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.2:1
Evaluating Clarke County?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Clarke County as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School
Athens · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Barrow Elementary School
Athens · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Timothy Elementary School
Athens · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Georgia rank
#112 of 179
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.3
below Georgia avg
Per-pupil spending
$21,012
+$6,884 vs Georgia median
District size
12,331 students
Much larger than Georgia median
The short answer
Clarke County ranks #112 of 179 Georgia districts by overall school rating. Clarke County's schools with real test data average 6.0/10 across 21 schools. Its top-rated schools are Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School (8.8/10), Barrow Elementary School (8.0/10), and Timothy Elementary School (7.9/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.6/10 despite 91% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Clarke County schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +15.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Clarke County schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Clarke County
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (21 of 21). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Barrow Elementary School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Timothy Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Barnett Shoals Elementary School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Clarke Middle School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Burney-harris-lyons Middle School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Cleveland Road Elementary School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Clarke Central High School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Whitehead Road Elementary School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School | 6.4 / 10 |
See all 21 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Clarke County
Clarke County is a Athens, Georgia school district serving 21 schools. The district educates 12,331 students with a student-teacher ratio of 10.2:1. The district invests $21,012 per student annually.
With an average rating of 6.0/10, Clarke County demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School, which has a composite score of 8.8/10.
In standardized testing, Clarke County students show an average math proficiency of 44.6% and ELA proficiency of 48.0%.
The district includes 14 elementary schools , 4 middle schools , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Clarke County, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Clarke County with test data.
Schools in Clarke County
21 schools Elementary Schools 14
Middle Schools 4
District Details
- State
- Georgia
- City
- Athens
- Total Enrollment
- 12,331
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,213
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Clarke County?
Clarke County has 21 schools in total — 14 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Clarke County?
The average composite rating for Clarke County is 6.0/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Clarke County?
Clarke County spends $21,012 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Clarke County?
The average student-teacher ratio in Clarke County is 10.2:1.
What is the top-rated school in Clarke County?
Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Clarke County with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What are the test scores in Clarke County?
Across schools in Clarke County with test data, the average math proficiency is 44.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 48.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Clarke County compare to other districts in Georgia?
Clarke County has an average school rating of 6.0/10 across 21 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Georgia by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.0/10
- Math Proficiency
- 44.6%
- ELA Proficiency
- 48.0%
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in GA
Compare Clarke County with neighboring districts in the state.
- Gwinnett County (140)
- Dekalb County (131)
- Cobb County (110)
- Fulton County (106)
- Atlanta Public Schools (87)
- Clayton County (67)
- Savannah-chatham County (58)
- Muscogee County (53)
- Henry County (50)
- Richmond County (50)
- Forsyth County (42)
- Cherokee County (37)
- Hall County (37)
- Houston County (37)
- Bibb County (35)
- Douglas County (35)
- Paulding County (33)
- Columbia County (30)
- Coweta County (29)
- Department of Juvenile Justice (28)
- Carroll County (24)
- Fayette County (24)
- Dougherty County (22)
- Newton County (22)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Georgia Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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