Education

The Athens City School System has a budget of approximately $17.5 million with an enrollment of approximately 3,000 students. The teaching staff is about 210 and support employees total 177 for approximately 387 total employees.

Test scores on the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT), American College Test (ACT) and the state required graduation "exit" exam have been consistently higher than state and national averages.

Athens City Schools have made tremendous strides in technology. All schools have Internet access, with computer labs in every school and computers on teachers' desks.

The Limestone County School System has an annual budget of approximately $53 million with an enrollment of approximately 8,000 students. The teaching staff total 540 and support employees total 460 for approximately 1,000 total employees.

Limestone County Schools have made tremendous strides in technology. All schools have Internet access, with computer labs in every school and computers on teachers' desks.

Athens State University, established in 1822, is Alabama's oldest college. ASU is one of only 11 senior level colleges in the United States. The university receives approximately 3,000 students from Calhoun Community College, as well as more students from other 2-year colleges in the area.

More than 1,000 students graduate from Athens State University each year, which is more than any other university in North Alabama.

Athens and Limestone County are fortunate to be home to Calhoun Community College, a two-year junior college with an enrollment of about 9,700 students. Calhoun was established in 1947 and continues to expand to serve local industry. Forty million dollars has been allocated for the Aerospace and Advanced Technology Park, dedicated to instruction in aerospace design and technology, advanced manufacturing, and visualization technology.