Hilsman Middle School: Serving Grades 6-8 in Athens, GA (2026 List)

About Hilsman Middle School

Hilsman Middle School, located at 870 Gaines School Rd., Athens, GA 30605, serves students in grades 6 through 8. It is a public middle school operating within the Clarke County School District. The school enrolls a little over 606 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio close to 11:1. Published enrollment figures show the student body is made up of roughly 54% boys and 46% girls. Recent state assessment results showed about 24% of students were proficient in math, while around 25% met proficiency standards in reading. Students can take part in athletics, fine arts, STEM activities, clubs, and academic support programs that shape much of campus life during the year. Many students later continue into Clarke County high schools, with the middle school years helping them adjust to greater academic responsibility and broader extracurricular involvement. In Athens, home prices near the Gaines School Road area are commonly found from the low $300Ks into higher ranges depending on neighborhood size and proximity to newer developments. Families researching top middle schools in Georgia around Athens may still compare Hilsman Middle School alongside other public school options in the area.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 24%

Reading 25%

State average proficiency is 24% in Math and 25% in Reading.

57

Full-time Teachers

11 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

7

Teachers In First Or Second Year (yrs)

606

Total Students

$62692

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 19.47%

Asian 1.16%

Hispanic 17.66%

Black 54.79%

Two+ Races 6.93%

Native Am. 0%

White

19.47%

Asian

1.16%

Hispanic

17.66%

Black

54.79%

Two+ Races

6.93%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 606

46.2%

280 Female

53.8%

326 Male

Student Population

606 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 11 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

202 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Hilsman Middle School Contact Information

Address

870 Gaines School Rd, Athens, GA, 30605

View on Map

Phone

(706) 548-7281

Call Now

Website

https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/Domain/13

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:45 AM - 3:45 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:30 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

The Science, Energy and Adventure Team from Hilsman and Clarke Middle Schools recently was named National Junior School of the Year by the National Energy Education Development Project. The team was recognized for their award-winning project, Preserve, Protect and Power Through, with a focus on energy education and conservation. This is a tremendous national recognition of the school’s commitment to excellence in STEM and collaborative student projects.

FAQ

Q1. What is student life like at Hilsman Middle School?

Ans. Hilsman Middle School offers academic, electives, athletics and technology-supported learning during the normal school week.

Q2. Does Hilsman Middle School provide support for incoming sixth graders?

Ans. Hilsman Middle School orientation activities help sixth graders learn about class rotations, locker usage and middle school expectations.

Q3. How are social studies lessons taught at Hilsman Middle School?

Ans. At Hilsman Middle School, social studies instruction has students working with historical sources, analyzing maps and participating in classroom discussions.

Q4. Are extracurricular programs active at Hilsman Middle School?

Ans. Athletics teams and music groups bring together many students throughout the school year at Hilsman Middle School.

Q5. How can parents receive updates from Hilsman Middle School?

Ans. District communication tools are used by families to receive attendance alerts, progress updates and school announcements.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say