Middle School students exemplify excellence with over 60 percent qualifying for the Duke Talent Search annually. Upper School students choose from a variety of challenging courses including honors and Advanced Placement. A strong Advanced Placement tradition enables students to earn college credit while still at Athens Academy. While some graduates have always chosen to stay in Athens for college, the HOPE Scholarship has made attending a college or university in Georgia even more attractive. Graduates who decide to leave home attend a wide variety of colleges and universities which include the University of Colorado, Vanderbilt University, Boston University, Wofford College, Harvard University, Washington and Lee University, the University of Vermont and Columbia University.
Graduates regularly win academic, leadership, fine arts, and athletic scholarships.