Score a Top-Tier Education in Athens-Limestone County
The public schools in Athens and Limestone County deliver well-rounded programs aimed at getting students ready for college and the workplace.
As the Athens-Limestone County region continues to grow and thrive, so do the region’s educational offerings. Both public and private schools in Athens and Limestone County provide students a strong academic foundation, promote inclusivity and diversity, and foster community engagement and civic responsibility.
Innovative programs and school-building projects help prepare students for successful careers and contribute to the growth and prosperity of the entire community.
In This Article
Operating at Full STEAM
Limestone County Schools offer a variety of educational opportunities for students, including a STEM-based curriculum at Tanner High School and a host of career and technical education programs through the Limestone County Career Technical Center.
“In Limestone County Schools, STEM programs are extremely important due to industry demands in our local area,” says Randy Shearouse, superintendent of Limestone County Schools. “Here, the ‘A’ is added to make STEAM, which can include the arts or agriculture. Our Board of Education recently approved additional teachers for the arts at every high school and increased our programs related to agriculture. This year we were extremely excited to offer elementary agriculture at Tanner Elementary.”
Ready for Work
Shearouse says the Limestone County Career Technical Center works with business and industry to assess their needs and then tailor programs — such as modern manufacturing, health science and IT — according to those needs and industry standards.
“Opportunities to interact with local industries abound for students with important programs like work-based learning, apprenticeships and ready-to-work programs. Our students from CTC are consistently top contenders in statewide and national competitions, which is a testament to the dedication of our instructors,” Shearouse says.
Bright Future for Schools in Athens, Limestone County
The school district has also shown its commitment to student success as well as community growth by investing in new building projects. A new Elkmont Elementary School, scheduled to open in 2024, will be a part of the Elkmont Rural Village, an area envisioned by the Alabama Elk River Development Agency (AERDA).
The AERDA donated the property for the school with the hope that the school will drive growth for the entire district as well as the Elkmont Rural Village.
Elkmont Mayor Tracy Compton says the new school will provide the convenience of a neighborhood school that is normally reserved for those in larger cities.
“The ability for children in a large and expanding residential development to walk to school is such a nice addition for Elkmont.”
Elkmont Mayor Tracy Compton
“The ability for children in a large and expanding residential development to walk to school is such a nice addition for Elkmont. The new school will contain the latest in infrastructure technology and, being new, students and faculty alike will appreciate those new facility benefits,” Compton says.
Private schools in Athens are also investing in infrastructure to better prepare students for successful careers. Lindsay Lane Christian Academy, a pre-K-12 private school, recently broke ground on a new school in the region that will be equipped with tutoring spaces and a STEM lab.
“This additional building will not only allow us to meet the needs of our current students, but will create the potential to serve up to 375 new students. This additional capacity will allow us to add staff and will lead to the continued expansion of our course offerings,” says Katrina Williams, high school principal of Lindsay Lane Christian Academy.
The new building will offer 10 new finished classrooms, a science lab, tutoring spaces, a STEM lab, cafeteria, storm shelter and space for five future classrooms. The building will also house a new gym with two side-by-side courts and a weight room.
On the Right Pathways
Williams says the school also offers multiple touchpoints to introduce students to local, in-demand career pathways.
“Students at LLCA have opportunities to attend career fairs and to participate in job shadowing and other career exploration activities. Our staff includes a full-time college and career counselor, who works with each individual student to explore options and future goals. We have begun a partnership with the Limestone County Career Technical Center to offer technical education to our high school students,” she says.
Get to Know Athens and Limestone County
Want to learn more about living and working in Athens and Limestone County, AL? Check out the latest edition of Livability Athens-Limestone County, Alabama.