Athens High School

Tide to Success is for current high school students in grades 9-12. This self-paced, six-hour online course is designed to help students prepare for the ACT, gain the strategies and content necessary to navigate the test, and explore college planning fundamentals.

Tide to Success is FREE for in-state students.

Learn more about program requirements, registration deadlines, and session dates at crimsoncompass.ua.edu

Help honor our veterans through the annual Field of Flags and Poppy Fundraiser, sponsored by Rho Kappa National Social Sciences Honor Society and the National Art Honor Society.

From Mon. October 19 through Tues. November 3, sponsor a flag for a minimum donation of $2 or purchase a handmade ceramic poppy for $5. Poppies are made by AHS National Art Society students, and quantities are limited!

Flags will be displayed for our Veterans Day ceremony on November 10. All proceeds benefit local veterans through VFW Post 4765.

See a Rho Kappa member or Mrs. G to participate. Thank you for supporting our veterans!

Represent AHS and honor a special veteran in your life!!

Attention, students in grades 9–12! The VFW Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Contest starts now! This year’s theme is “What a Veteran Taught Me about America.” Honor a veteran, share your voice, and compete for scholarship awards! Last Year's winner for our local VFW post and district was our very own Nolyn McGuiness.

Essays and audio recordings are due to Mrs. G by Friday, October 30, 2026. Pick up contest information outside her classroom. Rho Kappa members can also earn service hours by participating!

Please note- two unexcused tardies to school and/or class will void an exam exemption for that class.

Repeated instances of tardiness will result in disciplinary action.

Girls Basketball Tryouts will be held on Monday, October 19th at AHS for current 9th through 11th grade girls.

Players trying out must have the following:

• A current Dragonfly account
  
• A current physical

If you have any questions, please email Coach Vee or Coach Tucker.

Congratulations to the AHS volleyball team for placing 2nd in the Class 5A Area 14 Volleyball Area Tournament. This win earned the team a bid in the Sub-Regional playoffs. The team will play Austin High School @ Austin on Monday, October 19 at 6:00. Tickets can be purchased on GoFan or at the gate. Come out and support your Golden Eagles!

If you ordered a letterman jacket, they will be delivered on Thursday, October 22nd during lunch time. Please bring your $325 balance to receive your jacket.

AHS Basketball is hosting their 2nd Annual Flip the Script event Friday, October 30th right after the football game ends! Entry is $3- you can also purchase tickets on GoFan now. In this fundraiser event parents become the players and the players become their coaches. Parents will play a game of basketball against each other.

Check out our website to find out more information about the Clubs and Organizations we have here at AHS! https://ahs.acs-k12.org/activities/clubs

Attendance:

Please be aware of attendance procedures.

Any 9th or 10th grade student should turn in any attendance notes to the Freshman Office. Mrs. Johnson- King, administrative assistant, will collect and file attendance notes. Ninth (9th) and tenth (10th) grade students should check in and/or out from the Freshman Center Office.

sharon.johnson@acs-k12.org

Any 11th and 12th grade student should turn in any attendance notes to the Attendance Office. Mrs. Holly Hargrove will collect and file attendance notes. Eleventh (11th) and twelfth (12th) grade students should check in and/or out from the Attendance Office.

holly.hargrove1@acs-k12.org

Absences, tardies to school, any check ins and/or check outs require written explanation. All written explanations must be received within three days of the absence.

Attendance excuses should include the students full name and grade.

ABSENCES

Excused Absences

Absences are excused for the following:

• Illness
• Death in immediate family
• Inclement weather which would be dangerous to the life and health of the child as determined by the principal
• Legal quarantine
• Emergency conditions as determined by the principal
• Administrative Approval – Prior permission of the principal upon request of the parent or legal guardian
• Suspension

Athens City Schools allows a student to be absent from school for any of the above reasons for five days per semester provided the parent has verified this in writing upon the student’s return to school. Any absence for illness beyond five days during a semester must be confirmed by a physician’s document in order for the absence to be excused. Otherwise, absences beyond five will be considered unexcused.

Note: Students that check-in and check-out must provide a written note with the reasons stated above to be considered excused.

Athens High School expects students to be in class and ready to learn by each bell.

Tardy to school: School begins at 8:15 am.

A student will receive a tardy if he/she arrives at AHS any time AFTER the 8:15 am bell. School tardies are excused or unexcused. Students are required to submit a written reason for the tardiness to either the 9-10th-grade attendance office or the 11-12th-grade attendance office.

Written excuses require the student's first and last name and reason and must be submitted within 3 days of the tardiness. Please note- two unexcused tardies to school will void an exam exemption for that class.

Tardy to class: Students are expected to utilize the allotted time between classes for travel and restroom breaks. Students should be in class and ready to learn by the bell. A student will receive a tardy to class if they are not in the classroom, seated by the bell. Hall sweeps occur periodically throughout the year. Two unexcused tardies to class will void an exam exemption opportunity for students.

Students who are tardy to school or to class must see an Attendance Secretary (Mrs. Johnson-King or Mrs. Hargrove) to receive a pass to enter class.

Students will receive disciplinary referrals for tardies to school or class that are deemed unexcused.

Athens High School will follow an in-house procedure for these infractions.

Athens High School

• Classes Begin at 8:15 AM

• Classes End at 3:20 PM

Attendance is recorded for each block or period daily, and more than 15 minutes missed is considered an absence.

• Late arrivals should report to the Attendance Office to check-in.
• Checkouts shall be conducted through the Attendance Office. NOTE: Check-outs can NO LONGER be phoned in. All Checkouts must be submitted in writing, in-person, or by email (by the email listed in PowerSchool).
• All checkout notes must be submitted by the start of the school day.
• Any missed school will be categorized as an excused absence, excused tardy, unexcused absence, or unexcused tardy.

There are no student check-outs after 2:30 pm from the Front Office or Freshman Center.

Athens City Schools is proud to continually invest in the safety and security of our students. ACS recently installed vape detectors on our Athens High School campus as both an effective solution as well as a vape deterrent. These sensors monitor air quality and notify the administration of the location where vaping chemicals and/or smoke are present. A reminder that any student who is suspected of vaping is subject to disciplinary procedures as outlined in the Athens City Schools handbook. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to the Athens High School administrative team.

Dress Code

GRADES 6-12

• Shoes must be worn in school for student safety. Bare feet, heelys, house shoes, boots with chains, steel toes, or other metal reinforcements decorations are not allowed.

• Except for religious or medical reasons, head coverings may not be worn on campus. (This includes, but is not limited to, hats, sweatbands, visors, hairnets, hair rollers, scarves, toboggans, hoods, bandannas, sunglasses, etc.).

• All students are required to wear their hair in such a manner that it is not considered disruptive, unkempt, unclean, or impairing to the vision, or disruptive to the educational environment.

• No attire with written or printed reference to any type of alcoholic beverage, illegal substance, lewd, vulgar, indecent, or sexually suggestive subjects may be worn.

• Students are not to wear clothing that reveals the body in an inappropriate manner.

  • NO transparent or see-through attire.

  • Backless, one-shoulder, off-the-shoulder, midriff, crop-top, low-cut (front or back), or halter-type blouses will not be allowed.

  • Sleeveless athletic jerseys are acceptable if a short sleeve t-shirt is worn under the jersey.

  • No blouses with open backs/sides or low fronts will be allowed.

  • Appropriate undergarments must be worn at all times and must not be visible.

  • All tops must have 2-inch minimum width shoulder straps.

• Garments that extend to within 3 inches of the top of the knee will be allowed.

• All clothing should be neat, clean, and in good repair.

• No clothing with holes higher than 3 inches above the knee will be allowed.

• When tights, leggings or leotards are worn, the garment worn over them must fall below the hips and adequately cover the front and back private areas.

• Pajamas are not allowed.

• No jewelry or other items are allowed that pose a safety risk and/or a distraction to the educational process. Tattoos that are vulgar, gang related, obscene, or that cause a distraction to the learning environment, must be covered.

• Excessively large/tight clothing will not be permitted.

• Chains/spikes or spike jewelry or belts with chains or spikes are not allowed.

• Clothing must be worn as the manufacturer intended.

• School officials will determine the appropriateness of attire.

• Any clothing/appearance that disrupts the teaching and learning process is prohibited.

Violation of the Dress Code policy shall be documented and result in disciplinary action as follows:

• First offense: Warning, and the student will return to class if the violation can be corrected.

• Second offense: In-school suspension for the remainder of the day, and parent notification of the violation and future consequences if additional violation

• Third offense: In-school suspension for three (3) days and parent notification of the violation and future consequences if additional violation

• Fourth offense and all subsequent offenses: In-School suspension for 5 days plus one (+1) day added for each offense thereafter.

Note: the fourth violation a nd beyond are considered defiance of school authority and are not treated as dress code offenses.

Pajama Pants- not allowed (examples of pics below, but not limited to just these examples)

Holes above the knee in pants- not allowed

Midriffs (or crop tops)- not allowed

Dresses and shorts too short

See Something, Say Something

https://www.acs-k12.org/departments/communications-public-relations/tipline