[2][3] According to the school's website, the vision of Athens Academy's founders, as articulated in their original charter, was to establish a school for students from "diverse social, economic, religious, and racial backgrounds who can benefit from a rigorous academic program led by a highly qualified and enthusiastic faculty.

It consisted of a Colonial Revival home and a red barn located on Prince and Hawthorne Avenues.

[3][7] Athens Academy was headed by Ronald Griffeth and D. Alvin Cash before J. Robert Chambers became headmaster in 1983, followed by John Thorsen in 2014.

Art, music, physical education, and drama classes are offered in addition to traditional academic disciplines.

[18] J. Swanton Ivy originally donated to the school 105 acres (42.5 hectares) of land just inside Oconee County.

[9] Athens Academy competes in region 8-AA of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA).