In the 2024-25 school year, Whitehead Road Elementary School had 183 African American students enrolled, reflecting a 9% decrease compared with the prior year, according to Georgia Department of Education data.
Overall enrollment at Whitehead Road Elementary School was 574 students in the 2024-25 school year. African American students made up 32% of the total enrollment, ranking as the second-largest student group at the school.
Situated within the Clarke County School District, Whitehead Road Elementary is overseen by the district’s central office in Athens.
Out of Clarke County School District’s 21 schools, Clarke Central High School had the highest number of African American students enrolled in 2024-25, totaling 725 students.
Georgia’s public schools enrolled more than 1.7 million students, according to the Georgia Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2026-1 report. Elementary grades accounted for the largest share at 787,206 students (45.9%), followed by middle school at 388,733 (22.7%) and high school at 539,092 (31.4%).
Chronic absenteeism continues to be a significant challenge in Georgia, as 20.7% of students missed at least 10% of school days in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Education. In response, GaDOE implemented a new statewide effort that includes a real-time attendance dashboard, a public awareness initiative, and targeted support for districts with high needs to improve daily attendance.
In 2025, Georgia legislators approved changes to school attendance laws preventing expulsion solely for absenteeism. The new law also adds reporting requirements and brings policies in line with programs that support alternative pathways for students to earn diplomas.
By 2026, Georgia’s average student-teacher ratio was about 14:1, which is lower than the national average of 15:1.
| School Year | Total Enrollment | Total African American students | % of African American students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 602 | 246 | 41% |
| 2011-12 | 593 | 254 | 43% |
| 2012-13 | 627 | 257 | 41% |
| 2013-14 | 627 | 250 | 40% |
| 2014-15 | 659 | 276 | 42% |
| 2015-16 | 696 | 271 | 39% |
| 2016-17 | 734 | 293 | 40% |
| 2017-18 | 744 | 282 | 38% |
| 2018-19 | 726 | 290 | 40% |
| 2019-20 | 694 | 277 | 40% |
| 2020-21 | 619 | 247 | 40% |
| 2021-22 | 619 | 241 | 39% |
| 2022-23 | 611 | 213 | 35% |
| 2023-24 | 594 | 201 | 34% |
| 2024-25 | 574 | 183 | 32% |
