African American students represent 17% of Kennedy Elementary’s enrollment for 2024-25

Kennedy Elementary School recorded 123 African American students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year, marking an 11.8% increase compared to the prior year, according to the Georgia Department of Education.

Total student enrollment at Kennedy Elementary reached 727 during the 2024-25 school year. African American students accounted for 17% of the overall student population, making them the third-largest demographic group at the school.

The school operates within the Barrow County School District, which has its central office based in Winder.

Across the 16 schools in Barrow County School District, Apalachee High School reported the largest African American student enrollment in 2024-25, with 364 students.

The National Center for Education Statistics noted Georgia’s public school student demographics as roughly 36.4% Black, 35.9% white, 18.1% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 4.6% multiracial, 0.2% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.1% Pacific Islander.

Chronic absenteeism remains a significant concern in Georgia’s schools after the pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing at least 10% of school days in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Education. In response, the department initiated a statewide effort that features a real-time attendance dashboard, a public awareness campaign, and targeted support for districts with high needs to improve daily attendance rates.

In 2025, Georgia lawmakers approved changes to school attendance laws that prohibit expulsion based solely on absenteeism. The law also includes new reporting standards and coordinates with programs offering students alternate pathways to earn diplomas.

By 2026, Georgia’s average student-teacher ratio was about 14:1, outperforming the national average of 15:1.