Bethlehem Elementary School saw its Asian student enrollment climb to 29 in the 2024-25 school year, marking a 26.1% rise from the prior year, according to figures from the Georgia Department of Education.
The data indicates that Bethlehem Elementary’s total enrollment stood at 591 students during the 2024-25 school year. Asian students accounted for 5% of the student population, representing the second-smallest racial group at the school.
The school, based in the Barrow County School District, is administered from the district’s central office located in Winder.
Within Barrow County School District’s 16 schools, Winder-Barrow High School recorded the highest Asian student enrollment, reaching 109 students for the 2024-25 school year.
Statistics from the National Center for Education Statistics show that the public school student population in Georgia was made up of about 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 continues to challenge Georgia schools following the pandemic, with 20.7% of students reported missing at least 10% of school days in 2024, based on data from the Georgia Department of Education. In response, GaDOE started a new statewide initiative that features a real-time attendance dashboard, awareness efforts, and targeted support for districts in need, all aimed at achieving higher daily attendance.
In 2025, Georgia legislators enacted an attendance law update prohibiting expulsion solely due to absenteeism. The law includes new reporting obligations and aligns with services that help students earn diplomas via alternative options.
According to 2026 data, Georgia averaged approximately 14 students per teacher, a figure favorable to the national norm of 15:1.
| School Year | Total Enrollment | Total Asian students | % of Asian students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 894 | 17 | 2% |
| 2011-12 | 742 | 22 | 3% |
| 2012-13 | 773 | 23 | 3% |
| 2013-14 | 794 | 23 | 3% |
| 2014-15 | 822 | 24 | 3% |
| 2015-16 | 780 | 31 | 4% |
| 2016-17 | 719 | 28 | 4% |
| 2017-18 | 722 | 28 | 4% |
| 2018-19 | 716 | 21 | 3% |
| 2019-20 | 709 | 28 | 4% |
| 2020-21 | 688 | 27 | 4% |
| 2021-22 | 733 | 29 | 4% |
| 2022-23 | 773 | 38 | 5% |
| 2023-24 | 598 | 23 | 4% |
| 2024-25 | 591 | 29 | 5% |
