In the 2024-25 school year, Bethlehem Elementary School enrolled 82 African American students, a 1.2% decrease from the prior year, based on data from the Georgia Department of Education.
Total enrollment at Bethlehem Elementary School reached 591 students for 2024-25. African American students represented 14% of the overall student body, ranking as the third largest demographic group at the school.
This school is part of the Barrow County School District, which has its main office in Winder.
Across Barrow County’s 16 schools, Apalachee High School had the largest number of African American students in the 2024-25 school year, enrolling 364 students.
Georgia public schools served over 1.7 million students, according to the Georgia Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2026-1 report. Most students attended elementary grades, with 787,206 (45.9%), followed by 388,733 (22.7%) in middle school and 539,092 (31.4%) in high school.
Georgia schools continue to face issues with chronic absenteeism post-pandemic, as 20.7% of students missed 10% or more school days in 2024, according to state data. The Georgia Department of Education responded by launching a new statewide initiative that features a real-time attendance dashboard, a public awareness effort, and targeted assistance for districts with high rates of absenteeism.
In 2025, state lawmakers enacted updated school attendance laws prohibiting expulsion solely for absenteeism. The legislation also introduces additional reporting requirements and aligns with programs supporting alternative diploma pathways.
By 2026, Georgia’s average student-teacher ratio was approximately 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 | 894 | 107 | 12% |
| 2011-12 | 742 | 74 | 10% |
| 2012-13 | 773 | 77 | 10% |
| 2013-14 | 794 | 79 | 10% |
| 2014-15 | 822 | 98 | 12% |
| 2015-16 | 780 | 85 | 11% |
| 2016-17 | 719 | 79 | 11% |
| 2017-18 | 722 | 72 | 10% |
| 2018-19 | 716 | 64 | 9% |
| 2019-20 | 709 | 56 | 8% |
| 2020-21 | 688 | 55 | 8% |
| 2021-22 | 733 | 65 | 9% |
| 2022-23 | 773 | 61 | 8% |
| 2023-24 | 598 | 83 | 14% |
| 2024-25 | 591 | 82 | 14% |