East Jackson Elementary sees 98 Hispanic students enrolled for 2024-25 term

During the 2024-25 term, East Jackson Elementary School reported an enrollment of 98 Hispanic students, reflecting a 16.7% increase from the prior year, the Georgia Department of Education reported.

The school had a total enrollment of 577 students for 2024-25, with Hispanic students comprising 17% of the population—making them the second-largest demographic group on campus.

East Jackson Elementary is part of the Jackson County School District, whose main office is located in Jefferson.

Within the 10 schools operated by the Jackson County School District, Jackson County High School reported the largest number of Hispanic enrollees for 2024-25, with 478 students.

Enrollment in Georgia public schools exceeded 1.7 million students, according to the Georgia Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2026-1 statistics. The data shows the largest enrollment in elementary grades at 787,206 (45.9%), followed by middle school with 388,733 (22.7%), and high school with 539,092 (31.4%).

Chronic absenteeism continues to pose a challenge across Georgia schools following the pandemic, as 20.7% of students missed at least 10% of school days in 2024, Georgia Department of Education data show. In response, the department introduced a statewide effort that includes tools like a real-time attendance dashboard, a public awareness initiative, and extra support for districts identified with higher needs to increase daily attendance.

In 2025, the Georgia General Assembly approved legislation revising attendance policies to prohibit expulsion solely on the basis of absenteeism. The updated law added reporting requirements and brings regulations in line with programs allowing students to earn diplomas through alternative pathways.

By 2026, Georgia averaged a student-to-teacher ratio of about 14:1, outperforming the national average of 15:1.