There were 42 African American students attending Gum Springs Elementary School in the 2024-25 school year, a decrease of 36.4% compared to the prior year, reports the Georgia Department of Education.
The school’s total enrollment for 2024-25 was 859 students, with African American students accounting for 5% of the population and ranking as the third-largest group at the school.
Gum Springs Elementary is part of the Jackson County School District, which is headquartered in Jefferson.
Jackson County High School had the largest number of African American students among district schools in 2024-25, with 260 enrolled.
Figures from the National Center for Education Statistics show that Georgia’s public school enrollment was 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 be a significant challenge in Georgia after the pandemic. In 2024, 20.7% of students missed at least 10% of school days, according to the Georgia Department of Education. To address this, GaDOE introduced a statewide effort that features a real-time attendance dashboard, public outreach, and focused select support for high-risk districts.
Georgia lawmakers in 2025 approved a bill revising school attendance laws, prohibiting expulsions due only to absenteeism. The legislation also includes new reporting policies and aligns with alternatives for earning diplomas.
By 2026, Georgia reported an average student-to-teacher ratio of about 14:1, which is lower than the national figure of 15:1.
| School Year | Total Enrollment | Total African American students | % of African American students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 729 | 21 | 3% |
| 2011-12 | 741 | 14 | 2% |
| 2012-13 | 739 | 14 | 2% |
| 2013-14 | 754 | 15 | 2% |
| 2014-15 | 793 | 23 | 3% |
| 2015-16 | 783 | 15 | 2% |
| 2016-17 | 783 | 15 | 2% |
| 2017-18 | 818 | 24 | 3% |
| 2018-19 | 798 | 15 | 2% |
| 2019-20 | 853 | 25 | 3% |
| 2020-21 | 894 | 26 | 3% |
| 2021-22 | 1,006 | 30 | 3% |
| 2022-23 | 1,060 | 53 | 5% |
| 2023-24 | 1,101 | 66 | 6% |
| 2024-25 | 859 | 42 | 5% |
