In the 2024-25 school year, Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary enrolled 168 African American students, a decrease of 2.3% from the prior year, according to the Georgia Department of Education.
Total enrollment at the school reached 510 students for 2024-25. African American students represented 33% of the population, ranking as the second-largest group enrolled.
The school operates under the Clarke County School District, with the district office based in Athens.
Within Clarke County School District’s 21 schools, Clarke Central High School recorded the greatest African American student enrollment with 725 students in the 2024-25 school year.
National Center for Education Statistics data shows that Georgia’s public school student body 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 challenge schools in Georgia following the pandemic. The Georgia Department of Education reports 20.7% of students missed at least 10% of school days in 2024. GaDOE introduced a statewide initiative with a real-time attendance dashboard, awareness campaign, and targeted strategies for districts most affected by absenteeism.
New legislation in 2025 brought changes to Georgia’s school attendance policies, now banning expulsions solely for excessive absences and requiring additional reporting. The law also enacts provisions to help students earn diplomas through alternative pathways.
By 2026, Georgia had lowered its student-to-teacher ratio to about 14:1, slightly below the national average of 15:1.
| School Year | Total Enrollment | Total African American students | % of African American students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 547 | 235 | 43% |
| 2011-12 | 541 | 238 | 44% |
| 2012-13 | 549 | 219 | 40% |
| 2013-14 | 543 | 238 | 44% |
| 2014-15 | 516 | 247 | 48% |
| 2015-16 | 498 | 204 | 41% |
| 2016-17 | 514 | 215 | 42% |
| 2017-18 | 492 | 221 | 45% |
| 2018-19 | 506 | 192 | 38% |
| 2019-20 | 531 | 196 | 37% |
| 2020-21 | 516 | 190 | 37% |
| 2021-22 | 527 | 205 | 39% |
| 2022-23 | 509 | 198 | 39% |
| 2023-24 | 492 | 172 | 35% |
| 2024-25 | 510 | 168 | 33% |
