Statham Elementary reports 106 African American students enrolled for 2024-25

Statham Elementary School saw 106 African American students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year, marking a 12.4% decline from the prior year, reports the Georgia Department of Education.

According to data, Statham Elementary School had a total enrollment of 709 students during the 2024-25 school year. African American students comprised 15% of the population, making them the third-largest demographic group at the school.

The campus is located in the Barrow County School District, which has its central office in Winder.

Out of the 16 schools in Barrow County School District, Apalachee High School had the largest number of African American enrollees in 2024-25, with 364 students.

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the racial and ethnic breakdown of Georgia’s public school students is estimated at 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 in the post-pandemic period, with 20.7% of students missing at least 10% of school days in 2024, the Georgia Department of Education states. A statewide initiative was launched by the GaDOE, introducing an attendance dashboard, a public awareness effort, and targeted interventions for districts in need of attendance improvement.

In 2025, legislation was passed in Georgia updating school attendance policies, prohibiting expulsion based only on absenteeism. The revised law also introduces new requirements for reporting and is coordinated with programs designed for alternative diploma pathways.

By 2026, Georgia maintained an average student-teacher ratio of about 14:1, slightly better than the national ratio of 15:1.