Athens Reporter

There were 1,350 fourth grade students enrolled in Oconee County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 12.6% more than the previous year, according to reports from the Georgia Department of Education.

Oconee County Elementary School welcomed the largest number of fourth grade students among county schools, registering 307 students during the 2022-23 school year.

Within Oconee County schools, the highest student count was found in 10th grade, with the smallest class sizes seen in first grade.

Statewide, Oconee County ranked 43rd in enrollment numbers, with a total of 16,881 students enrolled in the 2022-23 school year. It was ranked 44th the year before.

While enrollment in Georgia inches closer to pre-pandemic levels, chronic absenteeism remains a serious challenge. In 2023, a significant portion of students (23%) missed 10% or more of their classes. Although this is slightly better than the peak of 25% in 2022, it's still nearly double the pre-pandemic rate of 13% recorded in 2019.

School name	# of 4th Grade Students Enrolled	% of Student Body	Total Enrollment
Oconee County Elementary School	307	32.3%	951
Dove Creek Elementary School	270	20.7%	1,304
Colham Ferry Elementary School	249	21.2%	1,175
Rocky Branch Elementary School	222	19%	1,166
High Shoals Elementary School	169	15.3%	1,101
Malcom Bridge Elementary School	133	16.6%	800
Oconee County Primary School	0	0%	964