West Jackson Middle School enrolled 186 Hispanic students for 2024-25

The Georgia Department of Education reports that West Jackson Middle School enrolled 186 Hispanic students for the 2024-25 school year, reflecting a 25.7% increase from the prior year.

Enrollment data indicate the school’s total student count was 983 for the 2024-25 school year. Hispanic students comprised 19% of all students, making them the school’s second-largest demographic.

West Jackson Middle School operates under the Jackson County School District, headquartered in Jefferson.

Of the district’s 10 schools, Jackson County High School recorded the highest Hispanic student enrollment for 2024-25, reaching 478 students.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public schools in Georgia served a student population that 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.

The Georgia Department of Education has highlighted chronic absenteeism as a challenge for schools post-pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing at least 10% of school days in 2024. To counter rising absence rates, GaDOE introduced measures such as an attendance dashboard, a public engagement drive, and additional support in districts most affected.

Starting in 2025, new Georgia attendance laws will prohibit expulsion solely for absenteeism and call for enhanced data reporting alongside expanded diploma recovery opportunities.

As of 2026, Georgia’s average student-to-teacher ratio stood at about 14:1, which remains more favorable than the nationwide average of 15:1.