African American students accounted for 14% of Schley County Elementary’s enrollment for 2024-25

The 2024-25 school year saw Schley County Elementary School enroll 72 African American students—a 35.8% increase compared to the prior year, based on Georgia Department of Education reports.

Schley County Elementary’s total enrollment reached 515 in 2024-25. African American students represented 14% of the student population, making them the school’s second-largest demographic group.

This school is situated within the Schley County School District, which is headquartered in Ellaville.

Out of the two schools in Schley County School District, Schley Middle High School had the largest number of African American students in the 2024-25 school year, totaling 89.

The National Center for Education Statistics reported that among public school students in Georgia, the racial and ethnic breakdown 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 an ongoing concern in Georgia schools after the pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing at least 10% of school days in 2024, the Georgia Department of Education reported. The GaDOE introduced a statewide program with a real-time attendance dashboard, a public information initiative, and assistance for the districts most at risk to help improve student attendance.

In 2025, Georgia legislators updated school attendance laws to prohibit expelling students solely due to absenteeism. The revised law also includes additional reporting obligations and aligns with alternative programs for earning a diploma.

By 2026, Georgia’s average student-to-teacher ratio reached about 14:1, which is an improvement over the national average of 15:1.