Taylor County Upper Elementary enrolls 104 African American students for 2024-25

During the 2024-25 school year, Taylor County Upper Elementary School enrolled 104 African American students, reflecting a 9.5% increase from the prior year, according to the Georgia Department of Education.

Total enrollment at Taylor County Upper Elementary School reached 249 students in the 2024-25 school year. African American students accounted for 42% of the total, making them the school’s second-largest demographic group.

The school operates within the Taylor County School District, whose central office is in Butler.

Of the four schools in the district, Taylor County High School had the largest number of African American students for the 2024-25 school year, with 150 enrolled.

The National Center for Education Statistics data indicate Georgia public schools had an enrollment of 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 students.

Chronic absenteeism has remained a challenge in Georgia schools following the pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing at least 10% of school days in 2024, as reported by the Georgia Department of Education. In response, GaDOE rolled out a statewide plan featuring a real-time attendance dashboard, a public awareness drive, and direct support for districts with the greatest need to encourage better attendance.

Georgia lawmakers adopted a bill in 2025 modifying school attendance laws to prohibit expulsion solely for absenteeism. The updated legislation introduces new reporting requirements and connects with programs designed to help students attain diplomas via alternative pathways. More can be read here.

By 2026, Georgia’s average student-to-teacher ratio was about 14:1, outperforming the national average of 15:1.