Of the 1,696,474 students enrolled in Georgia schools during the 2024-25 school year, around 34%, or 576,801 students, were white, according to the Georgia Department of Education.
This marks a 3% decrease from 594,892 white students enrolled the previous year.
Meanwhile, Black students made up the largest racial group in Georgia schools, representing 36% of the student population.
More than 1.7 million students were enrolled in Georgia’s public schools, according to the Georgia Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2026-1 report. Enrollment was highest in elementary grades, with 787,206 students (45.9%), followed by middle school with 388,733 students (22.7%), and high school with 539,092 students (31.4%).
Chronic absenteeism remains a major issue in Georgia schools post-pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing 10% or more of school days in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Education. In response, GaDOE launched a statewide initiative including a real-time attendance dashboard, a public awareness campaign, and targeted support for high-need districts to boost daily attendance.
In 2025, Georgia lawmakers passed a bill updating school attendance laws to ban expulsion solely for absenteeism. The law also adds new reporting requirements and aligns with programs that help students earn diplomas through alternative paths.
As of 2026, Georgia had an average student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 14:1, which is better than the national average of 15:1.
| Year | Total Enrollment | No. of White Students | White Students % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 1,702,352 | 612,847 | 36% |
| 2023-24 | 1,699,690 | 594,892 | 35% |
| 2024-25 | 1,696,474 | 576,801 | 34% |
Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia Department of Education. The source data can be found here.
