African American enrollment at Eddie White Middle School reaches 1,092 for 2024-25

Reports from the Georgia Department of Education show that in the 2024-25 school year, Eddie White Middle School enrolled 1,092 African American students, representing a 2.5% increase compared to the prior year.

The school’s total enrollment was 1,383 students, with African American students comprising 79% of the population, making them the predominant group in the student body.

Located in Clayton County School District, the school’s central office is based in Jonesboro.

Across Clayton County School District’s 65 schools, Lovejoy High School reported the highest number of enrolled African American students in the 2024-25 period, totaling 1,614.

Georgia’s public schools enrolled more than 1.7 million students overall, as stated in the Georgia Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2026-1 report. Enrollment figures were highest at the elementary level with 787,206 students (45.9%), while middle schools included 388,733 students (22.7%), and high schools had 539,092 (31.4%).

Chronic absenteeism continues to be a significant concern in Georgia following the pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing at least 10% of school days in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Education. In response, the GaDOE rolled out a statewide initiative featuring a real-time attendance dashboard, public awareness campaigns, and additional support for districts with the highest needs to improve daily student attendance.

In 2025, new legislation was enacted in Georgia updating attendance laws to prohibit expulsions solely for absenteeism. The law introduces new reporting guidelines and is coordinated with alternative diploma programs.

As of 2026, Georgia reported an average student-teacher ratio of about 14:1, which is lower than the national average of 15:1.