The 2024-25 school year saw Charles R. Drew High School enrolling 939 African American students, an increase of 1.4% compared to the prior year, according to the Georgia Department of Education.
The overall enrollment at Charles R. Drew High School reached 1,649 students during the 2024-25 school year, with African American students comprising 57% of the population, making them the largest demographic group at the school.
Located within the Clayton County School District and supported from the central office in Jonesboro, Charles R. Drew High School reflects the district’s diversity.
Of the 65 schools across the Clayton County School District, Lovejoy High School reported the most African American students in 2024-25, totaling 1,614.
According to the Georgia Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2026-1 report, over 1.7 million students attended Georgia public schools. Elementary schools had the largest enrollment with 787,206 students (45.9%), followed by middle schools at 388,733 (22.7%) and high schools at 539,092 (31.4%).
Georgia has continued to face high rates of chronic absenteeism in schools, with 20.7% of students missing 10% or more of school days in 2024, as reported by the Georgia Department of Education. To address this, the GaDOE has introduced statewide efforts such as a real-time attendance dashboard, a statewide awareness campaign, and targeted support for districts with elevated needs to improve daily attendance.
Legislation passed by Georgia lawmakers in 2025 updated attendance laws, prohibiting expulsion based solely on absenteeism. The updated law also introduced additional reporting measures and supports programs offering students alternative ways to earn their diplomas.
By 2026, Georgia reported an average student-to-teacher ratio of about 14:1, which is lower than the national average of 15:1.
| School Year | Total Enrollment | Total African American students | % of African American students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 1,151 | 932 | 81% |
| 2011-12 | 1,541 | 1,232 | 80% |
| 2012-13 | 1,498 | 1,168 | 78% |
| 2013-14 | 1,532 | 1,164 | 76% |
| 2014-15 | 1,528 | 1,161 | 76% |
| 2015-16 | 1,528 | 1,176 | 77% |
| 2016-17 | 1,529 | 1,146 | 75% |
| 2017-18 | 1,418 | 950 | 67% |
| 2018-19 | 1,460 | 963 | 66% |
| 2019-20 | 1,484 | 949 | 64% |
| 2020-21 | 1,572 | 990 | 63% |
| 2021-22 | 1,582 | 996 | 63% |
| 2022-23 | 1,589 | 953 | 60% |
| 2023-24 | 1,598 | 926 | 58% |
| 2024-25 | 1,649 | 939 | 57% |
