In the 2024-25 school year, Hawthorne Elementary School enrolled 506 African American students, a 4.3% decline compared with the prior year, according to the Georgia Department of Education.
Total enrollment at Hawthorne Elementary School reached 792 students in 2024-25. African American students constituted 64% of the population, the school’s largest demographic group.
The school operates within the Clayton County School District, which is headquartered in Jonesboro.
Of the district’s 65 schools, Lovejoy High School had the highest African American enrollment in 2024-25, with 1,614 students.
The National Center for Education Statistics reported that Georgia’s public school students were made up 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.
After the pandemic, chronic absenteeism has been a concern for Georgia schools, with 20.7% of students missing at least 10% of school days in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Education. To address this, the Georgia Department of Education launched a comprehensive campaign featuring a real-time attendance dashboard and targeted support for districts with high needs.
In 2025, Georgia lawmakers approved an update to school attendance laws that prevents expulsion solely due to absenteeism. The measure introduces new reporting requirements and supports alternative paths toward graduation.
By 2026, Georgia reported an average student-to-teacher ratio of around 14:1, surpassing the national average of 15:1.
| School Year | Total Enrollment | Total African American students | % of African American students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 963 | 510 | 53% |
| 2011-12 | 999 | 569 | 57% |
| 2012-13 | 925 | 536 | 58% |
| 2013-14 | 927 | 556 | 60% |
| 2014-15 | 903 | 559 | 62% |
| 2015-16 | 946 | 624 | 66% |
| 2016-17 | 919 | 606 | 66% |
| 2017-18 | 907 | 607 | 67% |
| 2018-19 | 857 | 591 | 69% |
| 2019-20 | 878 | 605 | 69% |
| 2020-21 | 833 | 566 | 68% |
| 2021-22 | 807 | 556 | 69% |
| 2022-23 | 803 | 562 | 70% |
| 2023-24 | 791 | 529 | 67% |
| 2024-25 | 792 | 506 | 64% |
