M. D. Roberts Middle School reports 674 African American students for 2024-25

For the 2024-25 school year, M. D. Roberts Middle School had 674 African American students, an increase of 8.7% over the prior year, based on data from the Georgia Department of Education.

The school’s total student body was 888, with African American students comprising 76%—the largest demographic represented at the school.

Located within the Clayton County School District, M. D. Roberts Middle School is part of a district whose headquarters are in Jonesboro.

Out of Clayton County School District’s 65 schools, Lovejoy High School documented the highest number of African American students in the 2024-25 school year at 1,614.

The Georgia Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2026-1 report noted more than 1.7 million students were enrolled in the state’s public schools. Elementary levels enrolled 787,206 students (45.9%), middle schools had 388,733 (22.7%), and high schools enrolled 539,092 (31.4%).

The rate of chronic absenteeism remains high in Georgia following the pandemic, with 20.7% of all students missing at least 10% of school days in 2024, the Georgia Department of Education data showed. To address this, GaDOE initiated statewide programs that include a real-time attendance dashboard, a public information campaign, and extra support for districts with higher needs.

Georgia legislators enacted a new law in 2025 to ban expulsions for absenteeism alone and to enhance reporting requirements. The bill also aligns with initiatives providing students alternative routes to a diploma. More can be found here.

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