What was the largest student ethnicity in Clayton County schools in 2024-25?

Black students were the largest ethnic group in Clayton County schools in the 2024-25 school year, according to the Georgia Department of Education.

Of the 60,174 students attending Clayton County schools, 64.5% were Black. Hispanic students were the second-largest ethnic group, making up 22.5% of enrollment.

In the previous school year, Black students were also the largest group in Clayton County, accounting for 65% of the total enrollment.

Total enrollment in Clayton County schools declined by 0.3% in the 2024-25 school year compared with the previous year.

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.