Putnam County Middle School reports 218 African American students enrolled for 2024-25

During the 2024-25 school year, Putnam County Middle School had 218 African American students enrolled, consistent with the prior year, reports from the Georgia Department of Education show.

The school’s total enrollment reached 624 students for 2024-25. African American students accounted for 35% of those enrolled, representing the school’s second-largest group.

The campus is part of Putnam County School District, with its administrative office in Eatonton.

Among the district’s four schools, Putnam County High School recorded the largest number of African American students for the 2024-25 year, totaling 330.

The National Center for Education Statistics reported that the racial and ethnic makeup of Georgia’s public school student population was approximately 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.

Chronic absenteeism continues to be a significant concern in Georgia schools after the pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing 10% or more school days in 2024, the Georgia Department of Education reported. To address this, GaDOE introduced a statewide initiative that features a real-time attendance dashboard, a public awareness campaign, and strategic support for districts with higher needs to improve regular attendance.

Georgia lawmakers passed legislation in 2025 updating school attendance policies to prohibit expulsion based solely on absenteeism. The law introduces new reporting guidelines and supports programs helping students earn their diplomas through alternative methods. More details can be found at this link.

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