In the 2024-25 school year, Lamar County Middle School counted 194 African American students, a 7.2% decrease from the prior year, as reported by the Georgia Department of Education.
Total enrollment at Lamar County Middle School reached 627 students for 2024-25. African American students represented 31% of the student population, ranking as the second-largest demographic group at the school.
Located in the Lamar County School District with its central office in Barnesville, the school is part of a districtwide network.
Lamar County High School saw the district’s largest African American student enrollment, totaling 280 students in the 2024-25 school year, among the four district schools.
Statewide, public schools in Georgia enrolled more than 1.7 million students, the Georgia Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2026-1 report found. Of these, 787,206 were in elementary grades (45.9%), 388,733 attended middle school (22.7%), and 539,092 were enrolled in high school (31.4%).
The post-pandemic period in Georgia schools continues to see high rates of chronic absenteeism. In 2024, 20.7% of students missed at least 10% of the school year, according to the Georgia Department of Education. To address this, the department launched initiatives such as a real-time attendance dashboard, public outreach, and assistance for high-need school districts aimed at improving daily attendance.
Georgia lawmakers passed legislation in 2025 that revises school attendance rules and prohibits expulsion solely due to absenteeism. The law also introduces updated reporting mandates and works with programs that assist students in obtaining diplomas through alternative routes.
By 2026, the average student-to-teacher ratio in Georgia was about 14:1, lower than the national average of 15:1.
| School Year | Total Enrollment | Total African American students | % of African American students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 551 | 170 | 31% |
| 2011-12 | 570 | 188 | 33% |
| 2012-13 | 604 | 223 | 37% |
| 2013-14 | 626 | 225 | 36% |
| 2014-15 | 604 | 217 | 36% |
| 2015-16 | 585 | 187 | 32% |
| 2016-17 | 606 | 187 | 31% |
| 2017-18 | 602 | 180 | 30% |
| 2018-19 | 624 | 187 | 30% |
| 2019-20 | 614 | 178 | 29% |
| 2020-21 | 609 | 194 | 32% |
| 2021-22 | 651 | 221 | 34% |
| 2022-23 | 667 | 226 | 34% |
| 2023-24 | 635 | 209 | 33% |
| 2024-25 | 627 | 194 | 31% |
