The Georgia Department of Education reports that Upson-Lee Middle School enrolled 318 African American students for the 2024-25 school year, a 0.6% decrease from the prior year.
Total enrollment at Upson-Lee Middle School reached 884 students in the 2024-25 school year. Data shows African American students made up 36% of the population, representing the school’s second-largest group.
The school operates within the Thomaston-Upson County School District, which is headquartered in Thomaston.
Out of four schools in the Thomaston-Upson County School District, Upson-Lee High School reported the most African American students for the 2024-25 school year, enrolling 428.
The Georgia Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2026-1 report lists more than 1.7 million students enrolled in Georgia public schools. Elementary grades account for the largest share at 787,206 students (45.9%), followed by middle grades with 388,733 (22.7%), and high school at 539,092 (31.4%).
Since the pandemic, chronic absenteeism has continued as a widespread concern, with 20.7% of Georgia students missing 10% or more days in 2024, based on Georgia Department of Education data. To address this, the GaDOE rolled out a statewide effort, implementing a real-time attendance dashboard, a public outreach campaign, and targeted support to aid high-need districts in improving attendance.
In 2025, Georgia legislators amended school attendance laws, prohibiting expulsion solely for absenteeism. The update includes additional reporting requirements and aligns attendance with alternative diploma achievement programs.
By 2026, Georgia maintained an average student-teacher ratio of about 14:1, which compares favorably to the national average of 15:1.
| School Year | Total Enrollment | Total African American students | % of African American students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 1,046 | 387 | 37% |
| 2011-12 | 1,071 | 385 | 36% |
| 2012-13 | 1,037 | 352 | 34% |
| 2013-14 | 1,045 | 365 | 35% |
| 2014-15 | 998 | 339 | 34% |
| 2015-16 | 923 | 295 | 32% |
| 2016-17 | 870 | 278 | 32% |
| 2017-18 | 908 | 308 | 34% |
| 2018-19 | 917 | 339 | 37% |
| 2019-20 | 942 | 339 | 36% |
| 2020-21 | 926 | 333 | 36% |
| 2021-22 | 906 | 326 | 36% |
| 2022-23 | 926 | 324 | 35% |
| 2023-24 | 917 | 320 | 35% |
| 2024-25 | 884 | 318 | 36% |
