329 African American students attended Upson-Lee Elementary in 2024-25, comprising 35% of enrollment

Upson-Lee Elementary School reported enrolling 329 African American students for the 2024-25 school year, marking a 0.9% increase compared to the prior year, according to the Georgia Department of Education.

Total enrollment at Upson-Lee Elementary reached 942 students during the 2024-25 school year. African American students represented 35% of the student population, ranking as the school’s second-largest group.

The school is part of the Thomaston-Upson County School District, which is based in Thomaston.

Among the four schools in Thomaston-Upson County School District, Upson-Lee High School recorded the most African American students enrolled in the 2024-25 school year with 428 students.

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics showed Georgia’s public school enrollment by race and ethnicity was about 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.

The Georgia Department of Education reported that 20.7% of students in 2024 missed 10% or more school days, as chronic absenteeism continues to challenge schools statewide after the pandemic. To improve attendance, the agency launched new efforts that include a real-time attendance dashboard, public awareness campaigns, and additional support for high-need districts.

In 2025, Georgia passed new school attendance legislation prohibiting expulsions solely due to absenteeism. The updated law also adds new reporting rules and aligns with programs allowing alternative pathways to a diploma.

As of 2026, Georgia maintained an average student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1, which was lower than the national average of 15:1.