African American student enrollment reaches 778 at Southwest High School for 2024-25

The Georgia Department of Education reported that 778 African American students enrolled at Southwest High School for the 2024-25 school year, a 4% rise over the prior year.

Enrollment data indicated that the school’s total student body numbered 846 for 2024-25. African American students made up 92% of enrolled students, establishing them as the predominant group on campus.

Bibb County School District, which includes Southwest High, is managed from a central office in Macon.

Within Bibb County’s 34 schools, Westside High School had the district’s highest count of African American students during 2024-25, totaling 804 enrollees.

More than 1.7 million students attended Georgia public schools overall, per the Georgia Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2026-1 report. The majority, 787,206 (45.9%), were in elementary school grades, with 388,733 (22.7%) in middle school and 539,092 (31.4%) in high school grades.

Chronic absenteeism continues to challenge Georgia schools in the aftermath of the pandemic, as 20.7% of students missed at least 10% of school days in 2024, according to state data. The Georgia Department of Education responded by launching statewide efforts including a real-time attendance dashboard, an awareness drive, and extra resources for high-need areas to encourage regular attendance.

In 2025, state lawmakers updated attendance laws to ensure students could no longer be expelled solely for absenteeism. The new law also imposes additional reporting duties and supports alternative diploma pathways.

By 2026, Georgia’s average student-to-teacher ratio stood at roughly 14:1, remaining better than the national average of 15:1.