Dames Ferry Elementary School reported 425 white students enrolled for 2024-25

In the 2024-25 school year, Dames Ferry Elementary School counted 425 white students, a 1.2% rise from the prior year, according to the Georgia Department of Education.

The school’s total enrollment reached 545 students that year. White students represented 78% of the student population, the largest share among all groups.

Dames Ferry Elementary School operates within the Jones County School District, which has its central office in Gray.

Jones County High School had the largest white student enrollment in the district for 2024-25, totaling 995 students.

The National Center for Education Statistics shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of Georgia public school students as roughly 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 challenge Georgia schools after the pandemic. In 2024, 20.7% of students were absent for 10% or more of school days, Georgia Department of Education data shows. Efforts to improve this include a statewide real-time attendance dashboard, an awareness campaign, and specialized assistance for districts with higher needs, as outlined by GaDOE’s new initiative.

Also in 2025, state lawmakers updated school attendance laws, prohibiting expulsions solely for absenteeism. These new rules require expanded reporting and are aligned with programs supporting students to complete diplomas through alternative options.

Georgia reported an average student-to-teacher ratio of about 14:1 as of 2026, which remains lower than the national average of 15:1, according to Public School Review.