Blakeney Elementary reports 179 white students enrolled for 2024-25

During the 2024-25 school year, Blakeney Elementary School reported 179 white students, a decline of 4.8% compared to the prior year, data from the Georgia Department of Education show.

Total enrollment at Blakeney Elementary School reached 719 students, with white students accounting for 25% of the population and representing the second-largest demographic group.

The school operates within the Burke County School District, which is headquartered in Waynesboro.

Out of the district’s five schools, Burke County High School had the largest number of white students for the 2024-25 school year, totaling 266.

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that Georgia public schools comprised 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 students.

Chronic absenteeism continues to be a concern in Georgia schools after the pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing at least 10% of school days in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Education. Efforts from the GaDOE include a statewide real-time attendance dashboard, a public awareness campaign, and support for districts with high levels of absenteeism.

In 2025, a bill passed by Georgia lawmakers updated school attendance policies to prohibit expulsion solely due to absenteeism. The legislation also introduced new reporting requirements and supports alternative diploma-earning options for students.

By 2026, Georgia’s average student-to-teacher ratio was about 14:1, which remains below the national average ratio of 15:1.