Multiracial students account for 4% of Hephzibah Middle School enrollment in 2024-25

In the 2024-25 school year, Hephzibah Middle School enrolled 29 multiracial students, a 45% increase over the prior year, reports from the Georgia Department of Education show.

Hephzibah Middle School reported a total enrollment of 740 students in the 2024-25 school year. Multiracial students represented 4% of the student population, ranking as the second-smallest group within the school.

The school is part of Richmond County School District, headquartered in Augusta.

Freedom Park Elementary School had the largest number of multiracial students in the district during the 2024-25 school year, enrolling 73, out of the 47 schools in Richmond County School District.

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates public school students in Georgia were 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.

Chronic absenteeism continues to be a significant concern for Georgia schools after the pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing at least 10% of school days in 2024, the Georgia Department of Education reports. The statewide initiative launched by GaDOE includes a real-time student attendance dashboard, a public awareness campaign, and targeted resources for districts with greater need to improve daily attendance rates.

In 2025, Georgia lawmakers updated school attendance policy to prohibit expulsion solely for absenteeism. The legislation also instituted new reporting requirements and aligns with programs allowing students to receive diplomas via alternative pathways.

By 2026, Georgia’s average student-to-teacher ratio was approximately 14:1, an improvement over the national average of 15:1.