Thomson Elementary School saw an enrollment of 226 African American students for the 2024-25 school year, representing an 8.7% rise compared to the prior year, based on information from the Georgia Department of Education.
Total enrollment at Thomson Elementary School reached 328 students for 2024-25. African American students comprised 69% of the overall student body, making up the largest single group at the school.
Situated in the McDuffie County School District, the school’s administrative offices are located in Thomson.
Of the six schools in the McDuffie County School District, Thomson High School counted the most African American students enrolled for 2024-25, with 577 students.
Statewide, more than 1.7 million students attended Georgia public schools, according to the Georgia Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2026-1 report. Elementary grades accounted for the largest share at 787,206 students (45.9%), followed by 388,733 middle schoolers (22.7%) and 539,092 in high school (31.4%).
Chronic absenteeism continues to be a significant challenge in Georgia schools following the pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing 10% or more of school days in 2024, the Georgia Department of Education reported. To address this, the GaDOE began a statewide initiative featuring a real-time attendance dashboard, a public information campaign, and targeted support to high-need districts to improve daily attendance.
In 2025, Georgia lawmakers approved an update to school attendance policy that prohibits expulsion solely for absenteeism. The law also introduces additional reporting requirements and aligns with initiatives offering alternative diploma paths for students.
By 2026, Georgia’s average student-to-teacher ratio stood at approximately 14:1, outperforming the national average of 15:1.
| School Year | Total Enrollment | Total African American students | % of African American students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 462 | 272 | 59% |
| 2011-12 | 469 | 272 | 58% |
| 2012-13 | 501 | 285 | 57% |
| 2013-14 | 514 | 308 | 60% |
| 2014-15 | 482 | 308 | 64% |
| 2015-16 | 479 | 316 | 66% |
| 2016-17 | 507 | 344 | 68% |
| 2017-18 | 470 | 310 | 66% |
| 2018-19 | 438 | 297 | 68% |
| 2019-20 | 378 | 272 | 72% |
| 2020-21 | 318 | 228 | 72% |
| 2021-22 | 304 | 218 | 72% |
| 2022-23 | 285 | 213 | 75% |
| 2023-24 | 307 | 208 | 68% |
| 2024-25 | 328 | 226 | 69% |
