Westside Elementary reports 81 African American students in 2024-25

During the 2024-25 school year, Westside Elementary School enrolled 81 African American students—a 5.8% decrease compared with the prior year, the Georgia Department of Education reported.

Total student enrollment for Westside Elementary School reached 545 for 2024-25. African American students comprised 15% of the enrolled population, making them the third-largest student group at the school.

The campus is part of the Polk County School District, which is administered from its central office in Cedartown.

Out of the 11 schools within the Polk County School District, Rockmart High School had the largest African American student enrollment in 2024-25, with 198 students counted.

National Center for Education Statistics data shows that for Georgia’s public schools, student demographics include 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 remains a significant concern in Georgia schools since the pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing 10% or more instructional days in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Education. In response, the GaDOE launched new measures in attendance tracking, an awareness campaign, and designated assistance for districts with the greatest need to increase daily attendance.

Legislative changes in 2025 included Georgia lawmakers passing a bill to update school attendance laws, specifically prohibiting expulsion solely for absenteeism. The law also introduces additional data reporting needs and works alongside diploma pathway programs for students.

By 2026, Georgia maintained a student-to-teacher ratio of about 14:1, surpassing the national average ratio of 15:1.

Information in this article was sourced from the Georgia Department of Education. Original data is available here.