In the 2024-25 school year, Bethune Middle School had 107 African American students enrolled, representing a 16.4% decline compared with the prior year, according to data from the Georgia Department of Education.
Records indicated that the school had a total enrollment of 449 students for 2024-25. African American students made up 24% of all students, ranking as the second-largest group in the school.
Bethune Middle School is part of the Charlton County School District, which is based in Folkston.
Of the four schools in Charlton County School District, Folkston Elementary School reported the largest number of African American students in the 2024-25 school year with 140 enrolled.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports the statewide racial and ethnic distribution for Georgia public school students was 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.
According to the Georgia Department of Education, chronic absenteeism continues to be a significant challenge after the pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing at least 10% of school days in 2024. In response, GaDOE started a statewide effort featuring a real-time attendance dashboard, public awareness initiatives, and targeted help for districts with the highest needs.
In 2025, Georgia legislators approved a bill that updates attendance laws and prohibits expulsion solely because of absenteeism. The law expands reporting requirements and lines up with programs designed to support students earning diplomas through alternate methods.
As of 2026, Georgia’s average student-to-teacher ratio was about 14:1, better than the national ratio of 15:1.
| School Year | Total Enrollment | Total African American students | % of African American students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 616 | 190 | 31% |
| 2011-12 | 581 | 185 | 32% |
| 2012-13 | 567 | 181 | 32% |
| 2013-14 | 539 | 172 | 32% |
| 2014-15 | 519 | 166 | 32% |
| 2015-16 | 503 | 165 | 33% |
| 2016-17 | 525 | 173 | 33% |
| 2017-18 | 557 | 178 | 32% |
| 2018-19 | 580 | 191 | 33% |
| 2019-20 | 573 | 183 | 32% |
| 2020-21 | 578 | 179 | 31% |
| 2021-22 | 591 | 189 | 32% |
| 2022-23 | 551 | 176 | 32% |
| 2023-24 | 460 | 128 | 28% |
| 2024-25 | 449 | 107 | 24% |
