Hispanic students represented 3% of Bethune Middle School enrollment in 2024-25

Thirteen Hispanic students attended Bethune Middle School in the 2024-25 school year, marking a 44.4% increase from the prior year, according to the Georgia Department of Education.

The school’s 2024-25 total enrollment reached 449 students. Hispanic students comprised 3% of the student population, making them the smallest demographic group on campus.

Bethune Middle School is part of the Charlton County School District, with the district’s central office based in Folkston.

Within Charlton County School District’s four schools, Folkston Elementary School recorded the largest count of Hispanic students for 2024-25, enrolling 14 students.

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that Georgia public school students 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 challenge Georgia schools after the pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing 10% or more of days in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Education. The GaDOE began a state-level initiative that offers a real-time attendance dashboard, a public awareness campaign, and specific support for districts with greater needs to improve daily attendance rates.

Georgia passed legislation in 2025 to update school attendance laws, prohibiting expulsion purely for absenteeism. The new law includes additional reporting and is designed to align with programs offering alternative diploma pathways for students. More details can be found here.

In 2026, Georgia’s average student-to-teacher ratio was about 14:1, surpassing the national average of 15:1.