Liberty County schools welcomed 826 kindergarten students in 2023-24 school year

Richard Woods State School Superintendent - Facebook
Richard Woods State School Superintendent - Facebook
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There were 826 kindergarten students enrolled in Liberty County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 4.6% less than the previous year, according to reports from the Georgia Department of Education.

Waldo Pafford Elementary School welcomed the largest number of kindergarten students among county schools, registering 146 students during the 2023-24 school year.

Within Liberty County schools, the highest student count was found in ninth grade, with the smallest class sizes seen in 12th grade.

Statewide, Liberty County ranked 36th in enrollment numbers, with a total of 10,275 students enrolled in the 2023-24 school year. It was also ranked 36th the year before.

According to the Georgia Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2025-3 report, over 1.7 million students were enrolled in Georgia’s public schools. The state boasted a diverse and closely distributed student body across grade levels, with approximately 806,891 students (46.5%) in elementary school, 393,308 (22.7%) in middle school, and 536,379 (30.9%) in high school.

Chronic absenteeism remains a major issue in Georgia schools post-pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing 10% or more of school days in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Education. In response, GaDOE launched a statewide initiative including a real-time attendance dashboard, a public awareness campaign, and targeted support for high-need districts to boost daily attendance.

In 2025, Georgia lawmakers passed a bill updating school attendance laws to ban expulsion solely for absenteeism. The law also adds new reporting requirements and aligns with programs that help students earn diplomas through alternative paths.

As of 2025, Georgia has an average student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 14:1, which is better than the national average of 15:1. The state’s best ratios are found in preschool, with an average of 13:1, and in elementary and middle school grades, both at 14:1, while high schools have a higher average ratio of 16:1.

Liberty County Enrollment by Grade – Yearly Comparison

Kindergarten Enrollment in Liberty County Schools for 2023-24 School Year

School name # of Kindergarten Students Enrolled % of Student Body Total Enrollment
Waldo Pafford Elementary School 146 17.7% 823
Joseph Martin Elementary School 141 17.6% 802
Taylors Creek Elementary School 121 18.2% 665
Liberty Elementary School 119 15.8% 755
Frank Long Elementary School 113 16% 705
Button Gwinnett Elementary School 94 16.7% 563
Lyman Hall Elementary School 92 15% 615


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