Waldo Pafford Elementary counts 22 Asian students in 2024-25 enrollment

The 2024-25 school year saw Waldo Pafford Elementary School report 22 Asian students, which represents an 8.3% decline from the prior year, based on data from the Georgia Department of Education.

Total enrollment at Waldo Pafford Elementary reached 735 students for 2024-25, according to school data. Asian students comprised 3% of the overall student population, making them the smallest demographic group at the school.

Waldo Pafford Elementary is part of the Liberty County School District, with its headquarters in Hinesville.

Within the Liberty County School District’s 12 schools, Bradwell Institute had the largest Asian student enrollment for 2024-25, serving 37 students.

The National Center for Education Statistics reported that public school enrollment in Georgia includes 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 students.

Chronic absenteeism continues to impact Georgia schools after the pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing at least 10% of school days in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Education. In response, the department launched a statewide campaign that features a real-time attendance dashboard, raised public awareness, and increased assistance for high-need districts to improve attendance rates.

A new law passed by Georgia lawmakers in 2025 updated attendance policies, prohibiting expulsion for absenteeism alone. The legislation also establishes new reporting duties and allows for alternative diploma pathways to help more students graduate.

By 2026, Georgia’s average student-to-teacher ratio stood at about 14:1, which is lower than the national average of 15:1.