269 African American students attend Henderson Middle School in 2024-25

In the 2024-25 school year, Henderson Middle School enrolled 269 African American students, a decrease of 8.2% from the prior year, reports the Georgia Department of Education.

Total enrollment reached 1,349 students in 2024-25. African American students accounted for 20% of students, ranking as the third-largest demographic at the school.

The school is part of the DeKalb County School District, which is headquartered in Decatur.

Within DeKalb County School District, Lithonia High School had the most African American students enrolled in 2024-25, totaling 1,288 students across 129 schools.

The National Center for Education Statistics recorded student demographics for Georgia public schools as 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.

Following the pandemic, chronic absenteeism remains a concern in Georgia schools, with 20.7% of students missing at least 10% of school days in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Education. In response, GaDOE initiated a statewide strategy, including a real-time attendance dashboard, outreach efforts, and targeted supports for districts most in need to improve attendance.

In 2025, a new Georgia law changed school attendance rules to prohibit expulsion based solely on absenteeism. The legislation also created new reporting requirements and supports alternative pathways to graduation.

By 2026, Georgia’s average student-teacher ratio was approximately 14:1, compared to the national average of 15:1.