Hightower Elementary School reports 5 white students enrolled for 2024-25

During the 2024-25 school year, five white students were enrolled at Hightower Elementary School, marking a 16.7% decline from the prior year, according to the Georgia Department of Education.

According to the data, total enrollment at Hightower Elementary School stood at 580 students in the 2024-25 year. Of those, white students accounted for 1% of the population, making them one of the smallest demographic groups at the school.

The school operates under the DeKalb County School District, whose main office is located in Decatur.

Dunwoody High School reported the largest white student enrollment among the district’s 129 schools for the 2024-25 year, reaching 728 students.

The National Center for Education Statistics reported that, statewide, public school students in Georgia were 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 remains a significant concern for Georgia schools after the pandemic, with 20.7% of students missing 10% or more school days in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Education. To address this, GaDOE initiated a statewide program that includes a real-time attendance dashboard, public awareness efforts, and targeted support for high-need districts to improve attendance.

In 2025, Georgia legislators enacted a bill revising attendance statutes to prohibit expulsion solely for absenteeism. These updates impose new reporting requirements and align with efforts to support students in pursuing diplomas through alternative routes.

Georgia reported an average student-to-teacher ratio of about 14:1 in 2026, outperforming the national average ratio of 15:1 according to Public School Review.