Among the many ethnicities represented in Paulding County schools, white was the most prevalent among Paulding County students in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Georgia Department of Education.
Of the 31,465 students attending Paulding County schools, 47.8% were white. African American students were the second most common ethnicity, making up 31.3% of Paulding County student body.
In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Paulding County, representing 50.3% of the student body.
In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in public schools in the county increased 0.4% when compared to the previous year.
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.
| School name | Most prevalent ethnic group | % of Total Student Population | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floyd L. Shelton Elementary School at Crossroad | White | 56% | 1,403 |
| Allgood Elementary School | African American | 40% | 830 |
| Dallas Elementary School | African American | 53% | 502 |
| Union Elementary School | White | 78% | 390 |
| North Paulding High School | White | 58% | 3,003 |
| Paulding County High School | White | 46% | 2,060 |
| East Paulding High School | White | 44% | 1,865 |
| Sammy McClure Sr. Middle School | White | 65% | 1,500 |
| Hiram High School | African American | 53% | 1,484 |
| WC Abney Elementary School | White | 43% | 1,293 |
| Burnt Hickory Elementary School | White | 72% | 1,045 |
| Roland W. Russom Elementary School | White | 53% | 960 |
| Lena Mae Moses Middle School | White | 45% | 927 |
| East Paulding Middle School | White | 53% | 869 |
| Herschel Jones Middle School | African American | 46% | 814 |
| Irma C. Austin Middle School | White | 44% | 813 |
| Hiram Elementary School | African American | 61% | 800 |
| Carl Scoggins Sr. Middle school | White | 66% | 776 |
| P. B. Ritch Middle School | African American | 57% | 714 |
| C. A. Roberts Elementary School | White | 56% | 638 |
| Sara M. Ragsdale Elementary School | White | 69% | 621 |
| McGarity Elementary School | White | 44% | 584 |
| Bessie L. Baggett Elementary School | African American | 39% | 577 |
| J. A. Dobbins Middle School | African American | 41% | 561 |
| Lillian C. Poole Elementary School | White | 48% | 483 |
| New Georgia Elementary School | White | 55% | 345 |
| South Paulding High School | White | 59% | 1,837 |
| Nebo Elementary School | White | 57% | 822 |
| Hal Hutchens Elementary School | African American | 40% | 656 |
| Connie Dugan Elementary School | White | 40% | 631 |
| Northside Elementary School | White | 51% | 613 |
| Sam D. Panter Elementary School | White | 48% | 554 |
| South Paulding Middle School | White | 60% | 495 |
