Tift County schools welcomed 602 ninth grade students in 2023-24 school year

There were 602 ninth grade students enrolled in Tift County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 1.2% more than the previous year, according to reports from the Georgia Department of Education.

Tift County High School was the only school in the county during the 2023-24 school year.

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

Statewide, Tift County ranked 48th in enrollment numbers, with a total of 7,247 students enrolled in the 2023-24 school year. It was also ranked 48th 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.