AUGUSTA, Ga. – A total of 42 schools in Richmond County have been included in a newly updated list of the state’s lowest-performing public schools, making students at these schools eligible for a $6,500 scholarship voucher. This initiative is part of the Georgia Promise Scholarship, which was approved by state lawmakers last year to provide families with the option to pursue private school education.

The scholarship vouchers are available to students who are zoned for schools included on the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement’s list of underperforming schools. With the announcement, parents now have the opportunity to apply for financial assistance for the 2024-2025 school year.

To qualify, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled in a Georgia public school for the 2024-2025 academic year or entering kindergarten in the 2025-2026 school year.
• Reside in the attendance zone of one of the identified lower-performing schools in the state.
• Have parents who have lived in Georgia for at least one year, with the exception of active-duty military families.
• Not be currently receiving the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship or the Georgia Student Scholarship Organization Scholarship.

The scholarship is designed to offer families an alternative to enrolling their children in underperforming public schools, providing them with the financial means to attend private institutions that may better meet their educational needs.

The application portal for the Georgia Promise Scholarship will open on March 1, 2025, and initial funding will be available on or after July 1, 2025. As the program rolls out, eligible families are encouraged to apply as soon as the portal opens to take full advantage of the scholarship opportunity.