Six students from Dade County have been approved for Georgia’s new Promise Scholarship program, joining thousands across the state who will receive education vouchers worth more than $6,000 for the upcoming school year.
The Georgia Promise Scholarship, managed by the Georgia Student Finance Commission, is designed to give families more control over their children’s education. The funds—disbursed in four payments throughout the academic year—can be used for private school tuition, tutoring, curriculum materials, and other approved educational expenses.
To qualify, students must live in attendance zones for public schools ranked in the bottom 25% statewide for academic performance.
Statewide, more than 8,000 students have been deemed eligible so far, with tens of thousands of families applying since the program opened.
In Northwest Georgia, a total of 120 students have been accepted into the program. Here’s how the local numbers break down:
Whitfield County: 64 students
Murray County: 34 students
Catoosa County: 12 students
Dade County: 6 students
Walker County: 4 students
The scholarship is part of a broader effort by Georgia lawmakers to increase school choice, especially in communities where educational outcomes have lagged. Supporters say it gives families more flexibility, while critics have raised concerns about the impact on public school funding.
