Trenton, GA – In advance of Saturday’s start of the first application period for the new Georgia Promise Scholarship, the Governor’s Office for Student Achievement revealed its final, listed version of school eligibility, with one in Dade County and two schools in Walker County so identified.
Dade County High School in Trenton and both Rossville Elementary and Middle School were included in both the original and twice revamped GOSA list.
LaFayette High School in Walker County was initially identified but later dropped from the list of schools determined to be performing in the bottom 25% of state schools.
You can find the list at the enclosed link below.
In a look at the Georgia Department of Education’s 2024 College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) on Rossville Middle School, the demographics revealed 87% of the 507 students were categorized as “economically disadvantaged” and more than 22% students with disability.
Rossville Middle School’s overall score from the GOSA report was 69.3.
More dismal were the numbers from Rossville Elementary with an overall GOSA score of 52.5. More than 85% of students are termed economically disadvantaged and more than 24% students with disability.
Additionally troubling are the negative trending figures in component testing. With drops in both “progress” and “readiness” cited, while “content mastery” scores remained unchanged.
According to the GOSA finding; just under half of Rossville Elementary students are reading at or above grade level.
The CCRPI report for Dade County High School was somewhat better but still enough to warrant inclusion for the voucher program.
Dade County High School’s overall GOSA achievement score is 64.1.
A little more than 61% of Dade County High School’s 617 students are considered economically disadvantaged.
Comparatively better scores of 56.1 in progress and 81.6 readiness components is noted, with more than 68% of students reading at or above respective grade levels.
For breakdowns on the above schools and others possibly eligible for Georgia Promise vouchers, the CCRPI report summaries can be found here.
Last week’s designation by the Governor’s Office for Student Achievement allows parents of students zoned for schools so identified to apply for the Georgia Promise Scholarship Vouchers program.
Statewide, some 400,000 students could be eligible, as families can get up to $6,500 to pay for private school tuition, home-school expenses or other education-related costs.
The first application window will run from March 1 to April 15.
In addition to attending a low-performing school, the student must also have attended the public school for at least two consecutive semesters or be entering kindergarten.
The student’s parent or parents must have been a Georgia resident for at least a year unless they are on active duty in the military. The law also states that priority goes to families who earn less than four times the federal poverty level.
For more information on program eligibility and application, click on www.gapromise.com
-By Vince Lennon
