These days, one link keeps popping up in the Gwinnett moms' group chat. It's the page for the Georgia Promise Scholarship.

This is a state program that allows up to $6,500 per student to be used for private school tuition or homeschooling costs. However, there's still talk that "Gwinnett has 16 eligible schools," so I decided to check the official list myself.

To cut to the chase, the 16 schools were based on the first-year list. It's true that the initial list for the 2025-26 school year included 16 schools from Gwinnett County.

But looking at the new list for the 2026-27 school year published by an agency under the governor's office, Gwinnett has 15 schools. Overall, there are more than 500 schools across the state.

This list includes schools that fall within the bottom 25% of Georgia public schools. The new list was created based on the average CCRPI scores for 2023 and 2024.

As I read through the Gwinnett list, I noticed some name changes. Hopkins, Meadowcreek Elementary, Moore Middle School, and Simonton Elementary have been added.

Conversely, Alford, Britt, Graves, Minor Elementary, and Summerour Middle School have been removed from this list. This is why you can't assume that just because a school was on the list last year, it will be there this year.

The schools that remain are Berkmar, Meadowcreek, South Gwinnett High School, Radloff Middle School, and Baldwin, Lawrenceville, Nesbit, Norcross, Rockbridge, and Stripling Elementary Schools. The International Transition Center is also included.

Here's the most confusing point. The criteria are based on the "zoned" school assigned to the child's address, not the school the child is currently attending.

This means that even if a child is attending a different school through a choice program, if their home address falls within the zone of a school on the list, they may still qualify. The opposite is also true.

There are a few more eligibility requirements. The child must have been enrolled in a Georgia public school for two consecutive semesters, and as an exception, children entering kindergarten can apply.

Parents must have lived in Georgia for at least a year. There are separate regulations for active-duty military families.

Now, let's talk about November. The remaining application period for the 2026-27 school year is from August 1 to 31, and then from November 1 to 30.

The August window has already closed, so the only remaining opportunity is in November. According to the official site, each application period is for the upcoming semester, so the November application is for the spring semester.

However, there's a really important condition attached. For the spring semester, only families with incomes below 400% of the federal poverty line (FPL) will be considered.

In the fall semester, families below 400% were given "priority," but in the spring semester, it becomes a "qualification requirement." I think many people might apply without knowing this difference and end up wasting their time.

The poverty line amount changes every year based on family size, so be sure to calculate what percentage your household falls under using that year's guidelines before applying. There's also a pre-qualification tool on the official site.

As for how the money is used, the $6,500 is not given all at once but is distributed in four quarterly payments.

Eligible expenses include tuition at participating private schools, various fees, textbooks, curriculum, tutoring by qualified teachers, and therapy services. Transportation costs to educational institutions are also recognized up to $500 per year.

Any unused funds can be rolled over to the next year up to 50% of the annual payment. I was a bit surprised by how reasonable this condition is.

However, you need to do the math realistically. Since tuition varies by private school, any amount exceeding $6,500 will ultimately be the family's responsibility.

So, I think it's more accurate to view this program as partial support rather than "free private school." It's best to first ask the school if they accept Promise students and if there are additional scholarships available.

Let me share my honest thoughts as well. I believe that providing other options for children assigned to schools in the bottom 25% is meaningful in terms of equal opportunity.

However, I also worry that investment in the remaining public school children should not decrease. Revitalizing the schools on the list is ultimately the way to help more children.

So, my guideline is this: if you meet the conditions, go ahead and apply, while also looking into the ESOL or tutoring programs at your current school.

Before November 1 arrives, here's what you need to do. Check the assigned school for your address on the school district's website and see if that school is on the 2026-27 list.

Then, gather your income documents and proof of residency in advance. It's also a good idea to call ahead to confirm whether your desired private school is a participating school and if there are openings for the spring semester.

The list changes every year, and the application periods are announced anew each year. Developing the habit of checking the official page at mygeorgiapromise.org instead of relying on group chat screenshots is the best tip.

Was your assigned school on the new list this time? If anyone has applied, please share your actual experience in the comments.