Paying for private school in metro Atlanta: every source
10 programs and sources for families in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb and Gwinnett: who qualifies, what each pays, and when to apply.
| Program | What it isn't |
|---|---|
| Georgia Promise: a $6,500 education savings account tied to your zoned school | A voucher every family can claim |
| GSNS: a scholarship paid to an authorized school for IEP or qualifying 504 students | A diagnosis-only or income-based program |
| SSO scholarships: tuition grants from nonprofits funded by state tax credits | Money you can combine with Promise in the same year |
Georgia Promise Scholarship (Promise ESA)
A $6,500 education savings account for students zoned to a public school on Georgia's lowest-performing 25% list, or starting kindergarten. Money lands in an Odyssey account that pays tuition, tutoring, therapy and approved supplies.
Who qualifies →Disability scholarship · No income testGeorgia Special Needs Scholarship (GSNS / SB 10)
Georgia's scholarship for students who had an IEP, or a 504 plan for a listed condition, in a public school last year. It pays tuition and fees at a private school on the Department of Education's authorized list.
Who qualifies →Tax-credit scholarship · Up to $15,980Georgia Tax-Credit Scholarships (Student Scholarship Organizations)
Georgia taxpayers redirect part of their state income tax to Student Scholarship Organizations (SSOs), which give tuition scholarships to families. The most an SSO may award one student in 2026 is $15,980.
Who qualifies →Free · Lottery-funded · Age 4Georgia's Pre-K Program
Georgia's lottery-funded Pre-K is free for every four-year-old: a 6.5-hour day, five days a week, 180 days a year, at public schools and participating private centers, church preschools and private schools.
Who qualifies →Income-based · Ages 0-12CAPS Child Care Assistance (Childcare and Parent Services)
Georgia's child care subsidy program, run by DECAL, helps working or studying families with incomes at or below 50% of state median income pay for care at participating providers.
Who qualifies →College credit · Up to 30 hoursDual Enrollment for Private and Home-Study Students
The Georgia Student Finance Commission's Dual Enrollment program pays tuition, mandatory fees and required books for eligible high schoolers, including private school and home-study students, at participating colleges.
Who qualifies →New · January 2027Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (2027)
Georgia opted into the federal scholarship tax credit on January 20, 2026. From January 1, 2027, donors can claim up to $1,700 in federal credit for gifts to state-recognized scholarship-granting organizations.
Who qualifies →Catholic schoolsCatholic School Tuition Assistance (Archdiocese of Atlanta)
Archdiocese of Atlanta schools combine school-based financial aid, an archdiocesan block grant, parish support and tax-credit scholarships such as GRACE Scholars and GOAL.
Who qualifies →At the schoolSchool-Based Tuition Assistance
Need-based aid, sibling and member discounts and payment plans at the school itself, which is usually where the last part of the bill gets settled.
Who qualifies →Partner fundEdu Fund Partner Scholarship
A private fund for families at participating partner church and community schools, aimed at part of what remains after state programs and school aid.
Who qualifies →2026-27 dates
- Oct 31, 2026Georgia Promise private school application window closes (October 1-31); newly approved schools join the eligible list
- Nov 1-30, 2026Final Georgia Promise student window for 2026-27: enrollment in spring 2027, open only to households at or below 400% of the federal poverty level
- Dec 15, 2026GESA's stated date for posting the 2027 Promise application windows; the next eligible-zone list follows at the end of the calendar year
- Jan 1, 2027Federal Scholarship Tax Credit takes effect (Georgia opted in on January 20, 2026); GaDOE publishes the 2027 SSO maximum scholarship by this date
- Jan 2027Third 2026-27 Promise deposit ($1,625); Georgia DOR begins first-come preapproval of 2027 tax-credit donations
- Feb 15, 2027GSNS third-quarter scholarship checks mailed to participating schools on or before this date
- Jun 30, 2027Annual testing documentation due for every Promise student, whether in a participating school or home study
See which Georgia programs reach your child
Two minutes, no documents. A School Funding Advisor calls back with the sources that apply and the dates that matter.