The Georgia Scholar Program is an effort by the Georgia Department of Education to identify and recognize high school seniors who have achieved excellence in school and community life. The program is coordinated by the Office of Student Learning and Assessment of the Georgia Department of Education through local coordinators in each public school system and private schools in the state. 

The Georgia Scholar is:

• a graduating high school senior who exhibits excellence in all phases of school life, in community activities, and in the home.

The Georgia Scholar has:

• High scholastic ability.
• Carried an exemplary course load in the four years of high school.
• Performed excellently in all courses.
• Successfully participated in interscholastic events of the school or community.
• Assumed an active role in extracurricular activities sponsored by the school.
• Exhibited good citizenship.

Criteria for Selection

• The student has a minimum score of 1360 on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) at one test administration; a minimum combined score of 1360 on the critical reading and mathematical reasoning skills sections of the SAT Reasoning Test at one test administration; or, a composite score of 31 at one test administration on the American College Test (ACT).
• The student will have earned 22 Carnegie units of credit for graduation including:
  • 3 units in science, including 1 unit in chemistry or physics.
  • 4 units in mathematics, including 1 unit in Algebra II.
  • 3 units in social studies, including economics and citizenship, world history and U.S. studies.
  • 4 units in English language arts.
  • 2 units in a single foreign language.
  • 1 unit in fine arts (i.e., dance, dramatic arts, music, visual arts).
• The student has a non-weighted, cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale in core courses.
• During grades 9-12, the student has participated in a minimum of three different interscholastic events.
• During grades 9-12, the student has been appointed by a school official or elected to positions of leadership in a minimum of two different activities sponsored by the school.
• During grades 9-12, the student has shown evidence of leadership in a minimum of two different youth activities outside the school, including being appointed by an organization sponsor or elected to a position of leadership or role of responsibility in a minimum of one of these activities.
• The student is registered to vote if he or she is 18 years old and is a citizen of the United States.
• The student shows evidence of self-esteem and concern for others in day-to-day activities.

Application Information

Applications are distributed to local school system Georgia Scholar Program Coordinators in November annually. Applications are not sent directly to students or parents. The completed application and documentation must be received on or before 4 p.m. on March 1, 2012. MATERIALS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION OR REVIEW. Facsimile transmissions will not be accepted.

Funding Information

Effective with the graduating class of 2005, the Georgia Scholar Program became a recognition-only program. Georgia Scholars are no longer eligible to receive Governor’s Scholarships.

For more information on the Georgia Scholar Program, please e-mail or call: 

Dale Lyles
Director
Governor's Honors Program
Georgia Department of Education
1852 Twin Towers East
205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE
Atlanta, GA 30334
Tel: (404) 657-0183
Fax: (678) 605-6886
E-mail: ghp@doe.k12.ga.u