Seniors at six Fulton County high schools can now apply for up to $20,000 in college scholarship money through Achieve Atlanta, but students at Johns Creek High, Chattahoochee High, and Northview High aren't eligible.
Fulton County Schools announced Wednesday, July 29, that Achieve Atlanta is expanding its need-based scholarship program to four additional campuses for the 2026–2027 school year: Global Impact Academy, Langston Hughes High School, The Promise Career Institute, and Westlake High School.
Those four join Creekside High School and Tri-Cities High School, which became the first FCS campuses in the program last fall, according to a district news release. All six participating schools are in south and southwest Fulton County.
What the program offers
Achieve Atlanta, which describes itself as Georgia's largest need-based scholarship provider, awards $5,000 per year (renewable for up to eight semesters) for students on four-year college paths and $1,500 per year (renewable for up to four semesters) for two-year or technical programs. Since 2015, the organization says it has awarded more than $70 million in scholarships.
The scholarship application for FCS students opens Monday, Feb. 1, 2027, and closes Monday, May 31, 2027. Students must complete the FAFSA, which opens Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.
Why Johns Creek schools aren't included
No official statement from Achieve Atlanta or the district explains why the three Johns Creek-area high schools were left out. The organization's eligibility page lists only the six south Fulton campuses, and no published timeline addresses when or whether additional schools might be added.
Johns Creek students can't apply.
When Achieve Atlanta first expanded beyond Atlanta Public Schools into FCS in 2025, the organization said it spent over a year evaluating districts and cited Fulton County's "strong college-going culture infrastructure," including the addition of 33 high school counselors for 2025–26 and fully funded SAT/ACT School Days for juniors.
Eligibility details for current participating schools
To qualify, a student must be a senior at one of the six schools, have been continuously enrolled at any FCS or Atlanta Public Schools high school since at least the start of 11th grade, earn a cumulative weighted GPA of at least 80, complete the FAFSA, and demonstrate financial need through a Student Aid Index between -1,500 and 15,000.
Students who fall short of the GPA threshold have a second chance: they can apply after completing at least 24 credit hours at an eligible institution with at least a 2.0 GPA within one year of graduating.
Undocumented and DACAmented students are eligible using an alternative financial aid form. Families can contact Achieve Atlanta at 404-880-3500 (option 2) or [email protected].
"Through our partnership with Achieve Atlanta, students will gain expanded access to tailored supports that help them stay on track, graduate, and pursue postsecondary opportunities with confidence," FCS Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney said in August 2025, when the initial Creekside and Tri-Cities expansion was announced.
The scholarship can be used at any nonprofit, accredited institution. For four-year paths, students can attend any Georgia school (except Atlanta Metropolitan State College) or out-of-state institutions with a graduation rate of at least 44%.
No public meetings or comment periods related to future expansion have been announced.
