Share
A DeKalb County family says their daughter is going to the Catholic school where her mom works thanks to the Georgia Promise Scholarship. The committee over the program said most families receiving the scholarship are low income. Public school advocates are watching the roll-out with skepticism.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – A DeKalb County family who received the Georgia Promise Scholarship is sharing why they applied for the program.
What we know:
More than 8,500 students are receiving scholarships toward private school tuition this fall.
One of those recipients is Olivia Wilkinson’s daughter, Victoria.
The DeKalb County Kindergartner will attend Saint Peter Claver Regional Catholic School using the scholarship.
What they’re saying:
"It's a blessing. I grew up going to Catholic schools and, now, Catholic schools are very expensive," Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson works as a guidance counselor at the school, so she receives an employee discount. With that and the $6,500 Georgia Promise Scholarship, she’ll pay $2,250 for Victoria to attend the school.
She said she previously worked in the public school system before moving to the Catholic school. She believes in public education, but says the voucher program is the right choice for her family.
"Here she gets to become one of 20. It's a tremendous difference," Wilkinson said. "It's one of the best Catholic schools, and it's just seven minutes from my home."
Dig deeper:
The Georgia Student Finance Commission administers the $140 million scholarship fund.
Its president, Chris Green, said three out of four families receiving the scholarship are considered low-income. He also noted that one-third of scholarship recipients are rising kindergartners like Victoria.
"We're off to a very strong start," said Green. "I think it's normal if parents are thinking ahead they say, 'My child is zoned to attend a low-performing elementary or middle school.' I think it's natural to see what other options are out there."
The other side:
Public school advocates are monitoring the scholarship rollout with suspicion.
"This is an attempt at dual school systems in Georgia, and we are not fully funding our public schools," said Lisa Morgan, president of the Georgia Association of Educators.
What’s next:
Georgia Promise will allow families to apply for spring scholarships in the coming months.
By the numbers:
In total, 8,559 students received the Promise Scholarship for Fall 2025.
DeKalb County topped the list for the most scholarships awarded.
Here is a breakdown of Georgia Promise recipients by county and city school district as of July 22:
The Source: Information in this article came from FOX 5’s Kevyn Stewart speaking with the family, Education leaders and data from the Georgia Promise Scholarship.Ā
All the news you need to know, every day
By clicking Sign Up, I confirm
that I have read and agree
to the Privacy Policy
and Terms of Service.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Ā©2025 FOX Television Stations
