Meeting Hope Scholarship Requirements Starts Freshman Year

If you are a high school student or a parent of a high school student, the typical approach to the scholarship search process begins the second half of Junior year or perhaps the end of Senior year in high school. However, since most academic based scholarships, like the Hope Scholarship, look at the overall grade point average (GPA) earned on core high school classes, grades earned the first semester of Freshman year are just as important as grades earned the last semester of the Senior year. It is the wise student that prepares for the Hope Scholarship Requirements starting the first day of Freshman classes. In fact, since Freshman classes may be easier, from an academic point of view, than Junior and Senior level classes, it may be more important to concentrate on getting “A” results in the Freshman year. These results will act as a base line to shore up the GPA when the harder classes hit later in the high school career. Continue reading

Hope Scholarship GPA Calculation

Since the 2008-2009 school year, Georgia has standardized on GPA calculation for high school graduates with respect to Hope Scholarship qualification requirements.  School districts can choose to implement their own grading systems locally; however, when reported to the Georgia Student Finance Commission for  hope scholarship, the following rules must be followed. Continue reading

Georgia Hope High School and Home School Eligibility

Accreditation Requirement

A HOPE-eligible high school or HOPE-eligible home study program must be accredited by one or more of the accrediting agencies list below.

If the high school or home study program is located in the state of Georgia:

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Georgia Accrediting Commission;
  • Georgia Association of Christian Schools;
  • Association of Christian Schools International;
  • Georgia Private School Accreditation Council; or
  • Southern Association of Independent Colleges.

If the high school or home study program is located outside the state of Georgia:

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;
  • New England Association of Colleges and Schools;
  • Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools;
  • North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;
  • Northwest Accreditation Commission;
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges; or
  • Alabama Independent School Association.

Transcript and Grading Requirement

A student who graduates from a HOPE-eligible high school or completes a HOPE-eligible home study program must earn a 3.00 cumulative GPA on all core coursework. The grade point average calculation for the HOPE Scholarship is unique (Georgia HOPE GPA calculation).

  • If you graduate from a HOPE-eligible high school located in Georgia, your high school should automatically send your transcript data to the Georgia Student Finance Commission for calculation of your HOPE grade point average. This process is electronic.
  • If you graduate from a HOPE-eligible high school located outside the state of Georgia or if you complete a HOPE-eligible home study program, you must have an official transcript sent to the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Your high school should be sure to include information on its accreditation, grading scale, and course or grade point average weighting. Also, be sure to include your current name, former name if applicable, date of birth, current mailing address, and phone number. Submit the official transcript and documentation to:Georgia Student Finance Commission
    2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 100
    Tucker, Georgia 30084