SSO Low-Performing School Criteria

NOTE of COVID-19 Impact: 
GOSA is unable to calculate a list of low-performing schools for 2020 due to the cancellation of 2020 Milestones testing and the lack of 2020 CCRPI data. Eligibility for the program will continue to be based on the 2018-2019 CCRPI and the thresholds listed below.

The Georgia Private School Tax Credit Law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2A-1 through § 20-2A-7) allows student scholarship organizations (SSOs) to provide scholarships for eligible students to attend accredited private schools.  House Bill 283 (2013) waived the enrollment and six-week public school attendance eligibility requirements if students would be assigned to a “low-performing school” if they attended a public school.  The bill also requires the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) to determine a list of “low-performing schools” for this specific purpose.

For the purposes of House Bill 283, GOSA defines a “low-performing school” as a school that has a College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) score that falls at or below the 25th percentile in its grade cluster (Elementary, Middle, and High School clusters).  

Based on 2018-2019 CCRPI scores, schools with the following scores are “low-performing schools” for the purposes of this law (Updated December 2, 2019):

  • Elementary Schools: 2018-2019 CCRPI score of 66.1 or less
  • Middle Schools: 2018-2019 CCRPI score of 66.3 or less
  • High Schools: 2018-2019 CCRPI score of 66.2 or less

To find a school's CCRPI score, go to the Georgia Department of Education’s (GaDOE) 2019 College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) Reports and search for the school. Compare the school’s score to the numbers above to determine if that school is considered a "low-performing school" for the purposes of SSO eligibility.

This definition of “low-performing school” is solely intended to determine eligibility for SSO scholarships. Schools operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) received CCRPI scores for the first time in 2014-2015.  These schools are not included when calculating the 25th percentile.

In 2018, the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) revised the indicators included in the CCRPI. For more information on schools’ CCRPI scores, visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website: http://www.gadoe.org/CCRPI/Pages/default.aspx. 

For more information on SSOs, visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Policy/Pages/Tax-Credit-Program.aspx.