SSO Low-Performing School Criteria

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 2024-2025 CCRPI scores, schools with the following scores are “low-performing schools” for the purposes of this law (Updated January 12, 2026):

  • Elementary Schools: 2018-2019 CCRPI score of 66 or less
  • Middle Schools: 2024-2025 CCRPI score of 65.4 or less
  • High Schools: 2024-2025 CCRPI score of 65.7 or less

To find a school's CCRPI score, go to the Georgia Department of Education’s (GaDOE) 2025 College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) Reports and search for the school. On the school's page, select the “Report Type” for the relevant grade cluster (i.e. Elementary, Middle, or High) and compare that number to the grade cluster Cut-Off Scores 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), Residential Treatment Facilities, and State Schools for the Deaf and Blind are not included when calculating the 25th percentile.

Visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website for more information on Student Scholarship Organizations.