Georgia's Education System

Growing Georgia's Talent Pipeline

If you're growing a business, more than likely you're thinking about its future - and so are we. Beginning with the youngest of learners, Georgia is preparing students to meet the needs of the workforce well into the future.

Early Education in Georgia

Beginning with the youngest of learners, Georgia is preparing students to meet the needs of the workforce well into the future. Nationally ranked Pre-K & Bright from the Start programs prepare our state's youngest residents - with 71,000+ children served in every Georgia county and 1.6 million children served since the program’s inception in 1993. Because literacy is the foundation upon which all other learning is built, Georgia is leveraging a recently awarded $180 million grant to improve K-12 reading levels. Get Georgia Reading targets children from birth through age 8 in nearly 90+ communities statewide and Reach Out and Read distributes 233,000+ books annually during pediatric well visits.

Elementary Learners

The students in our state benefit from many local partnerships and Georgia -based programs, including:

• Cox Campus “Read Right from the Start,” offering free, interactive courses and online resources tailored to students facing intergenerational illiteracy.
• Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy at Georgia College focusing on best practices and research-based professional development.
• Vision to Learn gifted 10,300+ students with eye glasses in metro and Northeast Georgia during the 2023-24 school year.

STEM / STEAM Initiatives

Will your business need STEM talent in the future? Our state has that covered. Georgia leads the way with STEM and STEAM initiatives for students in K-8 and beyond to not only enhance math and science skills but also encourage young minds to explore new careers. The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement allocated $8 million in innovation grants for the expansion of STEM programs in the state.

Over 1,100 schools are working toward STEM/STEAM certification through the Georgia Department of Education. The rigorous certification process, requiring programs to reflect the diversity demographics of the school, measures an integrated curriculum driven by exploratory, project-based learning and student-centered development of ideas and solutions. To date, 7 high schools, 8 middle schools and 22 elementary schools are certified – and supplemental STEM/STEAM learning programs, like Learning Power and First Robotics, engaged more than 167,000 students in 2024.

High School in Georgia

As our young learners grow into their Georgia education experience, our state continues to prepare them for the workforce of the future - based in real-time industry feedback. Learners who are in grades 10, 11 or 12 can choose a career-specific course through Georgia's Career, Technical & Agricultural Education (CTAE) program. Student graduation rates for CTAE top 98% (12 percentage points over the state average).

Preparing for In-Demand Careers in Georgia

To support the current and future needs of Georgia's businesses, high school students across Georgia also have access to training that builds their skills in high-demand areas, including engineering, biomedicine, technology, logistics, robotics and much more. This impactful training is provided through Georgia's 60 College & Career Academies. Always on the forefront of workforce development, Georgia was the first state in the country to adopt a career path requirement for all high school students.

Georgia's talented students also are provided cutting-edge support as they navigate their options for potential career paths and fields of study. Through the 2021-22 school year, 81,600+ Georgia middle and high school students took the YouScience assessment, an innovative tool providing insights into students’ aptitude and interest in high demand career fields, as well as future talent forecasts for employers.

Colleges & Universities in Georgia

As you search for the prime location for your business, we already know what's on the top of your list- access to a dependable pipeline of talent. Finding the right employees will determine where your company goes from here. Georgia's collaborative approach to workforce development sets our state apart from the rest and gives you the head start you need for staffing your business. State-sponsored training facilities, top-notch educational programs, and nationally-ranked colleges and universities provide Georgia businesses with people who take their new roles- and your company, to the next level of success.

High Quality Education Brightens Futures

Georgia's top-ranked education system turns talent into a renewable resource. Georgia's colleges and universities train and educate more than 570,000 enrolled students a year for future skilled and professional jobs. Did we mention that Georgia is ranked as one of the top pipelines of engineering talent in the country?

The HOPE scholarship and its far-reaching impact proves the state's commitment to increasing the caliber of education available in Georgia. Georgia HOPE scholars also have the benefit of Georgia Match - a resource that helps students and families take the guesswork out of which Georgia institution fits their academic achievements and future goals.

We don't just attract talent - we also grow our own.

HOPE Scholarship

To make post-secondary education attainable and affordable, Georgia offers the HOPE Scholarship to residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. HOPE provides money to assist students with the educational costs of attending a HOPE eligible postsecondary institution located in Georgia. The HOPE Career Grant covers 100% of tuition for qualified students to attend the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) in dozens of high demand areas of study. Launched in 1993, HOPE was the first merit-based state scholarship program in the US.

Georgia's college and university system continues to innovate to help businesses and students grow, including:

• Last Mile Fund, where $150,000 in scholarships allowed 650 students to continue their studies at a technical college
• Georgia State’s Panther Retention Grant, recognized by the Gates Foundation for innovation and elimination of racial disparity among graduates
• The University System of Georgia’s NEXUS program, training and high demand industry certifications, including the Cyber Innovation & Training Center and Georgia Film Academy