COMMON QUESTIONS

Q. Who is eligible to receive an Arete scholarship?
A. Students entering either K4, K5 or 1st grade, students who attended a public school for at least one full grading period during the most recent school year, and students who received a Georgia tuition tax credit scholarship from any state approved Student Scholarship Organization (SSO) in the previous year.

In addition to these requirements, households must meet the income guidelines set forth here.

Q. Where is your organization headquartered?
A. We are located in Dacula, GA in Gwinnett County. Our physical address is:
Arete Scholars Fund, Inc.
3615 Braselton Hwy., STE 203
Dacula, GA 30019

Q. I completed a paper application instead of the online version. Why am I being asked to send required documents to Minnesota?
A. Arete has entered into a Service Level Agreement with TADS, an application processing and tuition management organization that processes thousands of applications per year with great efficiency and professionalism. This allows us to significantly reduce our operating expense and deliver better service to our families.

Q. What is the dollar amount of the scholarship and what is the maximum amount based upon?
A. The scholarships are awarded on a sliding scale based on your income. Funding for the award begins on the day your scholarship is awarded, the first day of school, or the student’s first day of private school, whichever is later.

If you are awarded a 100% scholarship, the dollar amount will be the lesser of $5,800 or the total tuition and fees at the school you choose. Full scholarship eligibility is based on income guidelines for the Federal Free or Reduced Lunch Program.

Scholarships range between $2,900 and $5,800, based on income. The 100% scholarship amount is based on the state of Georgia’s public schools funding formula.

Q. What does the scholarship cover?
A. The scholarship covers tuition, books, registration, transportation, uniforms, testing and other fees, in that order until the maximum award is reached. All covered services or goods must be offered directly from and paid to the school chosen.

Q. What are the income guidelines to receive an Arete scholarship?
A. Monthly Income Guidelines:

Please Note: The income guidelines and final award amounts for the 2012-13 school year have not yet been released. The figures in the tables below are estimates and will be updated when the federal government issues new income guidelines for the federal free and reduced lunch program. That is expected to take place in March.

Annual Income Guidelines:

Q. What private schools accept Arete scholarships?
A. All private schools in Georgia that meet the established eligibility guidelines may accept Arete scholars. We ask any school that enrolls an Arete scholar to sign our school participation agreement. If your chosen school has not participated with Arete, please have them contact our office at (678) 250-6801.

Click here for the current list of Arete participating schools. Scholarship recipients are not limited to this list.

Q. Do I have to choose a school when I apply?
A. No. But private school seating is often limited and many schools have an application process. The sooner you select a school the better your chances of being accepted.

Q. Is my scholarship award transferable to another school in Georgia?
A. Yes. The award follows your child to any eligible and participating private school in Georgia. Simply contact the Arete offices and let us know that you intend to switch schools. Arete will work to settle accounts with your previous school and determine the remaining scholarship amount to be paid to your new school.

Q. May an Arete Scholarship be combined with other tax credit scholarships or the special needs scholarship?
A. No. An Arete scholarship may not be combined with a tax credit scholarship from another SSO or with the special needs scholarships offered under legislation SB10.