Compulsory Attendance

Your child’s age is your first indicator of his or her eligibility for beginning school. Georgia law requires that students attend a public or private school or a home study program from their sixth to their 16th birthdays. Students may start kindergarten if they turn five on or before September 1. A child does not have to enroll in school at age five, but must enroll no later than his or her sixth birthday.  see more >

Required Documentation

Georgia school districts set the requirements for what documentation is required prior to enrolling a student in their district. To get that information, contact the district directly here.

Some legal documents are required for Georgia students to attend school:

• Social Security Number
• Certificate of Eye, Ear and Dental Exam [Form 3300]

Certificate of Immunization [Form 3231] (or proof that immunization is not required for the child). Click here to view the immunization requirements.

What are Charter Schools?

Charter Schools are tuition-free public schools operated by independent, non-profit governing bodies.

Parents, teachers, and community leaders sign a “charter” or contract with a school district or state agency to create a charter school and give students more educational options than their assigned school. Charter schools have flexibility over classroom hours, curriculum, and employment policies, but are subject to periodic reviews based on student performance. In Georgia, public charter school students are measured against the same academic standards as students in other public schools. Local boards of education monitor the academic and financial performance of charter schools, and, can revoke  or refuse to renew a school’s charter.

Georgia Charter Schools

A list of the 115 active charter schools can be found at the Georgia Board of Education!

In Georgia, thousands of children attend school online in virtual classrooms with state certified teachers. Some virtual programs are open to in-district students only, while others have enrollment open to students across the state. A list of virtual classes provided by each of the participating schools can be found here.

Atlanta Virtual Academy

phone: (404) 802-2784
grades: 7–12

Cobb Virtual Academy

phone: (678) 581-6791
grades: 9–12

Forsyth ¡Achieve Virtual Academy

phone: (770) 781-3141
grades: 6–12

Fulton Virtual — Blended Learning

phone: (470) 254-6578
grades: 6–12

Georgia Connections Academy

phone: (678) 825-3258
grades: K–12

Georgia Cyber Academy

phone: (866) 523-3162
grades: K-12

What makes a school “private”?

Private schools charge tuition, and many have a religious mission. Some private schools offer families assistance to make tuition payments. Click below for the complete list of over 580 private schools across the state.

Private School Review offers free, detailed information on U.S. private schools combined with useful community data (e.g., housing costs) and maps of the surrounding areas.

*Information on non-public school admission requirements should be obtained from the school directly.

George Washington University Online High School is an online college preparatory academy for motivated students who are willing to be challenged to become the best students and persons they can be. Combining award-winning curriculum with small class sizes and intensive college counseling, students receive a flexible, individualized education attuned to their own needs and goals.

International Academy is a K12, Inc accredited, online private school for grades K–12. Students earn a U.S. high school diploma while using award-winning K¹² curriculum

They offer extensive, individualized academic and counseling support keep students on track. The flexibility allows students to explore their passions. Full-time and part-time options are available.

In Georgia, parents have the option to educate their children at home, an option known as homeschooling or home education. Parents in Georgia may choose to homeschool their own children in grades K–12. Parents desiring to homeschool their own children may do so by following these six easy steps.

Independent home school students must:

1. In order to do so Georgia Department of Education states that effective July 1, 2012 parents must annually submit a Declaration of Intent by September 1 or with 30 days after a program is established. The Declaration of Intent must include the names and ages of the students, the address where the program is located, and the dates of the school year. You can send a hard copy of your Declaration of Intent here:
   

Georgia Dept of Education
Homeschool Division
205 Jesse Hill Jr. Dr., SE
Suite 2053 Twin Towers East
Atlanta, GA  30334