The Douglas County School System (DCSS) participates in Governor Nathan Deal’s needs-based scholarship program entitled Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH). Following the qualification, application and selection process, students will be paired with a mentor beginning in eighth grade. The students will continue in the program through high school graduation. REACH graduates will be eligible for up to $10,000 in college scholarships, to a Georgia Hope Eligible College or University.
Student qualification applications are available on each middle school website. Eligibility requirements are:
• Current 7th grader in the Douglas County School System
• Qualify for free or reduced lunch
• Has legal status in the United States
• Has a minimum grade of C or better in all courses
• Has not missed more than four days of school, unless medically documented
Does not have any discipline suspensions or major infractions
Deadline for Phase I applications are April 15, 2026 and can be obtained by contacting Mrs. Butler at Chestnut Log Middle School.
The REACH Scholarship is funded at the state level by private dollars contributed to a 501(c)3 tax-exempt foundation that is housed at the Georgia Student Finance Commission, which also administers the HOPE Scholarship. For more details and application information please see the following links: