Saint Mary on the Hill
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GRACE SCHOLARS
Georgia Residents Assisting Children’s Education
Redirecting Your Tax Dollars

G.R.A.C.E. (Georgia Residents Assisting Children’s Education) Scholars, Inc. is a Georgia statewide program that offers children from financially needy Georgia families opportunities to attend quality Catholic elementary and high schools in the State of Georgia.

How is this possible? In 2008, the GA legislature passed a bill that allows taxpayers to redirect a portion of their state tax dollars to provide Catholic school scholarships to Georgia families. These scholarships are need-based and available to children entering kindergarten or transferring to a Catholic school from a public school. Donors simply divert a portion of their GA state tax dollars to the Grace Scholarship Fund. Individuals can redirect up to $1,000 of their state tax dollars and a married couple can re-direct up to $2,500. Business “C” corporations can contribute up to 75% of their tax liability. For example, if you owe $2,000 in state taxes and you designate $1,000 to a Catholic school through GRACE Scholars, then you will only owe $1,000 in state taxes. And, that $1,000 you redirected to the GRACE Scholars program will be recognized as a charitable contribution on your federal taxes.

Participating in GRACE costs you nothing. You are simply redirecting your taxes - money you would be paying regardless - to Catholic schools. Furthermore, donors also receive a tax credit on their federal tax returns for their support of this program!

Last year, more than $40,000 of state tax dollars was redirected to St. Mary School from our school and parish families. These funds allowed our school to provide scholarships to 11 children and help offset tuition costs to qualifying families.

Interested donors, click here for: GRACE Scholars instructions and forms

Interested GRACE Scholarship recipients click here for: GRACE Scholarship Recipients

Families who are interested in beginning an education at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School may qualify for scholarship monies through the GRACE Scholars Program if they display financial need and are planning to either transfer their child to St. Mary’s for the first time from a Georgia public school or enroll their child in kindergarten.

    The application process for scholarship will follow these general guidelines:
  • Apply and be accepted to the school
  • Apply for financial aid through the service identified by the school (i.e. FACTS, PSAS, SMART, etc.)
  • Submit the completed GRACE Scholars Inc. Scholarship Application Form to the school.
  • School then forwards materials to GRACE Scholars, Inc.
  • Qualifying families will be notified by GRACE Scholars, Inc. of any scholarship amount awarded. This information will be copied to the school.
  • If an award is granted, GRACE Scholars, Inc. will issue a check in the Family’s name directly to the school. The family then will endorse the award check to the school in order to reduce the tuition balance

    Please contact St. Mary’s principal, Mr. Joe McBride, at 706-733-6193, for specific questions or to begin the application process.