Two South Fulton high schools, Creekside and Tri-Cities, are seeing how community partner Achieve Atlanta is altering the postsecondary trajectory of many of their students. In just one year, Creekside and Tri-Cities students surpassed their FAFSA completion goals, helping more students access financial aid and pursue college.
Creekside Principal Dr. Terrell Awak says the program’s structure has been a game changer: “From the beginning, it felt like a natural fit,” she said. “Our goal is for every student to graduate with a clear and actionable plan for what comes next, and Achieve Atlanta strengthens that work in a very tangible way.”
Achieve Atlanta’s services and support make the college application process manageable, steer students toward financial aid resources, including their signature scholarship, and deliver continued support for success in college. Administrators have noticed student confidence growing, noting that students are taking ownership of their plans and following through.
“It has made college feel real and achievable,” Awak added. Parents have shared appreciation for the program’s clarity in taking some of the guesswork out of the complex application process, especially regarding financial aid.
Tri-Cities Principal Dr. Amanda Williams-Gorham concurs.
“Achieve Atlanta helps make that belief a reality by removing financial barriers that can keep our students from accessing college,” she said. “It goes far beyond money. It gives our students and families hope, options, and a clearer path forward. For many of our students, Achieve Atlanta has opened doors that may have once felt out of reach.”
In the program’s first year, 136 Creekside seniors qualified for the Achieve Atlanta scholarship in a 395-member graduating class. Administrators saw engagement grow through workshops, scholarship pop-up events, and Achieve Atlanta staff working closely with students. Following Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County Schools is the second district to implement this program; fueled by this year’s success, plans are underway for FCS to expand to four additional schools.
Awak says as more students and families become familiar with the program, they expect participation and qualification numbers to rise. As a National Demonstration School for AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), Creekside already had strong systems in place to build college readiness and student agency.
“The real impact comes when everything is aligned—district priorities, school mission, college and career framework,” said Awak. “When those pieces come together, it creates momentum you can feel throughout the building.”