FAQ's

Since 2010, we’ve awarded nearly 15,000 scholarships in Georgia and Louisiana. In 2022-23, more than 2,000 students received scholarships to attend the school of their parents choice.

We currently provide private K-12 scholarships to lower income students in Georgia and Louisiana. In Georgia, Arete operates under the Tuition Tax Credit Scholarship Program. In Louisiana, we operate under the state’s Tuition Donation Credit Program (TDC).

Arete scholarships are funded primarily from donations by corporations and philanthropic partners. Depending upon the state, donors may receive a 95-100% state tax credit for their contribution. The full donation amount may also be eligible for a charitable federal tax deduction. 

The specific guidelines vary by state but, in general, first-time Arete students must be transferring from local public to private schools AND must meet the income guidelines for the federal free and reduced lunch program. Check HERE for detailed Louisiana eligibility requirements.

We generally open applications in February or March for the following school year. New applications are accepted only if funds are available for new scholarships. There is a $35 processing fee for completing an application. 

Yes. Families must pay a $35 application and processing fee for each applicant. The fee is paid directly to our third-party application processor, and Arete does not profit a penny.

Louisiana students must have a family income that does not exceed 250% of the federal poverty line AND must meet one of the following criteria: 1) entering kindergarten; 2) enrolled in and attending a Louisiana public school; 3) current recipient of TDC or Louisiana Scholarship Program.

Students apply directly to Arete Scholars for a scholarship. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority is given to returning Arete students and applicants who attended school on a Louisiana Scholarship Program award during the previous school year.

Once a student has received a scholarship from Arete, the student applies directly to the nonpublic school for enrollment. Scholarships are portable and may be used at any participating school. However, schools maintain their own enrollment procedures and a scholarship is no guarantee of admission.

Scholarship amounts are reset each year and cannot exceed the lesser of either the school’s tuition and mandatory fees or 80% of the state average per pupil funding for elementary and middle school students and 90% of the state average per pupil funding for high school students. For 2023-24, maximum scholarship amounts are $4,350 for K-8 students and $4,900 for grades 9-12.

Yes. Families are responsible for paying school tuition and fees that exceed the amount of the scholarship. In some cases, schools may award additional financial aid to help close the gap.

Families may apply for a scholarship from both programs. If a student receives both scholarships, families may accept and use only one of the scholarships, either from the Louisiana Scholarship Program or the Tuition Donation Credit Program.

Yes. By law, TDC scholarship recipients are required to take state tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math while enrolled in the applicable grades/courses. Results do not impact future participation for families or schools. Schools may also require students to take additional assessments.

Visit the Louisiana Department of Education for more information about the Tuition Donation Credit Program.