High-Need School Districts

A high-need school district is one that meets at least one of the following criteria:

• The district has at least one school in which 50 percent or more of the enrolled students are eligible for participation in the free and reduced lunch program established by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42U.S.C.1751 et seq.).
• The district has at least one school in which:
• 1. more than 34 percent of the academic classroom teachers at the secondary level (across all academic subjects) do not have an undergraduate degree with a major or minor in, or graduate degree in, the academic field in which they teach the largest percentage of their classes; Or
  2. more than 34 percent of the teachers in two academic departments do not have an undergraduate degree with a major or minor in, or a graduate degree in the academic field in which they teach the largest percentage of their classes.
• The district has at least one school whose teacher attrition rate has been 15 percent or greater over the last three school years.

Many of the school districts in Georgia qualify under one or more of these criteria, however it is ultimately your responsibility to confirm that your district qualifies.

Noyce Scholars may choose to teach in schools outside of Georgia, as long as the Scholar becomes certified in that state, and the school district meets the Hig-Need School District criteria.

Click here for a national listing: Teacher Shortage Areas