Bibb County Schools Receive Multi-Million Dollar GEAR Up Grant

Tonight, the Bibb County School District is celebrating a prestigious grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.

The GEAR Up grant will provide more than $19 million dollars for the school system over the next seven years. The money will be used to follow a group of 6th and 7th graders all the way through high school. Students will be provided the tools and resources they need to graduate,
and make sure their first year of college is a success.

“The grant itself is designed to focus on a cohort of 6th and 7th grade students and support them through a variety of activities into both enrollment in college and success in their first year,” says Susanne Griffin-Ziebart, Deputy Superintendent of School Improvement and Redesign.

Nearly $3 million dollars will be awarded to the school system each year. The group followed includes about 3600 students from each of the county middle schools.

Bibb County is the only school district in the state to receive this grant.