News & Stories

As we close another remarkable year at Reach for Excellence, I am filled with gratitude for all that our scholars have accomplished and for the community that makes these opportunities possible.

As the school year comes to a close, we are proud to celebrate a major milestone in the Reach journey: high school acceptances.

Of the 28 Reach for Excellence 8th graders who applied this year:
• 100% were admitted to at least one private or independent high school in
Metro Atlanta among their top 3 choices
• 61% will attend a private or independent high school
• Students received an average 93% of full financial aid
• The class secured over $476,300 in scholarships for their freshman year

April is National Volunteer Month, and at Reach, our Saturday program simply would not run without the dedication of our volunteers.

This year:

60+ high school volunteers supported our Saturday program
1,504 total hours served
$40,907 in estimated economic impact

This winter, Reach 8th graders reached an exciting milestone in their high school preparation journey. As a cohort, students improved their SSAT scores by 233%, building on last year’s strong gains of 138%.

Career Day 2026 powerfully reflected the Reach for Excellence mission in action, connecting scholars with accomplished professionals and alumni whose journeys demonstrate the long-term impact of education, mentorship, and opportunity. This year’s program featured a student-moderated panel followed by small-group mentoring conversations.

On Saturday, December 20th, Reach for Excellence high school and college age alumni returned to Marist School with their families for a meaningful holiday breakfast filled with connection, reflection, and joy. They shared laughter and memories from their Reach years while creating new ones, reminding us just how powerful this community is.

As we close the year and enter a season of rest and celebration, I am filled with gratitude for the remarkable community that makes Reach for Excellence thrive. December invites reflection, and this year we celebrate the collective impact of our scholars, families, teachers, partners, and supporters.

To better understand its impact and areas for growth, Reach for Excellence engaged an external research consultant, Transformative Research and Evaluation (TRE), to conduct focus groups with students and caregivers following the Summer 2025 Program.