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New State of the Georgia Girl Report Reveals Georgia Girls Are Excelling While Facing Significant Challenges
October 09, 2026
Statewide report examines physical, digital, emotional, academic and social wellness and calls on Georgia communities to turn awareness into action
SAVANNAH, Ga. — October 9, 2026 — Georgia girls are graduating high school at record rates, pursuing advanced coursework and preparing for their futures while simultaneously navigating significant challenges related to mental health, social connection, safety and financial hardship, according to the newly released 2026 State of the Georgia Girl Report.
Commissioned collaboratively by Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia and Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, the report represents a unified statewide effort to better understand the girls growing up across Georgia. Together, the two councils serve nearly 30,000 girls throughout the state with the support of more than 16,000 volunteers. The collaboration was intentionally designed to bring together data and perspectives from across Georgia and create a fuller picture of the Georgia girl, rather than the experience of girls in any single region.
The report examines girls’ well-being across five interconnected dimensions: physical health, digital wellness, emotional wellness, academic wellness and social wellness. Its findings show that the story of Georgia girls cannot be reduced to either success or struggle.
“Neither truth cancels the other. The girl who is rising and the girl who is struggling are the same girl,” the report states.
Among the report’s findings:
90% of Georgia girls graduated high school in 2025, five percentage points higher than boys and up nearly seven percentage points in a decade.
58% of upper-school girls in Georgia experienced signs of depression, compared with 39% of boys.
Two in three high school girls lack a caring adult to talk with about their feelings.
One in five middle and high school girls has seriously considered harming herself in the past year.
Three in five Georgia girls are girls of color, and 31% of girls in Georgia identify as Black or African American.
44% of Georgia households face financial hardship, even as the portion of girls living below the federal poverty line has declined.
One in five high school girls has experienced sexual dating violence, and one-third of teenage girls report feeling unsafe at school.
The report also identifies significant reasons for optimism. Georgia girls graduate from high school at higher rates than boys and enroll in college in higher numbers within 16 months of graduation. They also take a larger share of Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses.
Girl Scout outcomes included in the report provide another view of what supportive environments can make possible. Among Georgia Girl Scouts, 92% agree, “I can be myself in Girl Scouts,” and 85% believe they can make a difference in the world.
The report was created not simply to document challenges, but to help Georgia communities understand where support and investment can make a difference.
In their joint letter included in the report, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia CEO Krystal Crawford and Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta CEO Jai Ferrell write, “Our aim in these pages is not diagnosis but investment.”
The letter continues: “Girls need adult champions. Girls need investments in their future. Girls need advocates in academia and policy-making. Girls need safe spaces to become the leaders our state is counting on tomorrow.”
The State of the Georgia Girl Report uses publicly available data from primary sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Georgia Department of Education, along with peer-reviewed research. No original research was conducted for the report. An independent analyst assembled the metrics, and a statewide panel of experts reviewed the draft data and narrative for feedback and potential bias.
The public release begins a broader statewide effort to use the findings as a resource for conversation and action among families, educators, businesses, community organizations, funders and other adults who influence the environments in which girls grow up.
The full 2026 State of the Georgia Girl Report is available now!
ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS OF HISTORIC GEORGIA: Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia is rich in heritage and purpose. The council extends from the North Georgia mountains to the Okefenokee and from the Atlantic coast to the Chattahoochee Valley. Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia serves more than 7,000 girls and 3,000 adults in 122 counties in Georgia, two counties in South Carolina and one county in Alabama. The council is also the home of our organization’s founder, Juliette Gordon Low, who founded Girl Scouts on March 12, 1912 in Savannah, Georgia, where her birthplace and the historic First Headquarters still welcome thousands of Girl Scouts every year. Girl Scouting gives girls a wide range of experiences to define leadership their way. To join, donate, or learn more, visit www.gshg.org.
ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS OF GREATER ATLANTA: Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, serving almost 33,000 members in 34 counties. Two resident camps offer girls an opportunity to unplug and enjoy nature and outdoor adventures. Girls can earn more than 300 badges and patches across a wide range of interests, including art, animal care, entrepreneurship, and environmental science. Programs are designed to support a girl's mental and physical health while helping them build confidence and friendships to last a lifetime. For more information visit www.gsgatl.org.
