New statewide data shows Georgia girls are graduating and achieving at record rates while facing a loneliness and mental health crisis that demands urgent attention

ATLANTA, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta (GSGATL) and Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia (GSHG) today released the State of the Georgia Girl Report, the first study of its kind to bring together statewide data on the health, safety, education and wellbeing of girls across Georgia. The two councils commissioned the report as part of their shared mission to help every girl in Georgia thrive, starting with a clear picture of the challenges she faces today.

The report finds that Georgia girls are living "a life, divided": the most academically ambitious, college-bound generation of girls on record, and also the loneliest. Ninety percent of Georgia girls graduated high school in 2025, five points higher than boys and up nearly seven points over the past decade. Yet two in three Georgia high school girls say they lack a caring adult to talk to about their feelings, and more than half report symptoms of depression in a given month.

 "This report confirms what we see in our troops every day: Georgia girls are capable of extraordinary things, and too many of them are navigating it alone," said Jai Ferrell, CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. "We commissioned this research because closing that gap is exactly why Girl Scouts exists, and because real change starts with knowing the truth about what girls in our state are facing."

The findings span five dimensions of girls' lives: physical, digital, emotional, academic and social. Among them: girls report intense anxiety at twice the rate of boys and are twice as likely to be cyberbullied; nearly half of high school girls say they don't feel close to people at school; and half of parents say they cannot access mental health care for their daughter even when they seek it. At the same time, the data point to real strengths to build on. Among Georgia Girl Scouts, 89% say their troop leader cares about them as a person, and 92% say the girls in their troop genuinely care about each other, the kind of caring adults and stable peer community the report calls for every Georgia girl to have.

In connection with the report's release and in recognition of International Day of the Girl on October 11, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia announced a commitment to provide 100 free annual Girl Scout memberships to girls across Georgia. "This is one concrete way we're putting the report's call to action into practice, by making sure cost is never the reason a girl in Georgia can't find her place in Girl Scouts," said Ferrell.

The councils are calling on families, educators, donors and policymakers across Georgia to use the report's findings as a roadmap, from protecting movement and mental-health resources in schools to ensuring every girl has access to a consistent, caring adult and a stable peer community.

The full State of the Georgia Girl Report, including methodology and the complete data set, is available at GeorgiaGirlScouts.org. This report was made possible through the generous support of Girl Scout partner Kaiser Permanente.

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.

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.

Media Contact

Brianna Larouche
blarouche@trevelinokeller.com

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SOURCE Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta