Delta, Middle Georgia State and Clayton County schools launch dual enrollment pilot pathway with scholarships

A new pipeline from high school to the flight deck

Delta Air Lines, Middle Georgia State University and Clayton County Public Schools have launched a dual enrollment aviation initiative designed to move Georgia high school students into college-level aviation coursework while still enrolled in K–12. The program began in fall 2025 and has enrolled more than 70 Clayton County students to date.

Students in the dual enrollment track earn college credit through Middle Georgia State University while receiving pilot mentorship connected to Delta’s Propel Pilot Career Path Program. Participants who later enter Propel are positioned for what Delta describes as a streamlined progression toward airline flying, including a qualified job offer tied to Delta and its wholly owned regional subsidiary, Endeavor Air, upon successful completion of program requirements.

Scholarships tied to a foundation grant

Central to the effort is a scholarship component supported by a $2.5 million grant from The Delta Air Lines Foundation to Middle Georgia State University’s School of Aviation. Scholarship awards connected to the Clayton County initiative are structured to cover up to full tuition, fees and flight instruction for four years for eligible students who meet admissions requirements and are competitively selected.

The Clayton County dual enrollment pilot pathway sits within a broader five-year charitable giving commitment of more than $16.5 million by Delta and The Delta Air Lines Foundation aimed at education and workforce-related initiatives in the county. Delta has also cited more than $33 million in charitable giving committed to Clayton County over the past six years.

How Propel fits into the pathway

Propel is Delta’s branded pilot career pathway program with multiple entry routes, including collegiate and scholarship tracks. The program is structured around a single-interview model and ongoing engagement that can include mentorship and signature events. Under the Propel model, candidates typically build flight experience and hours before moving to Endeavor Air and then progressing toward Delta’s mainline flight deck through established advancement steps.

Part of a wider aviation education push in Georgia

The Clayton County pilot-focused dual enrollment program is one of several recent aviation education partnerships tied to Middle Georgia State University. In Fayette County, the university has partnered with the local school system’s Center of Innovation to offer dual enrollment aviation courses intended to accelerate students’ entry into flight training. Separately, in the Griffin region, school systems and the local college-and-career academy have worked with Middle Georgia State University and Delta TechOps to create an aviation maintenance pathway connected to the Airframe and Powerplant curriculum.

• Clayton County: dual enrollment coursework aligned with a pilot pipeline and mentorship.

• Fayette County: dual enrollment aviation coursework integrated with core high school instruction.

• Griffin region: aviation maintenance coursework designed to bridge high school training to college specialization and industry roles.

The Clayton County launch reflects a model that combines dual enrollment access, university flight training capacity and an airline-defined career pathway, alongside scholarship funding intended to reduce financial barriers for qualified students.

Program leaders have framed the initiative as workforce development anchored in Georgia’s aviation economy and the Atlanta region’s role as a major hub for airline operations and employment.