Greater Atlanta Christian School

Greater Atlanta Christian Schools Inc.
Greater Atlanta Christian School campus
Address
1575 Indian Trail Road
Norcross, (Gwinnett County), Georgia 30093
United States
Coordinates 33°55′10″N 84°10′14″W / 33.91944°N 84.17056°W / 33.91944; -84.17056Coordinates: 33°55′10″N 84°10′14″W / 33.91944°N 84.17056°W / 33.91944; -84.17056
Information
Type College prep
Motto "Quality Education in a Christian Environment"
Established 1968
President David Fincher
Principal Charles Edwards, Brian Dolinger, Brad Schultz
Grades PK–12
Enrollment 2,000+
Campus size 81 acres
Color(s) Scarlet, gold, and black             
Slogan "Go Spartans"
Song "Navy Blue and Gold"
Fight song "Fight On You Spartans..."
Mascot Sparty Spartan
Nickname GACS
Team name Spartans
Accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools[1] and the National Christian School Association
Publication GACS Today
Yearbook The Olympian
Tuition $16,565-$20,900
Website Greater Atlanta Christian School
50th anniversary: 2017-18 school year

Greater Atlanta Christian School is a private Christian school located in Norcross, Georgia, United States.

History

Greater Atlanta Christian School was founded in 1967 by Jesse Long. The first year, it enrolled 149 students at a building on a two-lane rural road in Gwinnett County, Georgia, now known as Indian Trail Road. As of 2009, the school had over 1,850 students, and 75 acres of facilities and green space that "reflect a college university campus rather than a K4–12 school". Students from over fourteen counties attend the coeducational college preparatory Christian school.[2] Dr. David Fincher, a teacher at Greater Atlanta Christian School in 1972, rose to leadership in 1998 and replaced Jesse Long as President.

General information

New Stage Center and Cross Tower near completion

GAC is accredited with quality by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with professional memberships of the Southern Association of Independent Schools, Atlanta Area Association of Independent Schools, Georgia Independent School Association, National Christian School Association and The College Board. It is the second largest private school in the state of Georgia.

Members of the class of 2014 were offered over $11 million worth of scholarships and were accepted to 124 colleges and universities. The school consistently has students honored by the National Merit Scholarship Program.

GAC holds state championships in academics, the arts, and athletics. GAC has been the winner of the Dodge Athletic Directors' Cup award in Georgia in 2007, 2005, and Extra 2003 acknowledging their best total records in athletics in the GA High School Association for Class AA. In 2010, GACS won state titles in boys' swimming,[3] boys' basketball,[4] boys' soccer, girls' soccer, and girls' golf.[5] GAC Soccer is one of the most treasured parts of GAC athletics. The Spartans have made the AA playoffs 15 years in a row, and have had seven final four appearances in the last 15 years, six finals appearances, and three state championships.

The school is home to the Long Forum, a state-of-the-art audio-visual classroom where students can learn and put their knowledge into action during assemblies and chapels. The musical theatre group, Visions, has consistently won regional and state awards.[6] The A Capella Chorus performs throughout the year and has a summer tour. There are eight art studios, with over 33 separate art sections taught in the high school, six in the junior high, and 28 in the elementary. The Math Team has placed among the top three in state competition for 10 of the past 14 years (A-AAAAA), and has been the Georgia state champion eight times.[7] The Chess Team has placed in the top five in state competition for three out of the five past years (A-AAAAA). Other options such as Science Olympiad, Robotics, Mock Trial, Web Design, Chess, Debate and Envirothon allow students to explore areas of interest and gain confidence in their skills. GAC has also hosted the slam dunk competition, and the 3-point competition for the Final Four when it was hosted in Atlanta in 2013.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ SACS-CASI. "SACS-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  2. ↑ Parks, Ted (2012-09-01). "Archives » » A Conversation with David Fincher." Christian Chronicle. Web. 23 June 2010". The Christian Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  3. ↑ Hammock, Will. "Water War." Gwinnett Daily Natatorium Post - Home. Web. 23 June 2010
  4. ↑ Time, That. "GAC Boys Win First Title since Inducted in1977." Gwinnett Daily Post - Home. Web. 23 June 2010
  5. ↑ Beitzel, Ben. "GAC, Adams Win State Golf Titles." Gwinnett Daily Post - Home. Web. 24 June 2010
  6. ↑ "Drama Senior High". Greater Atlanta Christian School. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "GCTM State Mathematics Tournament". Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  • Greater Atlanta Christian School- The Early Days, A Memoir, by Jesse Long
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