Greater Atlanta Christian School
| Greater Atlanta Christian Schools Inc. | |
|---|---|
 Greater Atlanta Christian School campus | |
| Address | |
 | |
1575 Indian Trail Road , (Gwinnett County) , 30093 United States | |
| Coordinates | 33°55′10″N 84°10′14″W / 33.91944°N 84.17056°W |
| 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
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[when?] 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[when?] 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[when?] 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
- Sherill Baker, professional basketball player
- Cindy Brogdon, 1976 Olympic women's basketball team, first female in Georgia to receive an athletic scholarship
- Malcolm Brogdon, NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks, NBA Rookie of the year
- Isaiah Wilkins, NBA player for the Charlotte Hornets
- Kayla Tausche, broadcast journalist
- Drew Steckenrider, MLB pitcher for the Miami Marlins
References
- ^ SACS-CASI. "SACS-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Parks, Ted (2012-09-01). "Archives » » A Conversation with David Fincher." Christian Chronicle. Web. 23 June 2010". The Christian Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
- ^ Hammock, Will. "Water War." Gwinnett Daily Natatorium Post - Home. Web. 23 June 2010
- ^ Time, That. "GAC Boys Win First Title since Inducted in1977." Gwinnett Daily Post - Home. Web. 23 June 2010
- ^ Beitzel, Ben. "GAC, Adams Win State Golf Titles." Gwinnett Daily Post - Home. Web. 24 June 2010
- ^ "Drama Senior High". Greater Atlanta Christian School. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "GCTM State Mathematics Tournament". Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
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- Greater Atlanta Christian School- The Early Days, A Memoir, by Jesse Long
External links
- Christian schools in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Educational institutions established in 1967
- Private high schools in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Schools in Gwinnett County, Georgia
- Private middle schools in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Private elementary schools in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Preparatory schools in Georgia (U.S. state)