GCA Earns SACS and ACSI Accreditation

The administration, faculty and staff of Grace Christian Academy are proud to announce that GCA has been granted accreditations from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS CASI) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

GCA was first accredited in 1994 by the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC). This state accreditation has continued for the past 23 years.  As the school has grown, a goal was set to seek additional regional and nationally-recognized accreditation.  The school partnered with ACSI and SACS CASI for the past two years, and the faculty and administration have worked diligently to achieve joint accreditation status.

On August 1, 2017 GCA was accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International.  ACSI is a highly regarded Christian educational organization and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. ACSI member schools seek accreditation to validate their quality and verify that they are striving for excellence based on a solid Christian philosophy of education.

Accreditation from ACSI assures that the school is meeting the following standards:  true to its mission, vision, core values, and goals; meets high standards of educational quality; provides credibility through an on-going peer review process; promotes accountability to the overall school community; improves instruction; increases student achievement;  and, ensures biblical and spiritual integration into the school curriculum.

On June 30, 2017 GCA accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancED., was verified.  To earn accreditation, schools must meet SACS CASI’s high standards, be evaluated by a team of professionals from outside the school, and implement a continuous process of school improvement.  Accreditation demonstrates to students, parents, and the community that the school is focused on raising student achievement, providing a safe and enriching learning environment, and maintaining an efficient and effective operation staffed by highly qualified educators.

SACS CASI accreditation is recognized across state lines, which not only eases the transfer process as students move from accredited school to accredited school, but also assures parents that the school is meeting nationally accepted standards for quality and successful professional practice.

Dr. Mark Elgart, President/CEO of AdvancED, the parent organization of SACS CASI, stated, “SACS CASI Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school on the primary goal of creating lifelong learners. Grace Christian Academy is to be commended for engaging in this process and demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.”

Parents and interested community members can learn more about accreditation at www.acsi.org and www.advanc-ed.org.