Lots going on behind new fence at GACS
By Jesse C. Long
Chancellor
Greater Atlanta Christian School
for GwinnettForum.com

June 15, 2001 -- People driving on Indian Trail Road frequently comment about how attractive the new fence around the Greater Atlanta Christian School campus is. The fence is attractive but it is only the wrapping on the package. To get the full view of the contents one must go inside.

Inside the gate one finds buildings that house Georgia's third largest non-public school with an enrollment of 1600 expected this fall. This one school is actually four schools ñ preschool, elementary, junior high and senior high. Current facilities include five classroom buildings, a media center, a fine arts center, a football stadium with an eight-lane track, two gymnasiums, an administration building, playing fields for soccer, softball and baseball and tennis courts. Plans are being completed to add another elementary building, a student center and another physical education facility that includes a swimming pool.

These facilities provide learning space for some outstanding young people. GACS students score in the top three percent of the nation on achievement tests. This year's graduating class, all of whom are college bound, scored 160 points higher than the national average on college entrance tests. The class received $2.6 million in college scholarship offers from a wide spectrum of well-known universities. This year's students were ranked number two among all Georgia schools in math competition. They were first, second or third in the state in AA academic competition, debate, one-act play and junior high chess.

GACS students also enjoyed successes in athletic competition. They won state championships in girl's basketball and boy's tennis. They finished second in the state in girl's and boy's golf, girl's tennis and fast pitch softball. The student body was honored this spring by the Georgia Athletic Directors Association as second in the state of Georgia in the AA classification in the all-sports rankings.

To get an accurate impression of GACS one must first look at the facilities and the people inside them and then must step back and see how it all works together ñ what GACS is really about.

GACS is a different kind of school. For the first twenty-five years the school's motto was, "Quality Education in a Christian Environment" In recent years it has been restated, "It is the mission of our school to help students grow as Jesus did in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and Man" GACS is firmly committed to making this mission statement a reality.

The academic program is outstanding. The physical accomplishments of the competitive teams speak highly of the program. The spiritual emphasis is seen in the regular chapel programs, the daily Bible classes and the participation of the students in devotionals, prayer services and club activities. Lives are being enriched in the student led service projects and mission trips to Honduras, Mexico and the Czech Republic.

GACS believes that, because of God's help, the successes experienced the first third of a century are only a preview of what will go on behind the fence for years to come. GACS will make every effort to continue to be a blessing to Gwinnett County and its young people.

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