Grace Christian Academy

What Grace Christian Academy does

Grace Christian Academy is a private, faith-based K-12 institution operated as a ministry of Grace Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, founded in 1997 and serving more than 1,500 students from Preschool through 12th grade. It operates a single campus at 5914 Beaver Ridge Rd, Knoxville, holds accreditation from the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), and is approved by the Tennessee Department of Education. The school markets itself as the largest private school in East Tennessee and reports a 100% college acceptance rate, a state-leading 90% AP exam pass rate, and 60%+ of full-time faculty holding advanced degrees, supported by an 189-person faculty and staff roster across horizontal grade-level divisions (Little Rams preschool, Elementary K-4, Early Middle 5-6, Middle 7-8, High School 9-12) plus add-on programs including a Hybrid Program (grades K-11), a Special Needs Program (K-4), and an International Student Program (9-12 with boarding) drawn from global recruitment.

The school's product surface is a unified PreK-12 educational platform with multiple delivery modalities: a traditional on-campus track, the blended Hybrid Program (two on-campus days plus three flexible at-home learning days), a Special Needs Comprehensive Development Classroom for K-4 learners with disabilities, and Winterim experiential learning with a long-running German exchange partnership with Mönchsee Gymnasium in Heilbronn. Co-curricular depth is meaningful: 20+ sports and 40+ teams under the Rams athletics brand (state championships in soccer in 2025 and 2026 and in baseball in 2015), and a Fine Arts program (visual, vocal, theatre, band, color guard) that produced a Carnegie Hall invitation via the choir's San Diego Heritage Festival win. Academically the high school offers 12 AP courses, 13 honors courses, dual-enrollment access to 58 college-level courses through partnerships (headlined by Bryan College), and a Senior Capstone thesis-and-defense requirement.

The core technology stack is composed entirely of standard third-party EdTech platforms rather than proprietary systems: RenWeb for online admissions and enrollment, FACTS (RenWeb's tuition-management sibling) for billing and payment plans, Clarity for tuition-assistance applications, Scoir for college and career counseling, Duolingo English Test for international student language assessment, Hudl for athletic broadcasting, and Finalsite for the school's website CMS — with no public API, mobile app, or AI/ML capability disclosed. The business model is tuition-driven subscription recurring revenue with ancillary fee income: K-12 tuition ranges from $9,400 (Kindergarten) to $13,315 (Grades 9-11) annually, with a discount tier at approximately $5,325-$6,325 for Hybrid students, alongside a $150 non-refundable application fee, $300 enrollment fee, a $65 Clarity assistance-application fee, and extended-care revenue from the Little Rams preschool. A dedicated admissions team runs sales-led conversions via inquiry forms, shadow days, and campus open houses, while church partnerships and family referrals drive community-led demand across 100+ represented congregations. No external funding, M&A activity, or investment has been disclosed.

Name

Grace Christian Academy

Legal name

Grace Christian Academy

Website

https://gcarams.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Grace Christian Academy is a private K-12 Christian school in Knoxville, Tennessee, founded in 1997 as a ministry of Grace Baptist Church, serving 1,500+ students from Preschool through 12th grade with traditional, hybrid, and international boarding tracks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. K-12 Tuition: Core tuition revenue from K-12 students ranging from $8,800 (Kindergarten) to $12,715 (grades 9-12) annually, plus facility fees of $400 and continuous enrollment fees of $200
2. Little Rams Preschool Tuition: Preschool and Pre-K programs with various schedule options ranging from $4,380 (part-time T/TH) to $8,310 (full-time 2 year old) annually
3. Application and Enrollment Fees: Non-refundable application fee of $150 per applicant and enrollment fee of $300 for new students
4. Extended Care Services: Optional early care, late stay, and activities classes for Little Rams programs generating additional revenue
5. Tuition Assistance Processing: Third-party Clarity application processing fee of $65 per household for need-based tuition assistance

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Grace Christian Academy delivers a PreK-12 Christ-centered college-preparatory education on its Knoxville, TN campus, spanning Little Rams preschool through Grade 12. Core offerings include traditional Elementary (K-4), Early Middle School (5-6), Middle School (7-8), and High School (9-12) academic programs, paired with a Hybrid Program, Special Needs Program, International Student Program, Athletics, and Fine Arts, all integrated with a biblical worldview and producing a 100% college acceptance rate.

Product overview

Grace Christian Academy is a private Christian school offering a unified PreK-12 educational platform with multiple delivery modalities. The core offering consists of Traditional K-12 education spanning Little Rams preschool (ages 2-5), Elementary School (K-4), Early Middle School (5-6), Middle School (7-8), and High School (9-12). Supporting the traditional model are add-on programs: the Hybrid Program (blended on-campus and at-home learning), Special Needs Program (comprehensive development classroom), and International Student Program (with campus housing). The school also offers standalone programs including Winterim (experiential learning week), German Exchange Program, Learning Center (tutoring/accommodations), Senior Capstone (thesis requirement), and Student Internships. Co-curricular products include Athletics (20+ sports) and Fine Arts (visual, vocal, theatre, band). All programs integrate Biblical worldview throughout curriculum and are accredited by ACSI and approved by the Tennessee Department of Education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Little Rams: Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten program for ages 2-5.
• G2 Store

Products and services

• Little Rams Preschool & Pre-Kindergarten Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten program for ages 2-5 with part-time and full-time schedule options including Bible lessons, STEAM Lab, gym class, and playground time. Tuition ranges from $4,380 (part-time T/TH) to $8,310 (full-time 2 year olds) annually.
• Elementary School (K-4) Kindergarten through 4th grade program focused on core literacy and mathematics with collaborative learning, weekly art, music, STEM, and library specials, plus annual Night of the Arts and Fall Storytelling Competition. Tuition ranges from $9,400 (Kindergarten) to $11,635 (Grades 3-4) annually.
• Early Middle School (Grades 5-6) Fifth and sixth grade bridge program emphasizing study skills, time management, executive functioning, and transition preparation between elementary and middle school. Annual tuition $12,350.
• Middle School (Grades 7-8) Seventh and eighth grade program with honors courses in Math, English, and History plus electives including choir, band, drama, art, computer science, Bible study, and foreign languages; includes 7th-8th Grade Retreat and Mission Engagement requirements. Annual tuition $12,470.
• High School (Grades 9-12) Ninth through twelfth grade college preparatory program with 12 AP courses, 13 Honors courses, Dual Enrollment with multiple universities, Senior Capstone thesis requirement, and Winterim experiential learning week, achieving 100% college acceptance. Annual tuition $13,315 (Grades 9-11) or $13,115 (Grade 12).
• Hybrid Program (Grades 1-11) Non-traditional education option combining two on-campus days per week with three flexible at-home learning days for Grades 1-11, taught by certified teachers using Biblically-aligned curriculum. Hybrid tuition ranges from $5,325 (K-8) to $6,325 (Grades 9-11) annually.
• Special Needs Program (K-4) Comprehensive development classroom approach for Kindergarten through 4th grade students with learning disabilities, developmental delays, or behavioral challenges, featuring personalized learning plans, small-group instruction, inclusion opportunities, and faith-based multi-sensory learning.
• International Student Program (Grades 9-12) Boarding and day program for 9th-12th grade international students offering campus housing, academic rigor, athletic competition, and American cultural immersion, with Duolingo testing and I-20 issuance for F-1 visa students.
• Athletics Program Athletics program with over 20 sports offerings and 40+ teams spanning elementary through high school, including baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, dance, football, golf, fishing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling, with state championships and college-bound athlete preparation.
• Fine Arts Program Visual arts, vocal arts, theatre, band, and color guard offerings that include annual Night of the Arts, Broadway Junior productions, and worship arts; weekly art and music classes with performances throughout the year.
• Learning Center Academic support services for K-12 students including tutoring, Learning Plan and 504 Plan accommodations for students with diagnosed disabilities, covering K-8 general, Algebra I/II, Anatomy, Biology, Chemistry, English, Environmental Science, Geometry, and History.
• Extended Care Services Optional early care, late stay, and activities classes for Little Rams preschool and pre-kindergarten programs, generating additional recurring revenue beyond base tuition.
• TCAT OSHA Certification Partnership Career pathway offering where GCA students can earn OSHA certifications through a partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), providing credentials in industrial safety and health.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TCAT (Tennessee College of Applied Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2026Partnership allowing GCA students to earn OSHA certifications through TCAT's General Industry Safety and Health Certificate program, providing career pathway opportunities in technical fields.
• Bryan CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partnership providing 58 college-level course offerings to GCA students, allowing them to earn college credit while attending high school.
• Multiple Universities (Dual Enrollment Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative effort between multiple universities and GCA providing dual enrollment opportunities for juniors and seniors with 3.00+ GPA to earn college credit.
• Y-12 National Security ComplexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost organization for GirlsInEngineeringDay event providing STEM exposure and career exploration opportunities for GCA high school students.
• DuolingocoreTechnology or IntegrationEnglish language testing platform used for international student admissions assessment through the Duolingo English Test for applicants worldwide.
• Mönchsee Gymnasium (Heilbronn, Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman exchange program partnership established in 2006, allowing students to participate in cultural exchange with annual visits between schools.
• ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccreditation body for Christian schools providing ACSI accreditation for GCA and future Hybrid Program accreditation standards.
• Tennessee Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState education authority providing approval for GCA's educational programs and regulatory oversight.
• Clarity (Tuition Assistance Platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party tuition assistance application platform used by GCA to process need-based financial aid applications for families.
• FACTS (Tuition Management)coreTechnology or IntegrationTuition payment processing and management system used for automatic billing, payment plans, and tuition collection.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The King's Academy: Private Christian K-12 school in Sevierville, TN serving the broader East Tennessee region. Comparable faith-based college preparatory mission, similar tuition model, and overlapping geographic feeder markets.
• Christian Academy of Knoxville: Local Knoxville private Christian school competing directly for the same families in Knox County. Closest geographic competitor and most relevant peer for benchmarking tuition, programs, and market positioning.
• Knoxville Catholic High School: Local Knoxville Catholic college-preparatory high school. Direct competitor for faith-based college-prep enrollment in the same market as Grace Christian Academy.
• Brentwood Academy: Nashville-area private college-preparatory school with rigorous academics and competitive athletics. Comparable model of faith-informed (nondenominational) college-prep education, athletics program scale, and AP/dual-enrollment offerings.
• Baylor School: Independent day/boarding college-prep school in Chattanooga, TN. Comparable private college-preparatory model with AP curriculum, strong athletics, and boarding program — relevant peer for benchmarking tuition tiers and college outcomes.
• Christ Presbyterian Academy: Nashville-area faith-based private school (Presbyterian, not Baptist) serving PreK-12 with college-prep academics and athletics. Similar faith-integrated curriculum and comparable tuition structure in a neighboring Tennessee market.
• McCallie School: Independent boys' college-preparatory school in Chattanooga, TN. Comparable private college-prep model with rigorous AP offerings and strong athletic tradition, relevant for benchmarking tuition and outcome metrics.
• Prestonwood Christian Academy: Large Texas-based private Christian K-12 school with college-prep academics, competitive athletics, and faith integration. Comparable comprehensive programmatic structure and broader scale than GCA.
• First Baptist Academy Knoxville: Local Knoxville Baptist-affiliated private school (separate from Grace Baptist Church) serving K-12. Direct competitor in the same city for Baptist families seeking Christian K-12 education.

Broad incumbents

• Westminster Schools: Larger Atlanta-based private Christian (Presbyterian-affiliated) K-12 college-prep school. Broader incumbent in the regional private-school landscape with overlapping faith-based identity and college-prep curriculum model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@gcarams
• Facebookfacebook.com/gcarams
• Instagraminstagram.com/gcarams
• Xx.com/gcarams

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grace Christian Academy