Georgia Association of Christian Schools

What Georgia Association of Christian Schools does

Georgia Association of Christian Schools (GACS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association founded in 1970 with ten charter members and incorporated under Georgia law on March 3, 1976. Headquartered in Fayetteville, GA, GACS serves approximately 40+ private Christian K-12 schools across Georgia representing 4,500+ students (as of 2015-2016, the most recent disclosed figure). Its mission is to develop Christian character in students by providing member schools with programs conducive to mental, moral, spiritual, aesthetic, and physical development.

GACS operates a service-bundle model that delivers accreditation, athletics, fine arts competitions, teacher certification, professional development, and legislative advocacy to member schools. Core products include the GACS Accreditation Program (recognized by the Georgia Board of Education, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, and the Georgia Student Finance Authority for HOPE Scholarship eligibility), the Professional Employee Certification Program (PECP) for teacher credentialing, the Georgia Christian Athletic Association (GCAA, established 1972) for interscholastic sports, and the Fine Arts Competition Program (grades 4-12) with national pathways through the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS). The organization is also a charter/founding member of the Georgia Private School Accreditation Council (GAPSAC) and holds cooperative accreditation agreements with AACS, NACSAA (with a pathway to Cognia and Middle States), and Accreditation International (added 2024) for international accreditation. Supporting programs include the Christian Honor Society, Jerry Lanier Memorial Scholarship, teacher placement, standardized testing discounts, 403b retirement discounts, and the annual Southeast Christian Educators' Convention co-hosted with NCCSA and the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools in Myrtle Beach.

Revenue is generated from a one-time $100 non-refundable membership application fee, annual enrollment dues (amounts not publicly disclosed and varying by school size), accreditation review fees, Professional Employee Certification Program (PECP) application fees, convention and seminar registration, and sale of competition manuals, accreditation manuals, GAPSAC diploma seals, and honor society pins/certificates. GACS's technology stack is operationally light and non-AI, relying on JotForm for online application forms, FARWeb (Fine Arts Registration web system) for competition registration and fee tracking, and TestPoint for academic testing. GACS employs 11-50 staff and is led by Executive Director Steven Brondyke (MA, M.Div.), with a volunteer board of directors comprising school administrators from member institutions. GTM motion is relationship-driven and event-led, with the Executive Director and board conducting direct outreach, supported by the annual convention, Pastor/Administrator Seminar, and Executive Director Retreat.

Name

Georgia Association of Christian Schools

Legal name

Georgia Association of Christian Schools

Website

https://gacs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Georgia Association of Christian Schools is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 that provides accreditation, athletics, fine arts competitions, teacher certification, and professional development to roughly 40+ private Christian K-12 schools across Georgia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogart

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Schools pay membership fees to join GACS, including a one-time $100 non-refundable application fee plus annual enrollment dues.
2. Accreditation Services: GACS provides accreditation programs for member schools, including the accreditation manual and certification processes.
3. Convention and Event Fees: Annual Educators Convention and various seminars generate revenue through registration fees for schools attending.
4. Teacher Certification: Professional Employee Certification Program (PECP) generates fees for processing teacher certification applications.
5. Publications and Seals: Sale of Fine Arts competition manuals, accreditation manuals, GAPSAC diploma seals, and honor society pins/certificates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GACS is a nonprofit membership association that provides Christian schools in Georgia with a bundled portfolio of services including peer-reviewed accreditation, teacher certification (PECP), state-level fine arts and academic competitions, interscholastic athletics through its GCAA division, an honor society, professional development conventions and seminars, legislative advocacy, standardized testing, teacher placement, and vendor discount programs. Membership requires a one-time $100 application fee plus annual enrollment dues, and gives member schools access to GACS accreditation recognized by the Georgia Board of Education, the Board of Regents, and the Georgia Student Finance Authority.

Product overview

Georgia Association of Christian Schools is a service organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services to support Christian education in Georgia. The core offerings include an accreditation program with cooperative agreements with AACS, NACSAA, and Accreditation International; the Professional Employee Certification Program (PECP) for teacher credentialing; the Georgia Christian Athletic Association (GCAA) for sports competitions; and the Fine Arts Competition Program for grades 4-12 with national competition pathways. Additional services include the Christian Honor Society with scholarship opportunities, annual Southeast Christian Educators' Convention, Pastor/Administrator Seminars, teacher placement services, standardized testing programs, and professional development including CEU approvals. The organization also provides legislative advocacy, HR counsel, and access to vendor discounts through endorsed suppliers. FARWeb serves as the online registration portal for fine arts competitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Georgia Christian Athletic Association (GCAA): Athletic division of GACS established in 1972 that teaches Christian athletics and builds Christian character through Christ-centered competition for member schools.

Products and services

• Accreditation Program Voluntary peer-review accreditation process for member Christian schools consisting of self-study, on-site review, and cooperative recognition by GAPSAC, AACS, NACSAA (with pathway to Cognia and Middle States), and Accreditation International. Recognition enables credit transfer to Georgia public schools, USG college admission, and HOPE Scholarship eligibility.
• Professional Employee Certification Program (PECP) Professional certification program providing objective standards for evaluating and recognizing the preparation and experience of current and prospective employees at member schools, with certificates for paraprofessionals, various teaching levels, counselors, and administrators.
• Fine Arts Competition Program Annual state-level competition for grades 4-12 in Bible, fine arts, and academics, held at member school venues, with a national competition pathway through the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) for senior high winners.
• Georgia Christian Athletic Association (GCAA) Athletic division of GACS providing Christ-centered sports competition for member schools in football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, and golf, with regional and state championships.
• Christian Honor Society Honor society for junior and senior high students at GACS member schools recognizing academic and spiritual excellence, with pins, certificates, and approximately $750 Christian college scholarships for graduating seniors.
• Southeast Christian Educators' Convention Annual educator convention held each September in Myrtle Beach, SC in partnership with the North Carolina and South Carolina Christian school associations, featuring workshops, general sessions, and an exhibit hall where vendors serve Christian schools.
• Pastor/Administrator Seminar Annual leadership seminar hosted at Mikado Baptist Church in Macon, GA for pastors, administrators, and school leaders to fellowship, receive professional development, meet vendors, and be encouraged.
• Jerry Lanier Memorial Scholarship Christian college scholarship fund for student athletes graduating from GACS member schools, emphasizing Christian character and sportsmanship over athletic achievement.
• Teacher Placement Program Professional teacher placement service that connects qualified educators with GACS member schools seeking to fill staff positions.
• Legislative Monitoring and Advocacy State and federal legislative oversight, monitoring, and advocacy services that protect member Christian schools from government encroachment on educational and religious freedom.
• Standardized Testing Program Nationally standardized testing program offered to member schools at substantial discounts through GACS's endorsement of the TestPoint testing platform.
• 403b Retirement Program 403b retirement plan program available to member school employees at discounted rates through GACS's partnership with AACS RightPath Retirement.
• Professional Development Services Continuing education unit (CEU) approval and various professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators at GACS member schools, delivered through conventions, seminars, retreats, and partner programs.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Accreditation International (AI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024International cooperative accreditation agreement allowing international GACS schools to have international accreditation, and domestic schools seeking to send graduates to universities overseas.
• Georgia Christian Athletic Association (GCAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1972Athletic division of GACS established in 1972, operating under GACS by-laws to provide Christ-centered athletic competition for member schools.
• American Association of Christian Schools (AACS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership for Christian school accreditation, professional development, and national competition programs. GACS schools can participate in AACS national fine arts competition and access legislative representation at federal level.
• NACSAA (North American Christian School Accrediting Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative agreement giving GACS schools a direct pathway to regional accreditors such as Cognia and Middle States through recognizing the GACS site visit and team report.
• North Carolina Christian School Association (NCCSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership for joint Southeast Christian Educators Convention and collaborative Christian education initiatives.
• South Carolina Association of Christian SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership for joint Southeast Christian Educators Convention and collaborative Christian education initiatives.
• Georgia Private School Accreditation Council (GAPSAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGACS is a founding/charter member of GAPSAC, an association of accrediting organizations for non-public schools in Georgia.
• My School WorxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed supplier providing school management software solutions to GACS member schools.
• Facts ManagementminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed supplier providing academic and business management solutions for schools.
• Church Mutual InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed insurance provider for churches and schools serving GACS member schools.
• 323 SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed sports-related vendor for GACS member schools.
• Active DefenderminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed school safety platform for GACS member schools.
• Test PointminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed academic testing provider offering standardized testing materials to GACS member schools.
• AACS RightPath RetirementminorGTM or Marketing Partner403b retirement program discounts available through AACS partnership for member schools.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Christian School Association (NCSA): A national faith-based school association and accreditor that operates a similar accreditation and member-services model to GACS. NCSA is a direct peer in mission and product mix, providing an alternative accreditation option for Christian K-12 schools nationwide.
• South Carolina Association of Christian Schools (SCACS): GACS's most direct peer: a state-level Christian school association providing accreditation, athletics, fine arts, and conventions to Christian K-12 schools in South Carolina. The two organizations jointly operate the Southeast Christian Educators Convention in Myrtle Beach, making them functionally the most comparable operating model to GACS.
• Accreditation International (AI): An international accreditor that signed a cooperative agreement with GACS in 2024. AI provides international accreditation, complementing GACS for schools sending graduates abroad — a direct peer in the accreditation-services category with a different geographic reach.
• Georgia Independent School Association (GISA): A direct in-state peer serving private K-12 schools in Georgia (though not specifically faith-based). GISA competes with GACS for the same pool of Georgia private schools and operates its own athletics and accreditation programs, making it the closest non-faith-based comparable.
• NACSAA (North American Christian School Accrediting Agency): A peer accreditor providing a direct pathway from member-school accreditation to regional accreditors like Cognia and Middle States. NACSAA's cooperative relationship with GACS places it in a complementary rather than purely competitive position, but the underlying mission is the same: accrediting faith-based schools.
• North Carolina Christian School Association (NCCSA): A direct peer offering the same suite of accreditation, athletics, fine arts, and teacher certification services to North Carolina Christian schools. NCCSA is the third co-host of the Southeast Christian Educators Convention alongside GACS and SCACS, with an essentially identical product mix and member profile.

Broad incumbents

• Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI): A large, international Christian school association providing accreditation, professional development, and member services. ACSI is a broad incumbent in the same faith-based school accreditation space and competes indirectly with GACS for member school mindshare and accreditation preference.
• American Association of Christian Schools (AACS): The national umbrella association for Christian schools and a GACS partner. AACS operates a broader portfolio (national competitions, federal advocacy, RightPath retirement, accreditation) and competes with GACS in the cooperative accreditation layer, while also serving as a complement through which GACS members access national programs.
• Cognia (formerly AdvancED): One of the largest U.S. regional accreditors for K-12 schools. Cognia competes with GACS indirectly as the destination for schools pursuing broader-recognized regional accreditation — and is reachable as an endpoint of GACS's NACSAA cooperative pathway, making it both a competitor and a partner.

Regional players

• Georgia Private School Accreditation Council (GAPSAC): The umbrella Georgia accreditation body of which GACS is a founding member. GAPSAC sits one layer above GACS in the regulatory recognition chain and works with multiple accrediting associations, making it a structural peer in the same Georgia private school ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Georgia-Association-of-Christian-Schools-124555594301350
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/georgia-association-of-christian-schools

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Georgia Association of Christian Schools