FAQ
Here are some common questions.
It is the mission of Gateway Christian Academy to educate the whole person under the authority of God’s Word. We believe GCA can best achieve our mission by training young people spiritually, academically, socially, and physically. Gateway stands hand-in-hand with parents and the church in fulfilling this biblical mandate to train up children in the way they should go.
Gateway Christian Academy is a fully accredited school and holds the following accreditations:
Christian accreditation through the Association of Christian Teachers and Schools. ACTS strives to set new standards of Christ-centered academic excellence while assisting Christian schools to realize the highest level of educational credibility.
State recognition through the Virginia Counsel of Private Education. VCPE is recognized by the Virginia Department of Education so this recognition of our accreditation guarantees the transfer of student credits from the state recognized accredited private school to a public school. GCA’s ACTS accreditation is recognized by VCPE.
National accreditation through the National Counsel for Private School Accreditation. NCPSA serves as a national review panel for the standards and review procedures of private school accrediting associations. GCA’s ACTS and Ai accreditations are recognized by NCPSA.
International accreditation though Accreditation International. Ai assures the educational quality of schools and plans for continuous school improvement to increase student learning using standards based on international research, best practices, and historical accreditation processes. GCA’s Ai accreditation is also recognized by the International Alliance for School Accreditation.
Although many obviously do, students at GCA are not required to attend services at Gateway Church. GCA has many churches represented among our student body. We strongly encourage (and require in grades 9-12) that all of our students regularly attend a good, conservative, Bible-believing church. If you do not have a regular church home, we invite you to join us at Gateway Church.
GCA accepts only the students whom we are equipped to help. Incoming students may be tested before entering and records from previous schools will be requested. Students who struggle academically or test well below average may be placed on academic probation or accepted only on a lower grade level. Unfortunately, GCA is not equipped to help all students with specialized academic needs; this is determined on a case-by-case basis.
GCA uses primarily A Beka Books for preschool through 5th grades. A Beka is continued in many subjects through middle and high school, with Bob Jones University Press used mainly in upper grades.
See the Admissions page for the latest tuition and fees.
Students take the TerraNova test each spring. Most years, 70% of GCA students score higher than the national mean score, and our students’ median grade equivalency is over a full year above grade level.
Yes, teachers in K5-12th grade are certified by the Association of Christian Teachers and Schools. This certification is recognized by the Virginia Counsel for Private School Accreditation.
Average class sizes are as follows:
Preschool—10-16 students
K5-5th—18-22 students
Grades 6-12th—16-20 students
See the Admissions page for your next steps.