The Admissions Process at Grace Community School
If you are considering applying to a private, Christian school for the first time, you’re probably wondering what’s involved with the process. At Grace Community School, our admissions process is designed to help your family find the right school fit and make a decision with confidence.
Grace Community School is the only East Texas school recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for high academic achievement. Grace has also been awarded the TAPPS Henderson Cup for top state honors in academics, athletics, and fine arts. From your campus tour to your official enrollment, we believe you’ll experience our welcoming environment, our commitment to excellence, and the Christ-centered mission that keeps our primary focus on Teaching Jesus.
We accept applications on a rolling basis, which means you can apply to Grace at any point during the year. As you review the process below, be sure to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We hope to meet you and your family in person soon to share more about all the opportunities your child will have as a GCS Cougar!
Get An Inside Look at Grace Community School
Download a Parent Info Packet or visit our academic pages to learn more about Grace’s early education, junior kindergarten and kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school.
5 Simple Steps to Becoming Part of the Grace Family
(Junior Kindergarten-Grade 12)
1
When choosing a new school, nothing provides better insight than your campus visit. We hope you’ll take the time to set up a tour at Grace — in-person or virtual — to see what we’re all about firsthand.
*If you are applying for Early Education, a tour is a required part of the admissions process.
See further details below.
2
You can easily submit your application online. In addition to providing basic information about your child, you will attach a few supplemental documents and pay the $75 application fee.
3
Complete an Admissions Assessment
This assessment allows us to better understand where your child is academically and how we can best support them as they transition to a new school.
4
Schedule Your Family Conference
When your child’s file and assessment are complete, our admissions office will reach out to schedule your family conference.
5
Receive Your Admissions Decision
After a review of your child’s file and family conference, we’ll contact you shortly with an admissions decision and help you complete your enrollment. We look forward to welcoming you to the Grace family!
Applying to Grace Early Education?
If you have a little one between the ages of eight weeks and four years, the admissions process looks a little different. Because Grace Early Education has a waitlist, be sure to begin the process as soon as possible.
1
Register for a tour online, specifying your desired campus (Tyler or Lindale), and be on the lookout for an email from us to schedule.
2
Join the Waitlist
Once you decide Grace is the right childcare center for your child, you can add your name to our waitlist and pay the $25 fee. All new families join the waitlist, regardless of the time of year, which helps us ensure there is space available in the classroom for your child.
3
Complete Enrollment
We will reach out to you as soon as we’re able to offer your child a spot and assist you with finalizing your enrollment and payment plan.
Meet the Admissions Team
We hope to meet you and your child one day soon! You can send general admissions questions to admissions@gracetyler.org, or reach out to any of our team members below based on your child’s age.
Shari Wilson
Lower Campus Director of Admissions
Shari has a deep love for Jesus and for those who come seeking the hope He has to offer. Her background includes years of experience in education and programming for children and adults. She has taught in the classroom, worked as an Education Specialist with the Arizona Supreme Court and spent countless hours coaching and…
Shari Wilson
Lower Campus Director of Admissions
B.S., University of Arizona
Shari has a deep love for Jesus and for those who come seeking the hope He has to offer. Her background includes years of experience in education and programming for children and adults. She has taught in the classroom, worked as an Education Specialist with the Arizona Supreme Court and spent countless hours coaching and encouraging women, parents, families, and students. Her passionate love for Jesus and the principles in His Word give her a unique perspective on how the choices we make are so critical to living the lives we deeply desire. Shari is a ministry leader, speaker, and life coach, but the real truth is she’s a lover of chocolate and strong coffee. She has been married nearly thirty years to her best friend, Scott. She’s an avid University of Arizona Wildcat fan and mom to Ethan, Garner, Torrey, Sydney, Riley, and Reagan, and one beautiful daughter-in-law, Julianna.
Amber Bowler
Upper Campus Director of Admissions
Amber joined Grace Community School in January of 2022 as the Director of Admissions – Upper Campus. Amber received both her undergraduate degree and MBA from UT Tyler, where she was on the women’s golf team. She and her husband married in 2015, and they have two little girls at Grace. Amber and her family…
Amber Bowler
Upper Campus Director of Admissions
M.B.A., UT Tyler
Amber joined Grace Community School in January of 2022 as the Director of Admissions – Upper Campus. Amber received both her undergraduate degree and MBA from UT Tyler, where she was on the women’s golf team. She and her husband married in 2015, and they have two little girls at Grace. Amber and her family are members of Flint Baptist Church and enjoy playing golf together and serving others.
Kayla Franks
Admissions Coordinator
Kayla joined Grace Community School as the Admissions Coordinator in January 2022. Previously she worked at the Refinery Chiropractic as a chiropractic assistant and has worked for Grace Community Church and Grace Early Education in the past. Kayla moved to Tyler from Columbia Missouri to attend UT Tyler and graduated from there with a bachelor’s…
Kayla Franks
Admissions Coordinator
B.S., University of Texas at Tyler
Kayla joined Grace Community School as the Admissions Coordinator in January 2022. Previously she worked at the Refinery Chiropractic as a chiropractic assistant and has worked for Grace Community Church and Grace Early Education in the past. Kayla moved to Tyler from Columbia Missouri to attend UT Tyler and graduated from there with a bachelor’s in Business Management. Kayla has lived in Tyler since 2017 and attends Grace Community Church. When she’s not working, Kayla enjoys being outside and hanging out with friends. She also trains dogs and takes Krav Maga self-defense classes in her free time.
Admissions FAQ
Families who choose GCS are usually looking for a distinctly Christian school where their children will learn about Jesus daily. They don’t want the values they are instilling at home to be torn down; they want a partner to help educate their children in truth. They are also looking for excellent academics and a wide range of extracurricular activities so their child has a full and vibrant school experience. Last but not least, they want to be surrounded by community, and have opportunities to connect with likeminded families, forging meaningful friendships.
While not a required part of the admissions process, we offer Student Shadow Days which allows your child to be our guest for a day. We pair prospective students with an enrolled student at their same grade level with similar interests. If your child has a friend at Grace, they can request to shadow them. It’s a great way to involve your child in the admissions process and allow them to get familiar with the GCS campus and community. Students may shadow at any age, but it is an especially valuable opportunity for those entering middle or high school. Contact admissions to schedule your Shadow Day!
Grace Community School is pleased to offer Variable Tuition*, which can adjust the annual rate to meet your family’s unique financial position. Finding out if you qualify is a simple and confidential process facilitated by FACTS, a third-party agency which will review your information and make a recommendation to our team. Families from many different financial backgrounds enjoy a high-quality Christian education at GCS thanks to variable tuition, and discounts range between 45-85% of the total cost.
*If applying for Variable Tuition, we recommend that you begin that application at the same time as your GCS application. Applying for Variable Tuition will not affect your child’s admissibility.
Faith
- At least one parent or guardian has a personal testimony of a relationship with Jesus Christ. In grades 9-12 the student must also be a professing Christ follower.
- Families are actively participating and regularly worshiping in a local church in which the Bible is sincerely believed to be the inspired word of God and is, therefore, the basis for all life and learning.
Academic Profile
- Each student gives evidence of a commitment to the learning process based on:
- Teacher recommendations and report cards that indicate the student is an independent learner and can be successful in a traditional school environment.
- Admissions assessment that indicates the student is equipped to succeed in a rigorous academic climate.
- Satisfactory conduct records and personal references.
School Partnership
- There is an understanding and an agreement with the statement of faith and mission of Grace Community School to provide children with a Christ-centered education which means Jesus Christ is acknowledged in every area of life.
- Families and, when age appropriate, students, agree to support and live in accordance with the Grace Community Lifestyle Agreement and the Grace Community Position on Marriage and Human Sexuality.
Parent and Student Handbook
To request a copy of the handbook, please contact our admissions office at admissions@gracetyler.org.
What’s important to you is important to us.
No one has thought more than you have about your child’s education and future; and no one is more aware than you are that each year more of your child’s and family’s life is connected to school. Your dreams for your son or daughter are big, and the opportunities you desire are both specific and infinite. You need to be able to trust and partner closely with those whom you share so much of your student’s formative learning, development, and time.
What questions do you have for the Grace admissions team as you take the next step?
