Accreditations, Associations & Achievements

Grace Community School is honored to be recognized for demonstrating high levels of student performance and parent satisfaction with the education their students are receiving through the accreditation process and achievement.

Since 1978, Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) has advanced excellence in Christian schools by enhancing the professional and personal development of Christian educators and providing support functions for Christian schools. ACSI member schools seek accreditation to validate their quality and verify that they are striving for excellence based on a solid Christian philosophy of education foundation. ACSI accreditation affirms that the school meets standards of quality established by the international school community, provides validation of the credibility of the school through a peer review process, and promotes ongoing instructional improvement through a continuous process of self-assessment and systematic school development. Grace Community School is proud to have the distinct honor as one of only two schools in the nation that were awarded exemplary accreditation in its inaugural year.

AdvancED is the largest community of education professionals in the world. They are a non-profit, non-partisan organization that conducts rigorous, on-site external reviews of Pre-K-12 schools and school systems to ensure that all learners realize their full potential. AdvancED serves as a trusted partner to 34,000 schools and school systems across the United States and 70 other nations. AdvancED employs a systems-oriented accreditation process that strives to help institutions make the most of their talents and resources. It is a process that aligns accreditation with accountability, emphasizing learner outcomes when evaluating institutional quality. Grace Community School earned its accredited status on June 23, 2012. Grace is proud to have met, and that it continues to meet, the rigorous demands of the AdvancED standards and accreditation policies.

The Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA) serves Christian schools and Christian organizations through leadership services, academic enrichment, programmatic development, professional development, and by providing fellowship and fraternity to those who serve within Christian institutions. CESA seeks to enable Christian schools with rigorous, objective standards to guide their development, providing schools with the tools necessary to reach such standards and the networks necessary to propel Christian schools with excellence and accountability as their hallmarks. Members of CESA are those schools that are fully accredited by an organization with either national standing as a member of a nationally recognized association or with state standing as a member of an association with state-wide recognition and have completed and passed the CESA School Certification Audit. Grace Community School is a proud member of CESA.

The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) states as its mission the building of leadership, fellowship, fair play, and sportsmanship of students enrolled in the organization’s member schools in the areas of academics, athletics, and fine arts by providing wholesome competition for young men and women. It creates rules for, and sometimes administers, almost all athletic and academic contests for non-public high schools in Texas. TAPPS firmly believes that competition among its diverse member schools and students promotes among the competitors and their schools understanding, fellowship and excellence. Since 1978, TAPPS has grown to a membership of 230 schools with a combined enrollment of over 40,000 students. Grace Community School is proud to be a top competitor among TAPPS associated schools.

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Henderson Cup

Grace Community School won the 2022 Henderson Cup, the overall state championship award given by the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). This annual award is presented to the school that earns the most points in 27 TAPPS competitions in a given school year. TAPPS competitions include three areas: academics, fine arts, and athletics. Grace has won the Henderson Cup four other times, 2021 (5A), 2017 (5A), 2002 (4A), and 1999 (3A). Grace has also finished as the runner-up four times 2019 (5A), 2018 (5A), 2016 (5A), and 2009 (4A).

Henderson Cup

Grace Community School won the 2021 Henderson Cup, the overall state championship award given by the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). This annual award is presented to the school that earns the most points in 27 TAPPS competitions in a given school year. TAPPS competitions include three areas: academics, fine arts, and athletics. Grace has won the Henderson Cup three other times, 2017 (5A), 2002 (4A), and 1999 (3A). Grace has also finished as the runner-up four times 2019 (5A), 2018 (5A), 2016 (5A), and 2009 (4A).

National Merit Scholar

In the 2020-2021 academic year, Grace had one National Merit Scholar.

2017-2018 National Blue Ribbon Award

In 2017-2018, Grace Community Elementary School was the only private elementary school in Texas that was awarded the National Blue Ribbon School status by the U.S. Department of Education (0.5% of U.S. schools earn this coveted distinction).

Henderson Cup

Grace Community School won the 2017 Henderson Cup, the overall state championship award given by the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). This annual award is presented to the school that earns the most points in 27 TAPPS competitions in a given school year. TAPPS competitions include three areas: academics, fine arts, and athletics. Grace has won the Henderson Cup two other times, 2002 (4A), and 1999 (3A). Grace has also finished as the runner-up two times 2016 (5A), and 2009 (4A).

Commended National Merit Scholars

In the 2017-2018 academic year, Grace had two National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.

2015-2016 National Blue Ribbon Award

In 2015-2016, Grace Community High School was one of three high schools in Texas that were awarded the National Blue Ribbon School status by the U.S. Department of Education (0.5% of U.S. schools earn this coveted distinction).

Commended National Merit Scholars

In the 2016-2017 academic year, Grace had two National Merit Scholarships Semifinalists.

ACT Excellence

Over 90% of Grace Seniors took the ACT and, as a group, scored in the top 15% of the nation.

ACSI Exemplary Accreditation

In 2014-2015, Grace was one of only two schools in the nation to be awarded exemplary accreditation for its inaugural year in the Association of Christian Schools International.

Excellence in Fine Arts

2016-2017: TAPPS HS Drumline State Champion, HS Drama (2nd/District)
2015-2016: TAPPS HS Drumline State Champion, Vocal State Champion
(5th consecutive yr); Band, Orchestra, and One-Act Play (3rd)
2014-2015: TAPPS HS Drumline, Vocal, and Instrumental State Champion; Drama (3rd)

Commended National Merit Scholars

In the 2014-2015 academic year, Grace had five Commended National Merit Scholars.

National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

In the 2013-2014 academic year, Grace had three National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.

TAPPS logo

Academic State Champions

2012-2013 TAPPS 4A Academic State Champions

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Academic District Champions

2014-2015 TAPPS 4A Academic District Champions

Henderson Cup

Grace Community School won the 2002 Henderson Cup, the overall state championship award given by the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). This annual award is presented to the school that earns the most points in 27 TAPPS competitions in a given school year. TAPPS competitions include three areas: academics, fine arts, and athletics. Grace has won the Henderson Cup one other time in 1999 (3A). Grace has also finished as the runner-up two times 2016 (5A) and 2009 (4A).

TAPPS logo

Henderson Cup

Grace Community School won the 1999 Henderson Cup, the overall state championship award given by the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). This annual award is presented to the school that earns the most points in 27 TAPPS competitions in a given school year. TAPPS competitions include three areas: academics, fine arts, and athletics.