Tuition & Tuition Assistance at Gaston Christian School
An excellent education is one of the best investments you can make for your child’s future. At Gaston Christian School, we are committed to nurturing your children spiritually and academically.
With campuses in Gastonia (PK3-12) and East Cleveland (PK-7), we are able to serve families throughout Gaston and Cleveland counties and surrounding areas. Learn more about Gaston Christian School’s tuition plans, financial support programs, and payment options.
Dedication to Affordability
While private school tuition can vary significantly, depending on location, available resources, and facility features, at Gaston Christian School, we believe that affordability shouldn’t be a barrier to a family’s desire to enroll.
Our K-12 families receive approximately $500,000 annually from Opportunity Scholarships and/or internal financial assistance, not including applicable discounts. Of this amount, about one in 10 students receive benefits.
Value of a Gaston Christian School Education
For more than 40 years, Gaston Christian School has been demonstrating Christ’s love, building up children to be leaders in their communities while facilitating academics and athletic development.
Reasons families choose us for their private Christian school education:
- Dual accreditation: Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA) and Cognia accredited (formerly AdvancED)
- Challenging academics: Age-appropriate curriculum, including 9 AP classes and 20 honors courses
- Biblical values: Students are taught from a Christian worldview, with teachers modeling Christ-like behavior every day
- Highly trained educators: 47% of middle and high school teachers have master’s or Ph.D. degrees; all teachers have bachelor’s degrees and regularly complete continuing education
- Small class sizes:15 students in each preschool class (2 teachers), 20 per elementary class, and 22 per middle and high school class is the goal
- Numerous extracurriculars: Arts, music, praise team, student clubs, and more
- Extensive athletics: 27 sports offerings as well as K-5 sports league; member of the Metrolina Athletic Conference and North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association
- Safety-enhanced campus: Retired police officer on staff during school; security cameras around campus and inside buildings; locked exterior doors; locked classrooms when in session; Nightlock Lockdown keys in all rooms; monthly fire, tornado, and emergency drills
Tuition Information
Registration/Testing Fees (new students): $250 per student for Preschool; $350 per student for K-12.
This is paid when the application is submitted. A refund of 50% will be issued if the student is not offered enrollment after testing. Registration/Testing fees are not refundable or transferable if enrollment is offered.
Gastonia Campus Tuition
Located on a beautiful 66-acre campus, our Gastonia campus enrolls students in preschool through 12th grade.
| Tuition 2024-2025* | ||
| Grade Level | Annual Tuition | Supply Fee** |
| Preschool – 3 days (M, W, F) | $5,655 | $240 |
| Preschool – 5 days |
$5,800 (Half day) $7,720 (Full day) |
$240 |
| Half-Day Kindergarten | $5,980 | $400 |
| Full-Day Kindergarten | $9,045 | $540 |
| Elementary (Grades 1-5) | $9,045 |
$625 $125 – Technology fee (Grades 4-5) |
| Middle School (Grades 6-8) | $11,360 |
$660 $125 – Technology fee |
| High School (Grades 9-12) | $12,160 |
$660 $125 – Technology fee |
*Included in tuition rate and supply fee:
- Lunch
- Textbooks and instructional materials
- Elementary field trips
- Yearbooks
- 1-to-1 device (middle and high school)
- Academic advising and college counseling
- Mental health support and resources
**For the first and second year of enrollment, each family will be responsible for a $400 facility and security fee. For the third and following years, the fee is reduced to $150.
East Cleveland Campus Tuition
Housed in the East Cleveland Campus in Kings Mountain, it serves PreK up to sixth grade.
| Tuition 2024-2025* | ||
| Grade Level | Annual Tuition | Supply Fee** |
| Preschool – 3 days (M, W, F) | $5,085 | $240 |
| Preschool – 5 days |
$5,800 (Half day) $6,770 (Full day) |
$240 |
| Half-Day Kindergarten | $5,980 | $400 |
| Full-Day Kindergarten | $8,095 | $540 |
| Elementary (Grades 1-6) | $8,095 |
$625 $125 – Technology fee (Grades 4-6) |
*Included in tuition rate and supply fee:
- Field trips
- Yearbooks
- 1-to-1 device (Grades 4-6)
- Textbooks and instructional materials
- Mental health support and resources
**For the first and second year of enrollment, each family will be responsible for a $350 facility and security fee. For the third and following years, the fee is reduced to $200.
New students:
There is a $250 registration/testing fee for preschoolers and $350 for kindergarten and higher. This is paid when the application is submitted. A refund of 50% will be issued if the student is not offered enrollment after testing. Registration/testing fees are not refundable or transferable if enrollment is offered.
“GCS has impacted our family in so many ways. It has provided a strong foundation for my daughter and the opportunity to learn biblical morals and standards in school. There is so much value in having smaller class sizes, where students can encourage and pray for one another in both the good and difficult seasons of life.”
-S. McMahan, GCS Elementary School Parent
Ready to experience a day at Gaston Christian School?
Schedule a tour today. Contact our Admissions Director, Julie Ryan, at [email protected] or 704.824.4128.
Additional Programs Available at GCS
Apart from what’s included in our traditional curriculum and tuition inclusions, we have a number of optional programs designed to enhance each child’s experience, including:
- Athletics
- Dance
- Class retreats
- Summer camps
- School store
- Box-office showings
- Before- and after-school care
- Advanced Placement testing*
- College and Career Promise Program (through NC Community College System)
*AP course (Grades 11-12) fees are $190 per course and include the cost of the exam. These course fees are not charged until the classes begin and may be added to your normal billing cycle from the time the class starts until the end of the school year.
Tuition Assistance and Discounts
Get more details on the type of programs we offer to make an exceptional Christian education attainable for families in our community.
North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship
For the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship, it’s important to note that new applications open on February 1 and close on March 1.
Review household income eligibility guidelines to be considered for this program.
Discounts
Sibling/Family Discount: Full tuition is billed for the oldest child in the family. Tuition for all other children, except preschool, is discounted 10%. This discount is for K-12 tuition only and does not apply to any other fees.
Minister’s Discount: Full-time, ordained ministers may qualify for a tuition discount of 50% per K-12 child. Please see the minister’s discount application for more information.
Military Discount: A 10% military tuition discount is available for K-12 families who have at least one parent on active military duty.
Legacy Discount: This discount is offered to enrolled children whose parents graduated from Gaston Christian School. The maximum discount is $1,200, prorated for less-than-full time students.
Internal Financial Assistance
For K-12 families, we may be able to offer limited financial aid to help. To be considered, students must be enrolled for the upcoming school year.
To evaluate an applicant’s need for assistance, we use an outside service, FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment (FGAA). Interested families must complete a FACTS application, which requires a $45 processing fee and submission of Federal Form 1040 Income Tax Return, W-2 forms, and supporting documentation for non-taxable income. You can upload documents by logging into your online account, or fax them to (866) 315-9264. (Draft or preview copy tax documents will not be accepted.)
The GCS Financial Aid Committee reviews the recommendations provided by FGAA and approves grants based on the determined need and the availability of funds budgeted for tuition assistance. Awards are based on tuition after all applicable discounts and outside scholarships are subtracted. The majority of the budgeted assistance is assigned to applications completed by May 1. However, later applications are considered if funds are available.
Tuition Payment Details
Find out what options you have when it comes to tuition payments. Also, review important due dates and enrollment details.
Payment Options
Once you enroll at our private Christian school, you may choose one of the following options for paying your tuition and fees:
- One full payment due on June 1, or at the time of enrollment if after June 1
- Two equal payments due on June 1 and December 1
- Twelve equal payments, June through May (If a student enrolls after June, monthly payments are divided equally over the months remaining between the month of enrollment and May.)
Please indicate your choice of billing options on your enrollment form. If you are a returning student, your payment plan will remain the same. Contact the Business Office if you need to make a change.
Monthly statements are emailed during the third week of each month and will list the charges due at the beginning of the next month. Payments may be mailed, paid in person, paid by bank draft, or paid online through RenWeb. Please see the Business Office or website for more information on payment options.
Late Payments
Payments are due on the first day of each month. A late payment fee of $30 is added for payments received after the tenth of each month. Students may be ineligible to attend class if accounts fall more than 30 days past due. Report cards will not be released and web access will be suspended if accounts are not current.
A $25 fee is charged for checks that are returned for insufficient funds.
Refunds
Additionally, students are considered enrolled for the entire school year; therefore, budgets and staffing are set accordingly. The early withdrawal of a student creates an opening which may not be filled. Enrollments canceled or students withdrawn after Jan. 31 will be assessed a $500 withdrawal fee.
If classes for the upcoming school year have started at the time of withdrawal, the family will also be billed prorated fees for the days enrolled. The official date of withdrawal is the date the withdrawal form is completed and submitted to the school office. Any payments made in excess of withdrawal fees and prorated fees will be refunded.
OUR CAMPUSES
We have 2 convenient campus locations in Gastonia and Kings Mountain serving over 1000 students in grades PK3-12.
Gaston Christian School
1625 Lowell Bethesda Rd. Gastonia NC
Gaston Christian School - East Cleveland Campus
105 E. Ridge Street Kings Mountain, NC 28086
Apply at Gaston Christian School
We are dedicated to providing a private Christian school education that is accessible to all families in the Gaston and Shelby areas. Complete your online application today to get started.
Still have questions? Contact Julie Ryan, Admissions Director, at 704.824.4128.