Tuition & Tuition Assistance at Gaston Christian School
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
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
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
This is paid when the application is submitted. A 50% refund will be issued if the student is not offered enrollment after testing. Registration/Testing fees are not refundable or transferable if enrollment is provided.
Students Not Returning: If your student is not returning to GCS for the following school year, please let us know by January 31. After Jan. 31, there will be a $500 cancellation fee for each student.
Gastonia Campus Tuition
| Tuition 2026-2027* | ||
| Grade Level | Annual Tuition | Supply Fee |
| Preschool – 3 days (M, W, F) | $6,290 | $240 |
| Preschool – 5 days | $6,380 (Half day)
$8,610 (Full day) |
$240 |
| Half-Day Kindergarten | $6,580 | $565 |
| Full-Day Kindergarten | $10,060 | $625 |
| Elementary (Grades 1-5) | $10,060 | $625
$100 – Technology fee (Grades 1-4) $200 – Technology fee (Grade 5) |
| Middle School (Grades 6-8) | $12,590 | $660
$200 – Technology fee |
| High School (Grades 9-12) | $13,478 | $660
$200 – 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
| Charges and Fees | ||
| Per family charges | 1st and 2nd year enrolled | 3rd year enrolled and following |
| Facility Charge | $300 | $150 |
| Security Fee | $100 | $100 |
Fees for Advanced Placement courses (Grades 11 and 12) are $190 per course and include the exam fee. AP course fees are not charged until classes begin and may be added to your regular billing cycle from the start of the class through the end of the school year.
East Cleveland Campus Tuition
This is paid when the application is submitted. A 50% refund will be issued if the student is not offered enrollment after testing. Registration/Testing fees are not refundable or transferable if enrollment is provided.
Students Not Returning: If your student is not returning to GCS for the following school year, please let us know by January 31. After Jan. 31, there will be a $500 cancellation fee for each student.
| Tuition 2026-2027* | ||
| Grade Level | Annual Tuition | Supply Fee** |
| Preschool – 3 days (M, W, F) | $5,600 | $240 |
| Preschool – 5 days | $6,380 (Half day)
$7,450 (Full day) |
$240 |
| Half-Day Kindergarten | $6,580 | $565 |
| Full-Day Kindergarten | $8,900 | $625 |
| Elementary (Grades 1-5)
Middle (Grades 6-8) |
$8,900 | $625
$100 – Technology fee (Grades 1-4) $200 – Technology fee (Grades 5-8) |
*Included in tuition rate and supply fee:
- Field trips
- Yearbooks
- 1-to-1 device (Grades 5-8)
- Textbooks and instructional materials
- Mental health support and resources
| Charges and Fees | ||
| Per family charges | 1st and 2nd year enrolled | 3rd year enrolled and following |
| Facility Charge | $300 | $150 |
| Security Fee | $50 | $50 |
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?
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 25% 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: A $1,200 discount per student is available for full-time enrolled children of GCS graduates. Students enrolled less than full-time are prorated as follows: Half-day Kindergarten – $900; Full-day Preschool (Three Days) – $800; Half-day Preschool (Five Days) – $700. (Available only to alumni not receiving staff or minister’s discounts)
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
Payment Options
- 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
A $25 fee is charged for checks that are returned for insufficient funds.
Refunds
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.
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE
- Preschool: 7:15 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
- Kindergarten: 7:15 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
- Grades 1-5: 7:15 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
Students in before school care are supervised by a teacher from the time they are dropped off until they are allowed to enter their classroom. They may enter their classrooms thirty minutes before class begins. Before School Care is charged for the actual time used based on $8.00 per hour.
2025-2026 AFTER SCHOOL CARE
GASTON CAMPUS
(Available school days for grades Preschool – 5th grade)
The After School Care Program includes enrichment activities by grade level, devotions, homework time, crafts, outdoor playtime (weather permitting), and a small snack. Students must be registered for this program and space is limited. Registrations received after classes are filled will be put on a waiting list.
- Preschool through 5th-grade students picked up by 6:00 p.m. each day will be charged a flat rate of $300 per month*
*Billing will be the same amount each month, September through May, regardless of the actual number of days used. Participation in after-school care begins the first full day of school.
The link to apply to the After School Care Program waitlist
Students waiting on older Elementary siblings to be dismissed who will be picked up at that time do not need to register for the After School Care Program. There is no charge for this service as long as students do not stay beyond their sibling’s dismissal time.
No after-school care is available for Middle School or High School students.
When a student is not picked up by 6:00 p.m., a late fee of $25 will be assessed.
After-school care is unavailable when school is closed, operates on a half-day schedule, or is dismissed early due to weather.
Participation in the After School Care Program is a privilege and will be extended only to those students who establish patterns of acceptable behavior during this time.
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
Still have questions? Contact Julie Ryan, Admissions Director, at 704.824.4128.