Frequently Asked Questions
ARE OUR STUDENTS COLLEGE READY?
- Our schools are MORE than ready for college!
- Our graduation requirements far exceed what is needed to graduate from high school in Maryland.
- Most colleges require 4 years of English, and 2 years each of math, science, and foreign language.
- GCA requires 4 years of English, Math, Science, and foreign language.
- Colleges that have accepted our students:
- In Maryland: UMBC, UMCP, McDaniel, Salisbury State, Stevenson U., Towson U., Valley Forge College, Washington College,
- Out of State: Cedarville U., Eastern U. Florida State U., Geneva College, Grove City College, Harvard U., Liberty U., Messiah U. Benn. School of Design, Radcliff U., U. of Arizona
DOES HIGH SCHOOL ACCREDITATION MATTER?
- Colleges accept students who are homeschooled and from both accredited and non-accredited high schools.
- A degree from a classical Christian school gives a certain level of credibility because of the excellent reputation of the classical model.
- Accreditation is an external mark of approval, but is not a requirement.
- Instead, Grace Classical Academy is MSDE certified.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE MSDE CERTIFIED VS. ACCREDITED?
- Private schools in Maryland must be either church-related, or MSDE certified. GCA is MSDE certified.
- MSDE certification requires that certain standards be met, and GCA well exceeds those standards.
- At a minimum, MSDE certified schools:
- require 4 English courses (we do that, and ALSO require Senior Thesis, an advanced writing/presentation course)
- require 2 history (social studies) courses, one of which must be US History (we require 4, and our 12th grade Modern History course has been approved to meet the US History requirement)
- require Civics (an 11th grade course at GCA)
- require 2 math courses, 2 science courses, and 2 foreign language courses (we require 4 of each of these)