School Profile
Grace Christian Academy
School Overview
Grace Christian Academy is not in the education business! We do not exist to teach English, History, Science, and Math. We do not exist to produce fine art concerts. We do not exist to kick, dribble, or hit a ball around a playing field. These are all entities that we use to accomplish why we truly exist, the development and discipleship of young people. Grace Christian Academy is in the discipleship business using the means of education.
Vision Statement
The vision of Grace Christian Academy is to know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. ~Proverbs 1:2-4
Mission Statement
The mission of Grace Christian Academy is to develop wise students through relationships, instruction, and service.
The mission statement and subsequent core values address the question of how we will develop wise students. In order to develop wisdom within a student, one must have a great influence on the thoughts and actions of that student. The most effective means of obtaining this kind of influence is to invest in a loving, trusting relationship. Students will rise to a high standard (rigorous academics) if they know that they are loved and what they are going through is an act of love. However, rigorous academics is only valuable in the context that it is a worship act (Romans 12:1). Students will start to develop wisdom when they understand how to use what God has given them to serve others. Ultimately, this is what success looks like; students who have adopted a lifelong passion to become wise and know that by doing so, they are worshiping. This is a compelling mission and a worthy calling.
School History
Grace Baptist Church began as the result of a meeting of a small group of Christians in 1944. After the first
pastor was called, the first service was held on October 22, 1944. The church was officially incorporated on February 8, 1945, with 38 charter members. The church met in several locations before purchasing the current property in 1968. In 1972, members of the church conducted a feasibility study to determine if there was a need for a Christian elementary school in Kankakee. This resulted in a church vote in 1973 to begin a Christian elementary school for grades K-6th. The school was named Grace Baptist Academy through a congregational vote. A board of directors was organized which quickly began the work of creating policy for the new school. The facilities of the church were expanded to accommodate a Christian school. Additional land was purchased, bringing the entire campus to 15 acres. A gymnasium and education annex were added to the existing church building. The new building was dedicated during a service led by Dr. Bob Jones. The school officially opened for its first day of classes on August 28, 1973, with 85 students enrolled.
In 1975, an addition to the building made room for secondary classes. Junior high classes were added that year, expanding the grades to K-8. High school classes followed two years later with high school students being accepted for enrollment for the first time in 1977. It was intended to begin the high school program with a 9th-grade class and add a grade each year until the high school unit was completed. However, the school experienced significant demand for all high school grades, and the first senior class graduated in 1976. Student enrollment increased in the subsequent years even as the leadership of the school changed multiple times. Grace Baptist Academy became an ACSI member school in 2001. The name of the school was eventually changed to "Grace Christian Academy" and now enrolls 219 students.