Who We Are

When we opened our doors in 1973, Grace Christian Academy welcomed its first ten scholars in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. What began as a small school rooted in a simple conviction — that a child’s education and their faith belong together — has grown into a thriving community that has served Fairfax County families for more than fifty years.

The seed of GCA was planted by the members of Grace Lutheran Church, who believed that children deserved a school where Christ wasn’t an afterthought but the foundation. In 1971, a building committee was appointed. Two years later, the school opened its doors. Growth came quickly: by 1975, a Christian Education Wing had been dedicated, adding the three classrooms that still face the playground today. In 1978, the school celebrated its very first graduate — the first of many Eagles who would carry a Christ-centered formation with them into the world.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, GCA continued to grow in both size and identity. Monthly chapel services began in 1985. In 1994, the Eagle was chosen as the school’s mascot and blue and gold as its colors — symbols that generations of scholars have since worn with pride. These weren’t just cosmetic choices; they reflected a school that knew who it was and what it stood for.

The turn of the millennium brought expansion. Between 1998 and 2001, a second phase of the school wing was completed, giving GCA the space to serve more families. Enrollment climbed from the dozens to the nineties, and in 2004 school uniforms were adopted — a small but meaningful expression of the shared identity that defines life at GCA.

In 2006, GCA received full accreditation for the first time: formal recognition of the rigorous education it had offered for over three decades. Accreditation was renewed in 2014, and in 2019 GCA achieved exemplary status — the highest distinction available. By then, GCA graduates were thriving in private and public high schools alike, including Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs.

In 2016, the school was officially renamed Grace Christian Academy, a name that more clearly reflects its identity as a community united by faith. The mission, however, remained exactly what it had always been: Christ in everything, and a superior education for every scholar who walks through the doors.

In 2023, GCA celebrated its 50th anniversary with the whole community — a moment to pause, give thanks, and marvel at what five decades of faithfulness look like. Hundreds of Eagles, countless families, and a school that has held fast to its calling through every season. Founding teacher Susan Westendorf gave 38 years to this school, and the teachers who have followed her have brought that same devotion ever since.

The story isn’t finished. In 2025, GCA filed plans for a facility expansion with Fairfax County — a sign that this community believes the best is still ahead. Since 1973, we have been committed to one thing: a Christ-centered education that lays the foundation for success in this life and the next. We are grateful to every family, teacher, and supporter who has been part of this legacy, and we invite you to be part of what comes next.