Frequently Asked Questions

What grade levels are offered?
Mt. Bethel Christian Academy offers classes in Kindergarten through 8th grade.

How many students are in each class?
Lower school classrooms are capped between 18 and 20, depending on the grade. All kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms have a full time teacher, and para-professionals serve every classroom, providing an excellent student-teacher ratio throughout the Academy. Middle school classroom sizes vary depending on the electives selected, with an average class size of 18 students.

How many students do you have in elementary and middle school?

Lower School – 337 students, grades Kindergarten – 5th grade
Middle School – 158 students, grades 6th through 8th
Total Enrollment for 2011-2012 is 495 students

Are all teachers certified?
All teachers are state certified. Additionally, 50% of our teachers hold advanced degrees.

What accreditations or memberships does Mt. Bethel Christian Academy hold?
Our accreditations and memberships include:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
• Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS)
• Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)
• Georgia Independent School Association (GISA)
• National Middle School Association (NMSA)
• North Atlanta Metro League (NAML)
• Educational REcords Bureau (ERB)

What are the school hours?
Lower school meets from 8:10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Middle School meets from 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Can my child shadow for a day?
Mt. Bethel Christian Academy invites students applying for grades one through five to spend a day in the classroom. This is scheduled to coincide with lower school assessments.

Do students wear uniforms?
Yes, all students wear uniforms as outlined in our Uniform Policy.

Do you take I-20 students?
We are not prepared to accept foreign students requiring I-20 papers and a visa.

Do you offer Before or After School Care?
The Academy offers Eagle Mornings for students who need to be dropped off as early as 7:15 a.m., and an outstanding After School Program where students can stay until 6:00 p.m. We try to accommodate the needs of all parents and students; however, space is limited. These services are available for an additional fee.

Can parents volunteer?
There are many opportunities for parents to volunteer, both in the classroom and for special school-wide activities. We also have a very active parent council, which extends many opportunities for volunteer participation.

Is the Academy affiliated with a particular denomination?
Although we are a ministry of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, we do not teach a specific denominational doctrine at the Academy.  As an evangelical school, we accept students from all denominations, integrating Christian principles throughout our curriculum.

When is chapel?
Chapel is held once a week on Tuesdays. Lower school chapel begins at 8:30 a.m. and Middle School chapel begins at 9:15 a.m. Parents are always welcome to join their children for the service.

Is there a lunch program?
Lunch is provided every day in our cafeteria at no additional cost. Options include a hot lunch, sandwich bar and salad bar. Milk, juice and water are provided as well. Students may also bring a lunch from home; fast food is not permitted. Parents are welcome to join their children for lunch with advance notice.

Do you have an athletic program?
We offer a wide range of championship athletics for our students beginning in sixth grade, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, golf, tennis, cross-country and cheerleading.

What is the Fund for Excellence and is everyone expected to contribute?
Tuition fees do not cover the full cost of the education received by students at Mt. Bethel Christian Academy. As such, we have established a Fund for Excellence which is an annual campaign where we ask families to contribute as they are able. Participation is not a requirement, however we invite all parents to contribute at some level, which allows us to demonstrate strong parent support when the Academy applies for outside grants.

How much is tuition?
For the 2012-2013 school year, tuition is $9,380 for lower school and $10,650 for middle school and we offer three different payment plans. Lower school tuition includes the cost of consumable curriculum, school lunch each day, and fees for non-overnight field trips. Middle school tuition includes the cost of school lunch and non-overnight field trips. Additionally, there is a 6th and 7th grade technology fee to cover the cost of the one-to-one computer textbook program. Other middle school textbooks are purchased by the student apart from the cost of tuition.

Is Financial Aid Available?
Financial Aid is available and awards are made based on financial need. Application for financial aid may be made when the admission application is submitted. The financial aid deadline is in February, however late applications will be considered, as long as award funds remain available.

I have another question…
Do not hesitate to contact our Office of Admission with any additional questions. We can be reached during school hours at 770-971-0245.