By 2010, the campus changed with the addition of the Jim and Becky Combee Elementary Complex and the Student Family Center (recently renamed Fincher Student-Family Center), Freeman Aquatic Center, Shanil Naik Athletic Training Center, and many others.
The additional space allowed for enrollment to grow to match, making GAC one of the largest Christian schools in the nation. Of even more importance, the spiritual life of GAC elevated again. Missions expanded from its infancy in the 1990s, approaching 20 mission trips annually by the late 2000s. Annual student retreats led to scores of students committing their lives to Christ. Programs shined from academics to sports to the arts, and GAC served students in ways like never before. Increasingly, GAC became a national example of what a superb and faithful Christian school could be.
The world continued its rapid change in the 2010s, and GAC set the pace for others. The Board, teachers, and administrators were all committed to Jesus; this only deepened through the years. GAC was ready to transform methods to meet students right where they were. Engagement became vital, as students took on new, sizable leadership and responsibility for shaping and planning chapels. Faculty-led missions grew again, approaching 25 domestic and international ministries annually. This shaped hundreds of GAC students, teachers, and parents—and the thousands whom they served. Christian service across metro Atlanta became an expectation, rather than just an encouragement. Through service, GAC students became prepared for Christian leadership ahead.
The best in academics kept advancing. In 2010, GAC became one of the leading schools nationally to adopt one-to-one technology, training teachers for new ways of teaching. The school dreamed forward, adopting recent research in the best practices of learning methods. The High School and Middle School buildings were completely redesigned based on research that school design can influence both innovative teaching practices and student outcomes. The arts exploded on campus with GAC’s School of Dance, the Art and Design Center, after-school private music lessons, visual arts, choirs, orchestras, and bands. GAC reached new heights of recognition and shaped hundreds of students daily. The long-awaited Performing Arts Center opened its doors in time for the 50th anniversary, making room for nearly 1,000 in GAC’s most beautiful gathering hall ever.
GAC invested heavily in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM). Nasmyth Environmental Center, named after GAC’s third Chairman of the Board Fernando Nasmyth, became a clarion call for schools on how to engage students in STEAM studies, from building rain forests to releasing thousands of GAC-grown trout in the Chattahoochee River. GAC Floating classrooms at Lake Lanier made environmental studies come to life. Fields Science Hall was completely redesigned and expanded in size and tools for STEAM learning and robotics.
The school was honored with the uncommon Apple Distinguished School for eight consecutive years. Educators from across Atlanta and across the country came to study, borrow ideas, and improve their learning and faith practices. GAC was a blessing not only to her students and families, but to thousands more.