Academic Teams

Students compete in teams of four to five, answering questions concerning subjects such as science, literature, history, fine arts, mathematics, mythology, social science, religion, and philosophy, as well as current events and popular culture. Students are encouraged to explore topics of interest as they develop deeper cross-curricular and multicultural understanding.

Academic Team encourages students to love learning, to grow in their understanding of academic subjects, and to collaborate so that the whole team becomes greater than the sum of its parts.

Contact: Matt Fincher - Varsity, JV; John Connel - MS

2024 - State Runner-Up, NAQT Nationals Qualifier (Varsity)
2022 - State Champions (JV); 3rd in State, NAQT Nationals Qualifier (V)
2021 - State Champions (JV)
2019 - State Runners-Up (JV); 2 wins on WSB-TV High-Q (V)
2019 - Qualifier, NAQT MS National Championship Tournament
2018 - State Runners-Up (V & JV)
2017 - State Champions (JV)

The National Beta Club is an honorary organization founded over 80 years ago to promote and honor exemplary academic achievement, character, service, and leadership. Membership in Beta Club provides significant opportunities for community service and leadership, including scholarship awards. 

The GHSA Literary competition is one of the most eclectic avenues of competition available to GAC students. With categories in Essay, Extemporaneous Speaking, Oral Interpretation, Male Quartet, Female Trio, and Male and Female Solo, this competition brings together students from all corners of the GAC student body to work towards Region and State-level championship, both as individuals and as a team. Significant benefits of competing in the Literary competition include not only the possibility of winning a GHSA championship in a specific area but also the camaraderie built between students who likely would not have much interaction throughout a normal school year.

Contact: Marcus Miller

2024 - Region Champions, Class AAAAA State Champions
2023 - Region Champions, Class AAAAA State Champions
2022 - Region Champion
2021 - Region Champion
2021 - Individual State Champions: Sophia Nguyen, Personal Essay; Georgia Thomas, Girls Solo
2019 - Individual State Champion: Claudia Butler, Personal Essay
2018 - Male Quartet Region 7-AAA Champion, Male Solo Region 7-AAA Champion, Personal Essay - State Champion, Argumentative Essay - Region 7-AAA Champion, Team - Region 7-AAA Runner-Up
2017 - Male Quartet Region 7-AAA Champion

Our Math Team competes in six to eight tournaments per year, including events at schools such as Rockdale Magnet, Mercer University, Luella High School, Lassiter High School, Augusta University, Columbus State University, Georgia Tech, and Middle Georgia State University - to name a few. We practice weekly, learning advanced problem-solving techniques and delving into topics that are typically reserved for post-secondary studies.

Contact: Billy Jones - Varsity & JV; Robert Moloney - MS

2019 - AAA State Runners-Up (V, JV)
2018 – AAA State Champions
2017 - AAA 2nd in State
2016 - AA 2nd in State
2015 - AA State Champions
2014 - AA State Champions

Mock Trial is a Georgia high school activity sponsored by the Georgia Bar Association. The competition is interscholastic, and we prepare a team of 14 students (at a minimum) to go to "court" with a fictional case used by all high schools. The competition takes place in actual Georgia Superior Court courtrooms. The team is taught by professional attorneys, and the student roles include both witnesses and lawyers. Students learn to argue both sides of the case. There is a Region competition where the top three schools advance to the District competition; the top school then advances to a State tournament in May.

Contact: Jennifer Thomas and Mandy Richey

2022 - Region Champions
2021 - State Tournament Qualifier
2019 - Region Runners-Up
2015 - Region Champions
2014 - Region Champions

Mu Alpha Theta is the national high school honor society dedicated to inspiring keen interest in mathematics, developing strong scholarship in the subject, and promoting the enjoyment of mathematics. At GAC, students are invited to Mu Alpha Theta in the Spring of the year they take honors pre-calculus. To remain a member, each member must complete 5 service hours per school year, which are typically obtained through peer tutoring.

The National Art Honor Society (NAHS) is a national honor organization that emphasizes outstanding artistic scholarship and service through the school and community through development of artistic endeavors together with strong moral character. 

The National Honor Society was established to recognize and encourage academic achievement while also developing other characteristics essential to citizens in a democracy. Students most hold a cumulative GPA of 3.5 in order to be eligible. Selection is based on four criteria: scholarship, service, leadership, and character.

Select students compete bowl-style against other schools. The group prepares for the bowl before school at least once a week.

Contact: Darcy Huber and Allison Anderson - LS; Bonnie Baker - MS

The robotics team builds a robot designed to compete in a specific game, the rules for which are different each year. The games are played as a tournament with many matches and points earned in every match. A team’s rank increases the more points that they earn in every match and tournament. Students have the opportunity to advance past the state level.

Coach: Christina Washington

2018 - State Tournament Qualifiers
2017 - State Tournament Qualifiers
2016 - State Tournament Qualifiers
2015 - State Tournament Qualifiers

The Science Olympiad Team consists of students whose interest in science unites them in a team effort to master 22 activities. These activities include building models to compete with, preparing for competition labs, problem solving, and engaging in testing. Each team member will participate in 3-4 of these events in a subgroup of 2-3 students for the competition. Preparation begins in the fall and statewide competitions take place during the winter. Students from all grade levels (9-12) are invited to be a part of the team. 

Coaches: Dr. Betsy Rodgers and Christine Wahl

Recognizing students who have gone above and beyond both academically and musically, the Tri-M Music Honor Society is the only music honor society for junior and senior high school students in the country. 

Spartan Speech team members compete individually in categories such as Extemporaneous Speaking, Original Oratory, Informative Speaking, or Impromptu events. For Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu, students must prepare with additional research and practice thinking critically, as they must choose from a variety of possible topics at each event. For Original Oratory and Informative Speaking, students prepare a carefully scripted speech that includes quality research and informative material that aims to persuade or inform the audience about a specific topic of societal concern. Every speech event - Original, Extemporaneous, Informative, or Impromptu - requires speakers to prepare with research, writing, and timed speaking.

Coach: Kiara Harris