Exploring Tuition and Values at Evangelical Christian School in Memphis
Evangelical Christian School (ECS) in Memphis offers a Christ-centered, biblically-directed education for students from nursery/preschool through 12th grade. The school challenges students to know the Lord Jesus Christ and to develop the vision and practice of excellence in academics, character, leadership, and service to others. ECS aims to provide the Christian family with a quality education for the whole child - academically, socially, athletically, creatively, and spiritually - at an affordable price.
A Focus on Christ-Centered Education
ECS emphasizes a biblical worldview in its teaching, encouraging students to approach all aspects of life, from academics to athletics and fine arts, with the goal of glorifying God. Many parents appreciate that their children are taught to view every part of life through the Gospel lens. The school strives to live out its mission, ensuring that Christ is the driving force behind all its activities. The mission is woven into each part of the school, from classes to extracurricular activities to student life.
Several families have shared their positive experiences with ECS. They express gratitude for a school community that feels like family and for teachers who teach with a Biblical worldview, challenging their children to strive for excellence as to honor the Lord in all they do. Parents highlight the strong sense of community and academics. The teachers and staff pour the knowledge of God's Word into students' lives every day in every aspect of education.
The ARC: A Supportive Community
The Academic Resource Center (ARC) at ECS plays a vital role in supporting students with different learning styles. Parents who have experience with other schools in the area note that the ARC truly sets ECS apart. The ARC’s support has taught students to be self-advocates, which has built self-confidence to meet and exceed academic goals. ECS’s commitment to continuing to learn how to best serve kids with different learning styles impresses many parents.
The ARC community provides a safe place for students to go for assistance and advocates to help them navigate their school load. The ARC helps them stay organized and tailors their work in a way which they can understand. The ARC supports not only the children but the parents as well.
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Tuition and Financial Aid
While ECS is committed to offering an affordable education, the cost of private schooling can be a significant factor for families. The average private school tuition in Shelby County, TN, is $13,329 for elementary schools and $15,005 for high schools. For Jr. Sr. Grades 9-12 at ECS, the tuition is $18,350.
To assist families with tuition costs, ECS offers tuition grants. To apply, parents must submit a completed online FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment application along with all required supporting financial documents. New families must complete the admissions enrollment process and be offered an enrollment contract. Returning families must sign the re-enrollment contract and be in good standing with the Business Office.
The FACTS portal typically opens to accept applications for the following school year in November. FACTS charges an application fee. Applications are not considered complete until all of the required supporting documents have been uploaded. The deadline to complete the online FACTS application and upload supporting documents is typically in mid-January, with applications completed after the deadline considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Admissions and Academics
ECS has an acceptance rate of 98%, indicating that it is a relatively accessible private school option. The application deadline is Dec. 2 / Jun. 2 / rolling. The school has an average class size of 15 students, allowing for more individualized attention. ECS has 118 total classroom teachers. The school offers 14 sports and 8 AP/Advanced Courses.
Alumni Kent Gieselmann (’89) and his wife, Rebecca Terry Gieselmann (’91), enrolled two of their children at ECS and found the familiar community and mission they remember from when they attended ECS. They also noticed an increased emphasis on excellent academics and intentional discipleship by teachers who truly know and invest in their students.
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The ECS Experience: More Than Just Academics
ECS aims to create a nurturing environment where students feel known, challenged, and loved. Students have the opportunity to participate in sports, take challenging classes, develop personal relationships with faculty, and participate in activities such as the Head of School's Bible study.
Parents appreciate that their children feel seen and known by the faculty and staff and that they feel safe and comfortable asking for help. It gives parents great comfort to know that their children have other adults in their lives who are pointing them to the Lord through difficult circumstances. Students are given a safe place to question, debate, and discuss class material.
Wil and Lylli Franco moved to the Memphis area and enrolled their daughters at ECS. They found that the teachers and faculty have been incredibly welcoming. They all have gone out of their way to not only make their daughters feel seen and cared for but to come alongside them as parents as co-laborers in the discipleship of their children.
A Thriving Community
ECS prides itself on its strong sense of community. The school's motto, "Partnering with Parents," reflects its commitment to working closely with families to provide a well-rounded education. ECS is a place that offers many opportunities for students to find their own niche where they can thrive and use the gifts and talents the Lord has given them. At ECS there is a community that becomes family that is unexplainable.
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