Mount Paran Christian School 
The information on this page was last updated 3/6/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Move Mountains
Providing academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment, Mount Paran Christian School unites with home and church to prepare servant-leaders to honor God, love others, and walk in Truth.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Mount Paran Christian School
1275 Stanley Road, NW
Kennesaw, GA 30152
Website: www.mtparanschool.com
Phone: 770-578-0182
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 582273158
CEO/President: Dr. Matt Kerlin
Chairman: George Ethridge
Board size: 11
Founder:
Ruling year: 1997
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
With Jesus as our guide, our mission is to nurture servant-leaders in and out of the classroom. Our teachers seek to know and love each child - encouraging them to succeed by consistently exploring personal goals and helping to develop natural talents along the way.
Mission statement
Providing academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment, Mount Paran Christian School unites with home and church to prepare servant-leaders to honor God, love others, and walk in Truth.
Statement of faith
Mount Paran Christian School is a nondenominational, covenantal school that is unapologetically Christian in its mission, vision, and programs. All staff, students, and parents sign a Statement of Faith identifying their shared commitment to the Christ-centered purpose of MPCS.
We believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative source of Christian doctrine and precept.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but as a result of sin is lost and powerless to save himself.
We believe that the only hope for man is to believe in Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Son of God, who died to take upon himself the punishment for the sin of mankind and who rose from the dead, so that by receiving him as Savior and Lord, man is redeemed by His blood.
We believe that Jesus Christ, in person, will return to earth in power and glory.
We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells those who have received Christ for the purpose of enabling them to live righteous and godly lives.
We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ and is composed of all who, through belief in Christ, have been spiritually regenerated by the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is the responsibility of the church to nurture Christians and to spread the Word of Jesus Christ worldwide.
Articles
| 4/10/2026 | At Least Eight Ministries Resign From ECFA in Recent Weeks |
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: K-12 Schools/Academies
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 796 of 1420 | 116 of 183 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1071 of 1420 | 142 of 183 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 577 of 1420 | 81 of 183 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 645 of 1421 | 85 of 183 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 10% | 32% | 38% | 46% | 45% | 15% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 13% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 16% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 87% | 92% | 94% | 94% | 94% | 84% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 84% | 82% | 81% | 84% | 84% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 92% | 95% | 99% | 93% | 82% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 75% | 77% | 78% | 81% | 79% | 69% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 8% | 5% | 1% | 7% | 18% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 7% | 6% | 4% | 0% | 5% | 13% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 13% | 15% | 16% | 13% | 13% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.53 | 0.55 | 0.55 | 0.54 | 0.50 | 0.43 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.06 | 2.60 | 2.51 | 2.70 | 2.96 | 2.00 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.80 | 1.42 | 1.37 | 1.46 | 1.50 | 0.86 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 2.80 | 1.47 | 1.57 | 1.45 | 1.37 | 2.14 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.35 | 0.68 | 0.64 | 0.69 | 0.73 | 0.47 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.98 | 2.69 | 3.18 | 2.56 | 2.17 | 7.40 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 29% | 26% | 25% | 26% | 25% | 27% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 10% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 118% | 135% | 136% | 138% | 149% | 168% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $8,489,433 | $14,000,629 | $12,378,781 | $11,537,252 | $18,056,199 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $2,693,993 | $2,413,020 | $2,225,696 | $2,172,014 | $3,095,435 |
| Short-term investments | $12,471,479 | $6,816,161 | $5,858,414 | $4,505,347 | $7,294,537 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $23,654,905 | $23,229,810 | $20,462,891 | $18,214,613 | $28,446,171 |
| Long-term investments | $280,037 | $270,676 | $180,167 | $181,322 | $97,537 |
| Fixed assets | $37,459,503 | $34,709,598 | $34,636,819 | $35,549,408 | $28,385,096 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $37,739,540 | $34,980,274 | $34,816,986 | $35,730,730 | $28,482,633 |
| Total assets | $61,394,445 | $58,210,084 | $55,279,877 | $53,945,343 | $56,928,804 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $2,917,164 | $2,160,726 | $1,051,346 | $1,067,876 | $1,911,262 |
| Other current liabilities | $13,202,838 | $12,620,917 | $13,054,753 | $12,225,757 | $11,384,686 |
| Total current liabilities | $16,120,002 | $14,781,643 | $14,106,099 | $13,293,633 | $13,295,948 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $2,337,712 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $2,337,712 |
| Total liabilities | $16,120,002 | $14,781,643 | $14,106,099 | $13,293,633 | $15,633,660 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $42,677,132 | $41,445,003 | $39,353,496 | $39,072,415 | $28,760,380 |
| With donor restrictions | $2,597,311 | $1,983,438 | $1,820,282 | $1,579,295 | $12,534,764 |
| Net assets | $45,274,443 | $43,428,441 | $41,173,778 | $40,651,710 | $41,295,144 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $2,814,609 | $2,090,562 | $1,650,820 | $1,805,756 | $4,910,439 |
| Program service revenue | $31,472,066 | $30,451,626 | $28,162,577 | $25,971,163 | $23,483,472 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $1,807,197 | $580,375 | ($132,692) | $1,092,118 | $1,177,803 |
| Other revenue | $464,775 | $473,672 | $304,066 | $336,704 | $317,889 |
| Total other revenue | $33,744,038 | $31,505,673 | $28,333,951 | $27,399,985 | $24,979,164 |
| Total revenue | $36,558,647 | $33,596,235 | $29,984,771 | $29,205,741 | $29,889,603 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $28,266,351 | $26,230,838 | $24,249,873 | $22,996,314 | $20,569,244 |
| Management and general | $4,481,945 | $4,859,475 | $4,821,652 | $3,427,554 | $3,283,089 |
| Fundraising | $893,480 | $799,330 | $756,748 | $815,651 | $722,596 |
| Total expenses | $33,641,776 | $31,889,643 | $29,828,273 | $27,239,519 | $24,574,929 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,916,871 | $1,706,592 | $156,498 | $1,966,222 | $5,314,674 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $2,916,871 | $1,706,592 | $156,498 | $1,966,222 | $5,314,674 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Tawanna Rusk | Asst. Head of School | $203,718 |
| Dr Matt Kerlin | Head of School From June 24' | $200,762 |
| Kelly Swanson | Dean of Academics | $153,460 |
| Mitch Jordan | Athletic Director | $145,685 |
| Stephanie Dunn | Director of Admissions | $138,346 |
| Steven Kyle | Assistant HOS for CHRISTIAN | $137,981 |
| Jason W Beard | High School Head | $125,443 |
| Kevin Smith | CFO From June 24' | $110,857 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2025
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 3/6/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Mount Paran Christian School has grown and expanded more than we could ever have asked or imagined since its formation in 1976. Since the humble start as the Early Learning Center off Mount Paran Road in Atlanta, the school's rapid growth continued to the Mount Paran Central location in Marietta in 1985. In 2003, Mount Paran Christian School moved to its permanent 68-acre campus location in the shadow of Kennesaw Mountain.
MPCS has stayed true to its mission and, as a result, has been blessed by tremendous families in our community seeking a rigorous Christian education for their children. Enrollment now stands at more than 1,300 students and 1,000+ alumni. The impact of fusing faith and intellect within a PK-12 education has profoundly impacted His kingdom for eternity.
https://www.mtparanschool.com/about/history