The Classical Academy
The Classical Academy reported $82.1 million in revenue and $78.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $80.90 went to program services, $19.10 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.9% of the total. Government grants made up 98.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $326,908 (CFO). 14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 157% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $78MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $82MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 80.9% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 19.1% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 98.3% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $326,908 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.42% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 14 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 5.4 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 8 of 7 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe Classical Academy, Inc operates two separate charter school (K-8), one high school, and one online school. It assists parents in their mission to develop exemplary young citizens with superior academic proficiency, analytical thinking skills, a passion for learning and virtuous character, all built upon a solid foundation of knowledge
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFO Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $240,190 | $0 | $86,718 | $326,908 |
| COO Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $236,190 | $0 | $70,138 | $306,328 |
| Director of Student Support Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $202,594 | $0 | $76,271 | $278,865 |
| Past Chief Executive Officer Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $214,899 | $0 | $51,984 | $266,883 |
| CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $219,690 | $0 | $30,558 | $250,248 |
| Principal Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $173,323 | $0 | $68,049 | $241,372 |
| Chief Communications Officer Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,148 | $0 | $70,088 | $225,236 |
| Chie Information Officer Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $156,148 | $0 | $65,257 | $221,405 |
14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Classical Academy (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.8M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b7 · 8 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aNo
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5877
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,091
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Vejars Design & Build Inc Construction | $1,525,365 |
| City Wide Facility Solutions of San Diego Janitorial | $611,219 |
| Amazon Capital ServicesInc Supplies | $599,421 |
| Erickson-Hall Construction Co Construction | $313,653 |
| School Outfitters Furniture/equipment | $200,163 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Classical Academy's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Classical Academy, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Classical Academy spent in FY2025, $80.90 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of The Classical Academy's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Classical Academy reported that 80.9% of its $78.4 million in expenses went to program services, 19.1% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Classical Academy pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Classical Academy reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $326,908, for the role of CFO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Classical Academy get its money?
Of $82.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 98.9% came from contributions and grants (including 98.3% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Classical Academy a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 33-0857665 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202631359349312933 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531349349306873 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411369349306461 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202312559349301221 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231369349314998 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111349349306781 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 33-0857665: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.