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Dc Bilingual Public Charter School

EIN 20-0412800 · Washington, DC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF DC BILINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IS TO CREATE A LEARNING COMMUNITY THAT ENSURES HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS IN BOTH SPANISH AND ENGLISH, DEVELOPS LEADERSHIP, AND VALUES ALL CULTURES.

Income
$19.8 million
Spending
$19.9 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-11.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
200
Volunteers
34
Highest pay
$200,750, head of scho

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 74% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $17.2 million spent. FOUNDED IN 2004, DC BILINGUAL OFFERS AN INNOVATIVE DUAL-IMMERSION SPANISH AND ENGLISH LEARNING PROGRAM FOR ALL STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR HOME LANGUAGE. THROUGH THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S RIGOROUS ACADEMIC CURRICULUM, COMPREHENSIVE ARTS, TECHNOLOGY, FOOD AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, AND CELEBRATION OF DIVERSE CULTURES, DC BILINGUAL STUDENTS LEARN THE SKILLS AND VALUES NEEDED TO BECOME INFLUENTIAL PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. DCB'S PHILOSOPHY AND TEACHING MODEL REFLECT THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S BELIEF THAT STUDENTS DEVELOP TO THEIR FULL ACADEMIC POTENTIAL WHEN THEY HAVE ACCESS TO AMBITIOUS INSTRUCTION AND A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES DIFFERENTIATED FOR EACH STUDENT'S INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS. OUR CO-TEACHING MODEL ALLOWS INSTRUCTORS TO BALANCE DIRECTLY WITH SMALL GROUP AND 1:1 INSTRUCTION. OUR TEACHERS DELIVER A UNIQUE, DUAL-LANGUAGE IMMERSION MODEL- A FORM OF LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION THAT BRINGS TOGETHER STUDENTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS TO EXPERIENCE LEARNING IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH. THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY, STUDENTS GAIN SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF ACADEMIC CONCEPTS BY COMMUNICATING IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. DCB COMPLEMENTS THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S CORE CURRICULUM WITH A VIBRANT PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM, AN INNOVATIVE FOOD AND WELLNESS PROGRAM, ACCESS TO TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND DEEP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AS A RESULT OF OUR PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES, THE DC PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD RANKS DC BILINGUAL AS A TIER 1 SCHOOL AMONG THE TOP-PERFORMING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE CITY. RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: - IN 2023, DC BILINGUAL 3-5 GRADE STUDENTS RECEIVED THE HIGHEST PARCC SCORES IN SCHOOL HISTORY, INDICATING HIGHER-THAN-AVERAGE SCORES COMPARED TO DC SCHOOLS. - IN 2023, DC BILINGUAL PRE-K CLASSROOMS RECEIVED THEIR HIGHEST CLASS ASSESSMENT SCORES IN SCHOOL HISTORY - INDICATING HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMMING FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS. - AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW IN OUR NEWLY EXPANDED FACILITY, DC BILINGUAL ADDED 129 NEW STUDENTS THIS SCHOOL YEAR. 51% OF THESE STUDENTS QUALIFIED FOR 'EQUITABLE ACCESS' PREFERENCE, WHICH INDICATES STUDENTS IN MOST NEED ARE BEING PRIORITIZED IN THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS. - COMPLETED EXPANDING OUR HISTORIC SCHOOL BUILDING BY 27,000 SQUARE FEET AND WELCOMED NEARLY 100 ADDITIONAL STUDENTS INTO OUR CLASSROOMS FOR HIGH- QUALITY BILINGUAL EDUCATION. (2022) - DC BILINGUAL STUDENTS IN GRADES 3RD-5TH OUTSCORED STUDENTS FROM THE SAME AGE GROUP ON STANDARDIZED TESTS FOR MATH & LITERACY. FOR THOSE CLASSIFIED AS SPECIAL EDUCATION OR ENGLISH-LANGUAGE LEARNERS, DC BILINGUAL STUDENTS RANKED AMONG THE TOP-PERFORMING PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN DC. (2021-2022) - DC BILINGUAL ADOPTED THE EQUITABLE ACCESS PREFERENCE TO ENSURE STUDENTS WHO WILL BENEFIT MOST FROM OUR PROGRAMMING HAVE A FAIR CHANCE TO ENROLL. MORE THAN 40% OF NEWLY ENROLLED STUDENTS THIS YEAR QUALIFIED FOR THIS PREFERENCE. (2022) - THE COLORADO LEAGUE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS PERFORMED A CASE-STUDY ANALYSIS OF DC BILINGUAL'S NEARLY 100% TEACHER RETENTION RATE DURING THE "GREAT RECESSION," CONCLUDING THAT DC BILINGUAL'S INCLUSIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND POWERFUL SENSE OF COMMUNITY HAVE LED US TO BECOME A MODEL TEACHER- SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. - DC BILINGUAL WAS NAMED A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONAL GREEN RIBBON SCHOOL (2021). - DC BILINGUAL WAS NAMED AS A "LEVELER" SCHOOL FOR OUR EXCEPTIONAL WORK IN IMPROVING ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR AT-RISK STUDENTS (DC POLICY CENTER, 2019). - DC BILINGUAL WAS NAMED AN ALL-STAR SCHOOL (ONE OF TEN DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS CITY-WIDE) FOR OUR STUDENTS' STRONG ACADEMIC GROWTH ON THE CITY-WIDE PARCC ASSESSMENT (OFFICE OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, 2019). - DC BILINGUAL WAS RECOGNIZED AS A "BOLD IMPROVEMENT SCHOOL" FOR OUR COMMITMENT AND SUCCESS IN HELPING DC'S MOST AT-RISK STUDENTS ACHIEVE OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC GROWTH (EMPOWER K12 AND EDUCATION REFORM NOW, 2018). - DC BILINGUAL WAS RANKED AS ONE OF THE STRONGEST INSTRUCTIONAL CULTURES AMONG DC CHARTER SCHOOLS BY OUR STAFF (TOP 25% OF ALL DC CHARTER SCHOOLS). (THE NEW TEACHER PROJECT, 2018) - DC BILINGUAL WAS AWARDED THE GILDA ALLEN BEST SCHOOL GARDEN AWARD (OFFICE OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, 2017). - DC BILINGUAL WAS AWARDED THE NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR EXEMPLARY HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOLS. DCB PERFORMED IN THE TOP 15% OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FOUNDED IN 2004, DC BILINGUAL OFFERS AN INNOVATIVE DUAL-IMMERSION SPANISH AND ENGLISH LEARNING PROGRAM FOR ALL STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR HOME LANGUAGE. THROUGH THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S RIGOROUS ACADEMIC CURRICULUM, COMPREHENSIVE ARTS, TECHNOLOGY, FOOD AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, AND CELEBRATION OF DIVERSE CULTURES, DC BILINGUAL STUDENTS LEARN THE SKILLS AND VALUES NEEDED TO BECOME INFLUENTIAL PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. DCB'S PHILOSOPHY AND TEACHING MODEL REFLECT THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S BELIEF THAT STUDENTS DEVELOP TO THEIR FULL ACADEMIC POTENTIAL WHEN THEY HAVE ACCESS TO AMBITIOUS INSTRUCTION AND A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES DIFFERENTIATED FOR EACH STUDENT'S INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS. OUR CO-TEACHING MODEL ALLOWS INSTRUCTORS TO BALANCE DIRECTLY WITH SMALL GROUP AND 1:1 INSTRUCTION. OUR TEACHERS DELIVER A UNIQUE, DUAL-LANGUAGE IMMERSION MODEL- A FORM OF LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION THAT BRINGS TOGETHER STUDENTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS TO EXPERIENCE LEARNING IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH. THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY, STUDENTS GAIN SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF ACADEMIC CONCEPTS BY COMMUNICATING IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. DCB COMPLEMENTS THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S CORE CURRICULUM WITH A VIBRANT PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM, AN INNOVATIVE FOOD AND WELLNESS PROGRAM, ACCESS TO TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND DEEP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AS A RESULT OF OUR PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES, THE DC PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD RANKS DC BILINGUAL AS A TIER 1 SCHOOL AMONG THE TOP-PERFORMING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE CITY. RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: - IN 2023, DC BILINGUAL 3-5 GRADE STUDENTS RECEIVED THE HIGHEST PARCC SCORES IN SCHOOL HISTORY, I

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.