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Choice Academies Inc

EIN 20-8809933 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHOICE ACADEMIES IS COMITTED TO PROVIDING A TRADITIONAL BACK-TO-BASICS EDUCATION WITHIN A FRAMEWORK OF HIGH STANDARDS AND HIGH EXPECTATIONS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. ITS PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH A STRONG FOUNDATION OF KNOWLEDGE, TO TEACH CRITICAL THINKING AND TO DEVELOP GOOD CITIZENSHIP AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS.

Income
$7.1 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-11.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 86%
Employees
132
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$124,611, ceo

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: 42 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 80% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $5.1 million spent. CHOICE ACADEMIES, INC. ("CHARTER SCHOOL") IS AN ARIZONA NON-PROFIT CORPORATION ESTABLISHED IN 2009 TO OPERATE A CHARTER SCHOOL OFFERING A TRADITIONAL, BACK-TO BASICS EDUCATION WITHIN A FRAMEWORK OF HIGH STANDARDS AND HIGH EXPECTATIONS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. THE CHARTER SCHOOL OPERATES UNDER A 20- YEAR CHARTER CONTRACT THAT HAS BEEN RENEWED THROUGH JUNE 2043 WITH THE ARIZONA STATE BOARD FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHICH MANDATES POLICY AND OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES. THE CHARTER SCHOOL PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 562 CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADES IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, AND IS FUNDED PRIMARILY THROUGH STATE EQUALIZATION ASSISTANCE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)OUR ATA BOYS' VOLLEYBALL AND ATA SOCCER BOTH WERE STATE DIVISION CHAMPIONS DURING THE 2024 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. WE HAD AN 8TH GRADE STUDENT SARA SURESH WHO PLACED 5TH PLACE IN THE ARIZONA STATE SPELLING BEE. ATA STUDENTS TAKING THE AASA, 75% PASSED MATH AND 80% PASSED THE ELA COMPARED TO THE STATE AVERAGE OF 33% PASSING MATH AND 40% PASSING ELA. THE PURPOSE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH A STRONG FOUNDATION OF KNOWLEDGE, TO TEACH CRITICAL THINKING AND TO DEVELOP GOOD CITIZENSHIP AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. CHOICE ACADEMIES STRIVES TO BECOME NATIONALLY COMPETITIVE BY ACHIEVING ITS OBJECTIVES THROUGH SEQUENTIAL INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE AND STUDENT ACCOUNTABILITY, HIGHLY TRAINED TEACHERS, AND STRONG PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.
  2. $547,116 spent. CHOICE SERVICES, LLC ("PRESCHOOL") COMMENCED OPERATIONS OF THE PRESCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER 2012. CHOICE SERVICES, LLC IS AN ARIZONA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, THE SOLE MEMBER OF WHICH IS THE CHARTER SCHOOL AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS ULTIMATELY CONTROLLED BY THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE CHARTER SCHOOL OFFERS AN AFFORDABLE PRESCHOOL THAT VIEWS EACH CHILD AS A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL IN BOTH TALENT AND NEED. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO OFFER A SAFE AND NURTURING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THE POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT GIVES CHILDREN THE CONFIDENCE TO EXPLORE NEW LEARNING EXPERIENCES, DEVELOP PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS AND EXPRESS CREATIVITY.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2008.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.