Carolina International School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
CAROLINA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ("CIS") STRIVES TO DEVELOP CARING AND COMPASSIONATE STUDENTS AND CITIZENS WHO EMBODY THOSE CHARACTER TRAITS MOST RESPECTED IN EVERY CULTURE. HENCE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AT CIS IS IMMERSED IN EVERY INTERACTION AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE AS A CONTINUAL SCHOOL-WIDE PROCESS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES A SERVICE-LEARNING COMPONENT AND ACTIVELY INVOLVES PARENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. THE VALUES THAT FORM THE CORE OF DAILY RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS AT CIS ARE RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES.
- Income
- $9.1 million
- Spending
- $8.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -22.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 97%
- Employees
- 128
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $163,803, head of school
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: 45 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 130% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% 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 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $7.8 million spent. NORTH CAROLINA RELEASES PERFORMANCE GRADES FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE. THE MEASURES, CALLED SCHOOL PERFORMANCE GRADES, ARE REQUIRED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND GIVE EVERY SCHOOL A LETTER GRADE FROM A TO F AND ARE BASED PRIMARILY ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT WITH ACADEMIC GROWTH SCORES INCLUDED. CAROLINA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL RECEIVED A GRADE OF C FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR. THEIR GROWTH SCORE WAS 91% WHICH AWARDED THE SCHOOL WITH THE MEASUREMENT DESCRIPTION OF "EXCEEDING GROWTH." OUR ENROLLMENT REMAINS SOLID. WE CONTINUE TO FISCALLY OPERATE IN THE BLACK, LAST YEAR ADDING OVER $423,000 TO OUR OPERATING FUNDS AND ANTICIPATING THAT THIS YEAR WILL CONTINUE THIS TREND. INDEED, WE HAVE OPERATED IN THE BLACK EVERY YEAR OF OUR EXISTENCE. AS WE MOVE TOWARDS CONCLUSION THE 2ND SEMESTER OF THE 21ST YEAR OF EXISTENCE OF CIS, OUR SCHOOL CONTINUES TO BE STRONG IN MANY KEY RESPECTS. WE CONTINUE TO SEE STUDENTS LIVING OUT OUR CORE VALUES IN EXEMPLARY WAYS, AND BEING RECOGNIZED FOR SUCH IN VARIED WAYS.
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
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.