Helix Network of Educational Choices
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MENTORSHIP STEAM ACADEMY IS A PROJECTBASED LEARNING SCHOOL THAT EMPHASIZES HANDS ON PROJECTS IN THE AREAS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, MATH, DIGITAL ARTS, FILM, AND MUSIC PRODUCTION. MENTORSHIP STEAM ACADEMY IS AN EARLY COLLEGE THAT BLENDS HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE INTO A COHERENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. MENTORSHIP STEAM ACADEMY PROGRAM AIMS TO PREPARE ALL STUDENTS TO UNDERTAKE A FOURYEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY CAREER PATHWAY. IT IS RIGOROUS, DEMANDS HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR ENTRY AND SUCCESS AT THE POSTSECONDARY LEVEL. MENTORSHIP STEAM ACADEMY IS DESIGNED TO INCLUDE A ONETOONE LAPTOP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SO THAT VISUAL, HANDSON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE ACROSS THE CURRICULUM. IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, MENTORSHIP STEAM ACADEMY SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORE HAS INCREASED FROM A LETTER GRADE OF A F' TO A B APPROXIMATELY 50 POINTS IN GROWTH.
- Income
- $8.9 million
- Spending
- $9.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- -2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 94%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 4% 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
2 of 20It owes 96% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2024, 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)
- $5.8 million spent. MENTORSHIP STEAM ACADEMY IS A STEAM BASED LEARNING HIGH SCHOOL THAT EMPHASIZES COLLEGE, CAREER, AND CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION AND DEVELOPMENT. MENTORSHIP HAS SHOWN A UNIQUE ABILITY TO IMPROVE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORES WHILE CONTINUING TO SERVE A POPULATION THAT IS OVER 80% ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. ENROLLMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 400 9TH TO 12TH GRADE STUDENTS AND MOST OF THESE STUDENTS ARE COMING FROM COMMUNITIES LOCATED IN THE NORTH BATON ROUGE AREA. MENTORSHIP HAS BEEN AWARDED THREE TOP GAINS AWARDS FROM THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SINCE 2014. THE AIR FORCE JROTC PROGRAM WAS APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND BEGAN AT MENTORSHIP DURING THE 2016 2017 SCHOOL YEAR. THIS ENHANCED MENTORSHIP'S STEAM EMPHASIS AND GAVE STUDENTS ALL OVER EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE ONLY AIR FORCE JROTC PROGRAM IN THE PARISH, AND IT CONTINUES TO THRIVE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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 2024.
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 August 2010.
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.