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Santa Fe Christian Schools

EIN 33-0103052 · Solana Beach, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A COEDUCATIONAL INDEPENDENT COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL WITHIN A BIBLE BASED COMMUNITY TO DISCIPLE STUDENTS TO EMBRACE BIBLICAL TRUTH, STRIVE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, AND MODEL CHRIST-LIKE LEADERSHIP TO INFLUENCE THEIR HOMES, CHURCHES, AND COMMUNITIES FOR CHRIST.

Income
$31.8 million
Spending
$32.6 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
292
Volunteers
600
Highest pay
$647,527, head of schools

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: 41 out of 100. Higher than 16% 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

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 48 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

    12 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. $27.6 million spent. SANTA FE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS PROVIDES ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION FOR 1,091 STUDENTS. 423 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN THE 2024/25 SCHOOL YEAR IN SANTA FE CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL. THE HIGH SCHOOL SEEKS, THROUGH THE CORE CURRICULUM, ELECTIVES, AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, TO PUT STUDENTS IN A POSITION OF HAVING THE BROADEST POSSIBLE RANGE OF CHOICES WHEN IT COMES TIME TO APPLY TO COLLEGES. BIBLE CLASSES ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE CURRICULUM AT SANTA FE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS, AND THEY ARE TAUGHT FROM AN ORTHODOX, DISTINCTIVELY CHRISTIAN VIEWPOINT.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IT IS OUR OBJECTIVE TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO LOOK AT LIFE WITH AN "ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE." HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN GLOBAL MINISTRIES TRIPS WHERE THEY ARE INVOLVED IN VOLUNTEER TEACHING, MINOR MEDICAL TREATMENT, ENGLISH PRACTICE, AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITIES. THE SANTA FE CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS A NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL IN 2017. THERE WERE 320 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SANTA FE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL EXISTS TO FACILITATE A SMOOTH TRANSITION BETWEEN THE DEPENDENCE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YEARS AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL YEARS. WE CALL THESE THE "BRIDGE YEARS." THE PRIMARY GOAL FOR EACH STUDENT IS TO LEARN HOW TO LEARN INDEPENDENTLY. THE ACADEMIC SKILLS THAT WERE TAUGHT IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YEARS ARE REINFORCED AND BUILT UPON IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE ACCUMULATION OF KNOWLEDGE IS NOT WORTH ANYTHING UNLESS ONE KNOWS HOW TO USE IT APPROPRIATELY. CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS CONTINUE TO BE DEVELOPED IN EACH STUDENT. IN ORDER FOR EDUCATION TO BE COMPLETE, IT MUST BE BASED ON A STANDARD OF TRUTH. THE BIBLE IS THE STANDARD UPON WHICH THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AT SFCS IS BASED. THE SANTA FE CHRISTIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS A NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL IN 2015. THERE WERE 348 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SANTA FE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS. THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (K-5) PROGRAM PROVIDES A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR A LIFETIME OF LEARNING. OUR EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY IS BASED ON THE VISION OF THE SCHOOL: TO SEEK TO HONOR GOD BY PREPARING CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF TOMORROW TO SERVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. WHILE ADHERING TO STATE STANDARDS, SFCS INTEGRATES BIBLICAL TRUTH IN ALL SUBJECT AREAS. THE ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE AND DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF BETTER EQUIPPING OUR STUDENTS TO BE EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN LEADERS. THE SANTA FE CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS A NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL IN 2011.

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 September 1986.

    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.