Alain Locke Charter School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Alain Locke Charter School serves as a demonstration for urban schools exemplifying excellence in academics, the arts, personal and social development, and preparing students who are globally competitive. One of Chicago's first public, open enrollment charter schools, Alain Locke Charter School is one of the most successful urban charter schools in the United States. Located in the heart of Chicago's West Side, Alain Locke Charter School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8. The Charter School is a wholly owned subsidiary of Accelerate Institute.
- Income
- $7.2 million
- Spending
- $7.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 90%
- Employees
- 64
- Volunteers
- 393
- Highest pay
- $253,878, chair / director
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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 35% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 11 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.
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)
- $7.3 million spent. ALAIN LOCKE CHARTER SCHOOL (ALAIN LOCKE), NAMED FOR THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN RHODES SCHOLAR, MODELS ABSOLUTE EXCELLENCE IN CHICAGO'S HISTORICALLY UNDER SERVED EAST GARFIELD PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. WITH A LEARNER-CENTERED APPROACH AND A FOCUS ON PREPARING STUDENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, THE GOAL OF ALAIN LOCKE IS TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR INNOVATIVE URBAN EDUCATION AND TO PRODUCE STUDENTS WHO ARE GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE. OFFERING AN EXTENDED DAY AND YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM, ALAIN LOCKE PROVIDES ELEMENTARY EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN IN PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. LOCATED IN EAST GARFIELD PARK ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE, THE STUDENTS ARE PRIMARILY AFRICAN-AMERICAN. AT ALAIN LOCKE, MORE THAN 90% OF THE STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH. ALAIN LOCKE PLACES EMPHASIS ON CHARACTER EDUCATION, ALONG WITH A POSITIVE, DISCIPLINED, AND NURTURING SCHOOL CULTURE, AND SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS IN ESTABLISHING PATTERNS OF SUCCESS AND BECOMING LIFELONG LEARNERS. TALENTED AND DEDICATED EDUCATORS ARE DRAWN TO ALAIN LOCKE BECAUSE OF ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP AND TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH COLLEAGUES.
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 January 2000.
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.