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Royal Live Oaks Academy-Ridgeland

EIN 45-3046654 · Hardeeville, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ROYAL LIVE OAKS ACADEMY PROVIDES A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS INTEGRITY AND RESILIENCE.

Income
$10.7 million
Spending
$10.9 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-15.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 96%
Employees
109
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$213,451, executive 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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 14% 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

    2 of 20

    It owes 84% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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. $8.7 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OTHE 2024 - 2025 SCHOOL YEAR WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL YEAR FOR OUR ROYAL KNIGHTS. AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL ROYAL LIVE OAKS ACADEMY WAS RECOGNIZED FOR THE FOLLOWING:- GOLD SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION FOR OUTPERFORMING ITS LOCAL DISTRICT AND DEMONSTRATING ABOVE-AVERAGE GROWTH IN CORE SUBJECTS.- PALMETTO SILVER AWARD FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.- CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR EARNING AN EXCELLENT RATING ON THE SCHOOL CLIMATE INDICATOR ON THE 2025 SCHOOL REPORT CARD.- 2025 MATH TRAILBLAZER AWARD FOR RANKING IN THE TOP 1% OF ALL SOUTH CAROLINA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FOR STUDENT PROGRESS AND ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST ELEMENTARY MATH GROWTH ACROSS THE ENTIRE INSTITUTE PORTFOLIO. THE ROYAL LIVE OAKS ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL EARNED:- SILVER SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION FOR OUTPERFORMING THE LOCAL DISTRICT AND DEMONSTRATING AVERAGE GROWTH.- CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR EARNING AN EXCELLENT RATING ON THE SCHOOL CLIMATE INDICATOR ON THE 2025 SCHOOL REPORT CARD.AND AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL RLOA WAS RECOGNIZED FOR:- PLATINUM SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION FOR OUTPERFORMING THE LOCAL DISTRICT IN BOTH CORE SUBJECTS AND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.- CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR EARNING AN EXCELLENT RATING ON THE SCHOOL CLIMATE INDICATOR ON THE 2025 SCHOOL REPORT CARD. ROYAL LIVE OAKS ACADEMY CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY, CHALLENGING, EDUCATION THAT BUILDS CRITICAL THINKERS AND PROBLEM SOLVERS AS THEY LEARN THE VALUES OF BECOMING PRODUCTIVE LEADERS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY.

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 November 6, 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 July 2014.

    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 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.