Early College High School at Delaware State University Inc
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
TO PROVIDE HIGHLY MOTIVATED STUDENTS WITH A CURRICULUM THAT IS INTEGRATED WITH THE RELEVANT CURRICULUM AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY SUCH THAT ALL STUDENTS GRADUATE WITH ONE TO TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE CREDITS, PREPARING THEM FOR COMPLETION OF A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE PROGRAM. THE SCHOOL SHALL PROVIDE A SAFE, CARING AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT THAT DEVELOPS STUDENTS' ACADEMIC, SOCIAL SKILLS AND PERSONAL CHARACTER TRAITS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE COMPLETION, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO WILL BE THE FIRST GENERATION IN THEIR FAMILIES TO BECOME COLLEGE EDUCATED.
- Income
- $9.5 million
- Spending
- $9.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- -7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 96%
- Employees
- 55
- Volunteers
- 83
- Highest pay
- $203,435, charter director, non-voting
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 160% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 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
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)
- $9.3 million spent. THE EARLY COLLEGE SCHOOL @DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY HAD ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE PAST YEAR:1. THE ECS@DSU MIDDLE SCHOOL IS OPERATING IN ITS THIRD YEAR OF EXISTENCE WITH ROUGHLY 200 STUDENTS IN THE 7TH AND 8TH GRADES. THESE GRADES ARE PROVIDED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS BEFORE ENTERING THE 9TH GRADE. THIS ENABLES THEM TO TAKE COLLEGE-LEVEL COURSES DURING HIGH SCHOOL AND POTENTIALLY GRADUATE WITH UP TO 60 COLLEGE CREDITS.2. THE ECS@DSU CLASS OF 2025 PROUDLY ANNOUNCED A HISTORIC MILESTONE: TWO SCHOLARS WERE THE FIRST STUDENTS IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO GRADUATE WITH BOTH A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE FROM DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY. 3. THE HEAD OF SCHOOL WAS CONFIRMED AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR.
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on November 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on November 15, 2014.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 March 2015.
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 October 21, 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.