Maya Angelou Public Charter School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CREATE LEARNING COMMUNITIES IN LOWER INCOME URBAN AREAS WHERE ALL STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED IN TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS, CAN REACH THEIR POTENTIAL AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE, CAREER AND A LIFETIME OF SUCCESS.
- Income
- $21.8 million
- Spending
- $20.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- -1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 85%
- Employees
- 197
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $290,005, executive of
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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 2514 of 14 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)
- $18.5 million spent. THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE MAYA ANGELOU PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IS TO CREATE LEARNING COMMUNITIES IN LOWER INCOME URBAN AREAS WHERE ALL STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED IN TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS, CAN REACH THEIR POTENTIAL AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE, CAREER, AND A LIFETIME OF SUCCESS. AT MAYA ANGELOU, STUDENTS DEVELOP THE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMPLOYMENT SKILLS THEY NEED TO BUILD REWARDING LIVES AND PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE. THE MAYA ANGELOU PUBLIC CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL AND THE YOUNG ADULT LEARNING CENTER PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION IN A NON-TRADITIONAL SETTING TO ALL STUDENTS INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH A DEMANDING ACADEMIC PROGRAM, SOCIO-EMOTIONAL LEARNING SUPPORT, AND TIERED INTERVENTIONS THAT FOCUS ON THE WHOLE CHILD. STUDENTS LEAVE WITH A FOUNDATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR PURSUIT OF EDUCATION AND CAREERS. FOUNDED IN 1997, THE SEE FOREVER FOUNDATION WAS CREATED TO OFFER A HOLISTIC PROGRAM TO TEENS INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. AT THAT TIME, COURT-INVOLVED TEENS TOLD THE ORGANIZATIONS CO-FOUNDERS THAT THEY WANTED TO EARN MONEY, LEARN MARKETABLE SKILLS, AND GAIN RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN THEY RETURNED TO SCHOOL, THEY ALSO WANTED TO ATTEND SMALL CLASSES WITH TEACHERS WHO CARED ABOUT THEM, AND THEY WANTED HELP MAKING HARD DECISIONS. THE MAYA ANGELOU SCHOOL OPENED ITS DOORS IN 1997 AS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR 20 TEENS, ALL OF WHOM WERE COMMITTED TO THE DC DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND REHABILITATION SERVICES OR WERE ON PROBATION. THE CHARTER SCHOOL GREW EACH YEAR, AS STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY AND FROM ALL SORTS OF ACADEMIC BACKGROUNDS ACTIVELY SOUGHT ADMISSION. SOME OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE OUT OF SCHOOL, SOME WERE DOING POORLY IN TRADITIONAL SCHOOL SETTINGS AND HEARD ABOUT THE ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT OFFERED TO STUDENTS, AND OTHERS WERE REFERRED BY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. NEARLY ALL OF THE STUDENTS ARE YEARS BEHIND GRADE LEVEL ACADEMICALLY, MANY HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, AND MOST HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES. AT THE MAYA ANGELOU CHARTER SCHOOL, THE AIM IS TO PROVIDE THESE STUDENTS WITH THE BEST EDUCATION THEY HAVE EVER HAD. TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE GROWING STUDENT POPULATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE WARD 7 AND WARD 8 AREAS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, IN SEPTEMBER 2004 THE SEE FOREVER FOUNDATION OPENED A SECOND CAMPUS OF THE MAYA ANGELOU PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE SECOND CAMPUS, LOCATED IN THE FORMER DCPS EVANS MIDDLE SCHOOL, IS LOCATED IN THE 5600 BLOCK OF EAST CAPITOL STREET, NE. IN 2010, MAYA ANGELOU ESTABLISHED A YOUNG ADULT LEARNING CENTER (YALC), WHICH OPENED IN FALL 2012. THE PURPOSE OF THE ADULT PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO OLDER YOUTH/YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 17-24, WHO DO NOT HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL, AND PARTICULARLY THOSE TRANSITIONING FROM INCARCERATION. THESE ADULT STUDENTS WORK TOWARD ATTAINING THEIR GED AND CAN ALSO PURSUE VOCATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND PARTICIPATE IN WORK PROGRAMS. MAYA ANGELOU OFFERS A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM TO SELECT STUDENTS. THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM PROVIDES SINGLE SEX HOMES (TWO MALES, THREE FEMALES) TO STUDENTS WHO BENEFIT FROM THE STABILITY OF A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, AND STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT. EACH HOME IS STAFFED BY A RESIDENTIAL COUNSELOR. THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE MAYA ANGELOU PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IS TO CREATE LEARNING COMMUNITIES IN LOWER INCOME URBAN AREAS WHERE ALL STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED IN TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS, CAN REACH THEIR POTENTIAL AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE, CAREER, AND A LIFETIME OF SUCCESS. AT MAYA ANGELOU, STUDENTS DEVELOP THE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMPLOYMENT SKILLS THEY NEED TO BUILD REWARDING LIVES AND PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE. THE MAYA ANGELOU PUBLIC CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL AND THE YOUNG ADULT LEARNING CENTER PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION IN A NON-TRADITIONAL SETTING TO ALL STUDENTS INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH A DEMANDING ACADEMIC PROGRAM, SOCIO-EMOTIONAL LEARNING SUPPORT, AND TIERED INTERVENTIONS THAT FOCUS ON THE WHOLE CHILD. STUDENTS LEAVE WITH A FOUNDATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR PURSUIT OF EDUCATION AND CAREERS. FOUNDED IN 1997, THE SEE FOREVER FOUNDATION WAS CREATED TO OFFER A HOLISTIC PROGRAM TO TEENS INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. AT THAT TIME, COURT-INVOLVED TEENS TOLD THE ORGANIZATIONS CO-FOUNDERS THAT THEY WANTED TO EARN MONEY, LEARN MARKETABLE SKILLS, AND GAIN RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN THEY RETURNED TO SCHOOL, THEY ALSO WANTED TO ATTEND SMALL CLASSES WITH TEACHERS WHO CARED ABOUT THEM, AND THEY WANTED HELP MAKING HARD DECISIONS. THE MAYA ANGELOU SCHOOL OPENED ITS DOORS IN 1997 AS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR 20 TEENS, ALL OF WHOM WERE COMMITTED TO THE DC DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND REHABILITATION SERVICES OR WERE ON PROBATION. THE CHARTER SCHOOL GREW EACH YEAR, AS STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY AND FROM ALL SORTS OF ACADEMIC BACKGROUNDS ACTIVELY SOUGHT ADMISSION. SOME OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE OUT OF SCHOOL, SOME WERE DOING POORLY IN TRADITIONAL SCHOOL SETTINGS AND HEARD ABOUT THE ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT OFFERED TO STUDENTS, AND OTHERS WERE REFERRED BY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. NEARLY ALL OF THE STUDENTS ARE YEARS BEHIND GRADE LEVEL ACADEMICALLY, MANY HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, AND MOST HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES. AT THE MAYA ANGELOU CHARTER SCHOOL, THE AIM IS TO PROVIDE THESE STUDENTS WITH THE BEST EDUCATION THEY HAVE EVER HAD. TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE GROWING STUDENT POPULATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE WARD 7 AND WARD 8 AREAS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, IN SEPTEMBER 2004 THE SEE FOREVER FOUNDATION OPENED A SECOND CAMPUS OF THE MAYA ANGELOU PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE SECOND CAMPUS, LOCATED IN THE FORMER DCPS EVANS MIDDLE SCHOOL, IS LOCATED IN THE 5600 BLOCK OF EAST CAPITOL STREET, NE. IN 2010, MAYA ANGELOU ESTABLISHED A YOUNG ADULT
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1999.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.