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Bright Star Schools

EIN 55-0806673 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT BRIGHT STAR SCHOOLS, OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC, INCLUSIVE SUPPORT FOR ALL THE STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND GROW THEIR UNIQUE TALENTS SO THAT THEY FIND JOY AND FULFILLMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION, CAREER AND LIFE.

Income
$116.9 million
Spending
$82.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 97%
Employees
676
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$332,996, president/ceo

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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. $69.4 million spent. BRIGHT STAR SCHOOLS OPERATED NINE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS SERVING APPROXIMATELY 3,600 STUDENTS ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY THROUGH A TK-12 COLLEGE-PREPARATORY EDUCATIONAL MODEL FOCUSED ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, COLLEGE READINESS, AND WHOLE-CHILD DEVELOPMENT. THE ORGANIZATION'S SCHOOLS PRIMARILY SERVED HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN WEST ADAMS/SOUTH LOS ANGELES, KOREATOWN, AND THE NORTHEAST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. BRIGHT STAR SCHOOLS MAINTAINED A COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE-GOING CULTURE DESIGNED TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN HIGHER EDUCATION, CAREER PATHWAYS, AND CIVIC LIFE. PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDED STANDARDS-BASED ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, COLLEGE COUNSELING, ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSEWORK, ALUMNI SUPPORT SERVICES, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING, AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS. DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINED A STUDENT-TO-COUNSELOR RATIO OF APPROXIMATELY 130:1, SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THE CALIFORNIA AVERAGE, TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED COLLEGE AND ACADEMIC ADVISING. THE ORGANIZATION ACHIEVED A 95% HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE, WITH ONE HIGH SCHOOL ACHIEVING A 100% GRADUATION RATE, AND AN ESTIMATED 88% COLLEGE MATRICULATION RATE AMONG GRADUATING SENIORS. BRIGHT STAR SCHOOLS' HIGH SCHOOLS WERE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, WITH RANKINGS PLACING THE SCHOOLS AMONG THE TOP PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE. ADDITIONALLY, MULTIPLE SCHOOLS RECEIVED COLLEGE BOARD AP SCHOOL HONOR ROLL RECOGNITION FOR EXPANDING STUDENT ACCESS TO ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSEWORK AND SUPPORTING COLLEGE READINESS OUTCOMES. AS PART OF ITS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MODEL, BRIGHT STAR SCHOOLS PARTNERED WITH MORE THAN 50 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES SUPPORTING STUDENT AND FAMILY WELL-BEING. SERVICES INCLUDED FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS, EYE EXAMS AND EYEGLASSES, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS, FOOD AND RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION, FAMILY WORKSHOPS, COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCILS, AND SCHOOL-BASED ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING. DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES RECEIVED OVER 200 PAIRS OF FREE EYEGLASSES, ALONG WITH DONATED SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BACKPACKS, SHOES, TOYS, AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES. BRIGHT STAR SCHOOLS ALSO CONTINUED OPERATING A SIX-YEAR ALUMNI SUPPORT AND COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM TO ASSIST GRADUATES WITH COLLEGE PERSISTENCE, FINANCIAL AID RENEWAL, ACADEMIC ADVISING, AND CAREER PLANNING. THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THESE SERVICES IS TO INCREASE COLLEGE COMPLETION RATES, EXPAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY STABILITY, AND PREPARE STUDENTS TO BECOME FUTURE LEADERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES SERVED.

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 October 13, 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 March 2004.

    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 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.