Orange County Elementary Arts Academy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO NURTURE ALL LEARNERS TO BECOME CREATIVE, CRITICAL THINKERS BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY STANDARDS-BASED INSTRUCTION THROUGH THE ARTS, TECHNOLOGY, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.
- Income
- $14.3 million
- Spending
- $13.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 96%
- Employees
- 115
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $208,454, president & executive dire
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: 47 out of 100. Higher than 25% 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
2 of 20It owes 80% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% 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 257 of 7 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 (3)
- $9.5 million spent. OCEAA PROVIDED CLASSROOM BASED INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS K-8. OCEAA'S GOAL IS TO PROVIDE ALL STUDENTS WITH AN EXEMPLARY EDUCATION FOUNDED IN A RICH ACADEMIC PROGRAM, THE ARTS, MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES, LANGUAGE LEARNING, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY. THE PROGRAM IS BASED ON RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES, PROVIDING EACH CHILD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLOURISH WHILE LEARNING IN A CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE PROGRAM OFFERS ENGLISH AND TWO-WAY LANGUAGE IMMERSION (SPANISH-ENGLISH) STRANDS WITH ALL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN ARTS AND SCIENCE CONSERVATORIES. THE ORGANIZATION CURRENTLY SERVES APPROXIMATELY 629 STUDENTS IN GRADES TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADES.
- $212,608 spent. OCEAA OFFERS AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM REFERRED TO AS THE KIDS EXPANDED DAY SCHOOL (KEDS). THE PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH A SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT TO FOSTER CREATIVE, CRITICAL THINKERS DURING NON-SCHOOL HOURS. ENROLLMENT IS OFFERED TO STUDENTS WHO CURRENTLY ATTEND THE OCEAA CHARTER SCHOOL. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH PARENT PAID FEES AND THE AFTER SCHOOL SAFETY (ASES) STATE GRANT.
- $933,019 spent. OCEAA OFFERS A SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FOOD AND BEVERAGE SALES TO STUDENTS DURING SCHOOL HOURS. THE PROGRAM IS GUIDED BY A WELLNESS COMMITTEE AND HAS AN ESTABLISHED WELLNESS POLICY OUTLINING NUTRITION GUIDELINES WHICH IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HEALTH FRAMEWORK FOR CALIFORNIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON IMPROVING STUDENT HEALTH AND THEIR CAPACITY TO LEARN. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY STUDENT PAID MEALS AND STATE AND FEDERAL CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS.
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 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 August 2006.
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.