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Academy Prep Center of St Petersburg Inc

EIN 59-3623000 · St Petersburg, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER STUDENTS QUALIFYING FOR NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS TO BECOME FUTURE COMMUNITY LEADERS THROUGH A RIGOROUS MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM COUPLED WITH ONGOING GRADUATE SUPPORT.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
56.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
47
Volunteers
181
Highest pay
$173,480, head of school

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 56.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 May 31, 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 (2)
  1. $2.7 million spent. ACADEMY PREP CENTER OF ST. PETERSBURG IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT MIDDLE SCHOOL SERVING STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS IN ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA. THE SCHOOL PROVIDES A CHALLENGING AND SUPPORTIVE COLLEGE-PREPARATORY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO BUILD ACADEMIC SKILLS, CHARACTER, AND CONFIDENCE DURING THE CRITICAL MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS. ALL STUDENTS ATTEND TUITION-FREE AND RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT WITHIN SMALL, GENDER-SEPARATED CLASSES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ACADEMY PREP OPERATES AN EXTENDED-DAY, EXTENDED-WEEK, AND EXTENDED-YEAR ACADEMIC MODEL. STUDENTS ATTEND SCHOOL UP TO 10 TO 11 HOURS PER DAY, MANDATORY SATURDAY FIELD TRIPS, AND A STANDARD SUMMER SESSION EACH YEAR OF THEIR ENROLLMENT. CORE ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION IN ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, HISTORY, AND SCIENCE IS COMPLEMENTED BY REQUIRED WEEKLY COURSES IN ART, MUSIC, AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION. THE GOAL IS TO LIMIT CLASS SIZES TO NO MORE THAN 20 STUDENTS TO ENSURE PERSONALIZED INSTRUCTION AND STRONG STUDENT-TEACHER RELATIONSHIPS.EACH DAY, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN STRUCTURED ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING THAT SUPPORTS WELL-ROUNDED DEVELOPMENT AND EXPOSURE TO NEW INTERESTS. MORE THAN 20 UNIQUE ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES ARE OFFERED ANNUALLY, INCLUDING VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, ATHLETICS, LEADERSHIP ADVANCEMENT, STEM-BASED ACTIVITIES, AND LIFE SKILLS. WEEKEND PROGRAMMING INCLUDES EDUCATIONAL FIELD EXPERIENCES SUCH AS NATURE EXPLORATION, MUSEUM VISITS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES.FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS ARE INTEGRAL TO THE ACADEMY PREP MODEL. FAMILIES ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE 40 HOURS OF ENGAGEMENT ANNUALLY, REINFORCING SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR STUDENT SUCCESS. COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROVIDE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING AND SERVE AS POSITIVE ROLE MODELS, CONNECTING STUDENTS TO THE BROADER TAMPA BAY COMMUNITY.ACADEMY PREP STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE MEASURABLE ACADEMIC GROWTH DURING THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS. WHILE MANY STUDENTS ENTER BELOW OR AT GRADE LEVEL IN READING AND MATHEMATICS, BY GRADUATION MOST STUDENTS PERFORM AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL ON NATIONALLY NORMED ASSESSMENTS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, 98 PERCENT OF ACADEMY PREP CENTER OF ST. PETERSBURG GRADUATES HAVE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL ON TIME. APPROXIMATELY 85 PERCENT OF GRADUATES HAVE ENROLLED IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OR SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.
  2. $131,516 spent. GRADUATE SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDES ACADEMIC GUIDANCE, ADVISING, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ACADEMY PREP STUDENTS AND ALUMNI AS THEY TRANSITION FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND INTO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OR SERVICE. THIS LONG-TERM SUPPORT MODEL IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE PERSISTENCE, INFORMED DECISION-MAKING, AND SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES AT EACH STAGE OF A STUDENT'S EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)BEGINNING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, STUDENTS RECEIVE COUNSELING FOCUSED ON ACADEMIC PLANNING, GOAL SETTING, POSITIVE LIFE CHOICES, AND PREPARATION FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESS. PRIOR TO GRADUATION FROM ACADEMY PREP, EACH STUDENT DEVELOPS INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS AND IS MATCHED WITH A HIGH SCHOOL THAT BEST ALIGNS WITH THEIR ACADEMIC PROFILE AND PERSONAL NEEDS. THESE PLACEMENTS INCLUDE LOCAL PRIVATE PREPARATORY SCHOOLS, PUBLIC MAGNET AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS, AND BOARDING SCHOOLS. GRADUATE SUPPORT STAFF GUIDE FAMILIES THROUGH APPLICATIONS AND ASSIST IN SECURING APPROPRIATE FINANCIAL AID.GRADUATE SUPPORT PLACES PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON SEVENTH- AND EIGHTH-GRADE PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING A WEEKLY LIFE SKILLS COURSE FOR EIGHTH-GRADE STUDENTS. THIS COURSE PROVIDES INSTRUCTION IN INTERVIEWING SKILLS, PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION, TIME MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND SOCIAL ETIQUETTE TO SUPPORT READINESS FOR MORE INDEPENDENT ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENTS.FOLLOWING MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATION, GRADUATE SUPPORT STAFF CLOSELY MONITOR ALUMNI PROGRESS THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL AND PURSUE COMMUNICATION BEYOND GRADUATION. SERVICES INCLUDE REGULAR ACADEMIC CHECK-INS, COUNSELING SUPPORT, SCHOOL VISITS, AND ASSISTANCE ADDRESSING ACADEMIC, FINANCIAL, OR PERSONAL CHALLENGES THAT MAY AFFECT PERSISTENCE. STAFF MEMBERS VISIT GRADUATES ENROLLED IN LOCAL AND BOARDING SCHOOLS AND MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS THROUGH ATTENDANCE AT ACADEMIC, EXTRACURRICULAR, AND MILESTONE EVENTS. THIS SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT HELPS ENSURE SUCCESSFUL TRANSITIONS, ON-TIME HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, AND ENCOURAGES POST-SECONDARY MATRICULATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 May 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 June 2000.

    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.