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Sierra Charter School

EIN 77-0499339 · Fresno, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO OPERATE A CALIFORNIA CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL UNDER PART 26.8 OF THE CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE.

Income
$6.4 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
55
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$234,601, business director/secretary

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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% 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

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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 (4)
  1. $487,995 spent. SIERRA CHARTER SCHOOL PROVIDED TARGETED ACADEMIC INTERVENTION SERVICES TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN MATHEMATICS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS. SERVICES INCLUDED ONE-ON-ONE, SMALL-GROUP, AND LARGE-GROUP INSTRUCTION DELIVERED BY CERTIFICATED INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF OUTSIDE OF REQUIRED INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, THESE SERVICES SUPPORTED APPROXIMATELY 354 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12, WITH A FOCUS ON STUDENTS DEMONSTRATING ACADEMIC NEED BASED ON ASSESSMENT RESULTS. INTERVENTION STRATEGIES WERE INFORMED BY I-READY ASSESSMENTS AND CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DASHBOARD INDICATORS, PARTICULARLY FOR STUDENT GROUPS IDENTIFIED AS PERFORMING BELOW STANDARD.THESE SERVICES INCREASED STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND CONTRIBUTED TO IMPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL OUTCOMES.
  2. $326,038 spent. SIERRA CHARTER SCHOOL OPERATED A CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM TO SUPPORT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO WERE AT RISK OF NOT MEETING GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, STRUCTURED SUPPORT CLASSES, AND INDIVIDUALIZED ACADEMIC GUIDANCE TO HELP STUDENTS REMAIN ON TRACK TO GRADUATE.IN THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 120 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN CREDIT RECOVERY SERVICES. MANY PARTICIPANTS WERE LOW-INCOME STUDENTS OR BELONGED TO HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED STUDENT POPULATIONS.AS A RESULT OF THESE SERVICES, SIERRA CHARTER (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) SCHOOL'S GRADUATION RATE INCREASED BY 8.4 PERCENTAGE POINTS COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR, AS REPORTED ON THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DASHBOARD. EXPENDITURES INCREASED DUE TO EXPANDED INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS AND HIGHER STUDENT PARTICIPATION.
  3. $175,241 spent. SIERRA CHARTER SCHOOL PROVIDED CAMPUS SAFETY AND STUDENT WELLNESS SERVICES TO MAINTAIN A SAFE, HEALTHY, AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. SERVICES INCLUDED DAILY CAMPUS MONITORING, CUSTODIAL SERVICES, NURSING AND WELLNESS SUPPORT, AND STUDENT SUPERVISION BY TRAINED STAFF.THESE SERVICES SUPPORTED THE ENTIRE STUDENT POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 354 STUDENTS DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR. THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZED STUDENT WELL-BEING, SAFETY, AND CONSISTENT ADULT PRESENCE ON CAMPUS.AS A RESULT, THE SCHOOL MAINTAINED A 0% SUSPENSION RATE, REDUCED CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, AND RECEIVED POSITIVE (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS AND FAMILIES REGARDING CAMPUS SAFETY AND SCHOOL CLIMATE.
  4. $4.1 million spent. EXPENDITURES WERE MADE BY THE CORPORATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF APPROXIMATELY 360 STUDENTS IN GRADE LEVELS KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.