Independence Classical Academy Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
INDEPENDENCE CLASSICAL ACADEMY EXISTS TO PROVIDE A DISCIPLINED AND HIGHLY ENGAGING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT RICH IN SCHOLARSHIP, CHARACTER BUILDING, CITIZENSHIP, MORAL VIRTUE, CIVICS, AND LIBERAL ARTS. THIS TIME-TESTED, CLASSICAL LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION WILL ENSURE STUDENTS ARE HIGHLY PREPARED, THROUGH RIGOROUS AND RELEVANT CORE CONTENT WITH AN EMPHASIS ON LITERACY, TO BE HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL CITIZENS WITH A STRONG SENSE OF CHARACTER AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.
- Income
- $6.4 million
- Spending
- $7.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -21.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 96%
- Employees
- 97
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $253,581, executive director
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: 36 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 100% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- $5.9 million spent. INDEPENDENCE CLASSICAL ACADEMY EXISTS TO FILL A ROLE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT IS CURRENTLY MISSING IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY. A VIRTUOUS ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO PROVIDE AN ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS CURRICULUM WHERE GOOD MORAL VIRTUE IS NOT ONLY ENCOURAGED, BUT EXPECTED. A PLACE WHERE TEACHERS CAN TEACH, AND STUDENTS WILL LEARN. OFFERING A SETTING FREE FROM DIGITAL LEARNING AND THE DISTRACTIONS OF SCREENS AND PRESSURES OF SOCIAL MEDIA THAT MANY KIDS ARE FIXATED ON IN TODAY'S WORLD, WE ARE ABLE TO HONE IN ON CREATING CRITICAL THINKERS THAT ARE FLUENT READERS, WRITERS, AND SPEAKERS. STUDENTS IN OUR ACADEMY ARE BEING TAUGHT THAT CHARACTER COUNTS, AND THAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF HARD THINGS. KIDS ARE GETTING OUTDOORS, EXPERIENCING LEARNING FOR ALL LEARNING STYLES, AND BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR OWN LEARNING GAINS, AS OPPOSED TO SPENDING TEN MONTHS LEARNING HOW TO PASS A STANDARDIZED TEST. THE CULTURE AT ICA IS THAT OF A FAMILY, AND THE GAINS OUR STUDENTS MAKE ACADEMICALLY ARE LARGELY TIED TO THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY ARE TAUGHT, A SMALL, HIGHLY STRUCTURED SCHOOL THAT FOCUSES ON KNOWING ALL OF OUR KIDS, AND GETTING THEM TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
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 November 2019.
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.