Believe Schools Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BELIEVE CIRCLE CITY HIGH SCHOOL IS A PUBLIC COLLEGE AND CAREER PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL DEDICATED TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS IN THE INDIANAPOLIS AREA. OUR MISSION IS TO DEVELOP STUDENTS INTO LEADERS THROUGH A COMMUNITY THAT FOSTERS THEIR AGENCY, AUTONOMY, AND ACCELERATION PROVIDING A FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE INDEPENDENCE AND SUCCESS.
- Income
- $6.3 million
- Spending
- $5.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -6.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 82%
- Employees
- 50
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $119,868, principal
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 24% 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 97% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% 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
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 7Reports no 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 (2)
- $5.4 million spent. COLLEGE AND CAREER PREPARATORY EDUCATIONTO PREPARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE BY PROVIDING A RIGOROUS AND SUPPORTIVE ACADEMIC PROGRAM FOCUSED ON LEADERSHIP, AGENCY, AND ACCELERATION.BELIEVE CIRCLE CITY HIGH SCHOOL PROVIDES A FULL-DAY, TUITION-FREE, PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM SERVING STUDENTS IN GRADES 9 - 12. THE SCHOOL OPERATES APPROXIMATELY 188 INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS PER YEAR, OFFERING CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECTS ALIGNED TO INDIANA ACADEMIC STANDARDS AS WELL AS COLLEGE-LEVEL DUAL CREDIT, ADVANCED PLACEMENT, AND CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) COURSEWORK.DURING THE REPORTING YEAR, BELIEVE CIRCLE CITY HIGH SCHOOL SERVED APPROXIMATELY 315 STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL MAINTAINED A STUDENT-CENTERED ENVIRONMENT THAT EMPHASIZES PERSONALIZED LEARNING, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
- POSTSECONDARY AND WORKFORCE READINESSTO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT GRADUATES WITH A CLEAR POSTSECONDARY PLAN, COLLEGE ENROLLMENT, INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION, OR DIRECT EMPLOYMENT THROUGH EXPOSURE TO REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES AND PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIPS. BELIEVE CIRCLE CITY HIGH SCHOOL PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COLLEGES, EMPLOYERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO OFFER INTERNSHIPS, COLLEGE COURSES, AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN COLLEGE VISITS, MOCK INTERVIEWS, RESUME WORKSHOPS, AND A YEARLONG COLLEGE & CAREER SEMINAR COURSE. IN THE REPORTING YEAR, 95% OF GRADUATING SENIORS COMPLETED AN INDIVIDUALIZED POSTSECONDARY PLAN. MORE THAN 75% PARTICIPATED IN WORK-BASED LEARNING OR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES, AND STUDENTS COLLECTIVELY EARNED OVER 80% COLLEGE CREDITS AND SEVERAL INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS.
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 March 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.