Palmetto Achievement Center for Exc Ellence Academy Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
5THE MISSION OF PACE IS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH AN INDIVIDUALIZED, RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT ENABLES CHILDREN, INCLUDING THOSE WITH LANGUAGE-BASED DIFFICULTIES, TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN THE GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM THEREBY DECREASING THE NEED FOR EXPERIENCE THAT ENABLES CHILDREN, INCLUDING THOSE WITH LANGUAGE-BASED DIFFICULTIES, TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN THE GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM THEREBY DECREASING THE NEED FOR DIRECT SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.
- Income
- $3.8 million
- Spending
- $3.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -15.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 95%
- Employees
- 55
- Volunteers
- 0
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: 42 out of 100. Higher than 17% 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
0 of 20It owes 105% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% 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
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
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)
- $3.1 million spent. PALMETTO ACHIEVEMENT CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE (PACE) ACADEMY, AN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION CAMPUS (AEC), PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, PROVIDES EVIDENCE-BASED, MULTI-SENSORY, STRUCTURED LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA MIDLANDS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A QUALITY EDUCATIONAL CHOICE FOR STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA OR OTHER LANGUAGE-BASED LEARNING DIFFERENCES WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM ORTON-GILLINGHAM INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS. ALL STUDENTS AT PACE ACADEMY ATTEND AN ACE (ACADEMIC CORE ENRICHMENT) CLASS EVERY DAY FOR 30-45 MINUTES. DURING THIS ACE TIME, STUDENTS ARE PLACED IN GROUPS BASED ON THEIR NEEDS TO HELP CLOSE THE GAP IN PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS AND DECODING SKILLS. STUDENTS RECEIVE INSTRUCTION USING A STRUCTURED LITERACY APPROACH WHICH INCLUDES PROJECT READ (LANGUAGE CIRCLE ENTERPRISES) AND OTHER ORTON-GILLINGHAM BASED INSTRUCTION. PACE OPENED AS A NEW SCHOOL IN THE FALL OF 2021 WITH 77% OF THE STUDENT POPULATION HAVING DOCUMENTED DISABILITIES: 16 STUDENTS WITH A 504 PLAN AND 127 STUDENTS WITH AN INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN (IEP). COMBINED WITH THE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, MANY LESS DETERMINED INDIVIDUALS WOULD HAVE QUIT BEFORE THEY EVEN STARTED! PACE ACADEMY IS PROUD TO BE THE FIRST TUITION-FREE SCHOOL IN THE MIDLANDS FOR STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA.
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 November 6, 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 2020.
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 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.