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Paragon Management

EIN 86-0911513 · Surprise, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDE EXCELLENT FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE TO STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12 IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT ENABLES STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, CARING, AND KNOWLEDGEABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$33.9 million
Spending
$33.1 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-16 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
437
Volunteers
767
Highest pay
$197,865, executive di

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 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 89% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $26.4 million spent. PARAGON MANAGEMENT, INC, DBA PARADISE SCHOOLS IS A K-12 ARIZONA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE LEARNING COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO FOSTERING PERSONAL GROWTH AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. PARADISE SCHOOLS CORE BELIEFS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. WE BELIEVE STUDENTS LEARN IN A SCHOOL ATMOSPHERE THAT IS SAFE, RESPECTFUL, AND MAINTAINS HIGH ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS. 2. WE BELIEVE IN IMPLEMENTING RIGOROUS STUDENT-CENTERED CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THEIR FUTURE. 3. WE BELIEVE IN DEVELOPING AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST, COMMUNICATION, AND A COMMON GOAL. 4. WE BELIEVE IN ESTABLISHING A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY ENRICHED WITH ON-GOING STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND COLLABORATION. 5. WE BELIEVE IN RECRUITING AND MAINTAINING HIGHLY EFFECTIVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE CAPABLE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE SCHOOL RATHER THAN SELF. 6. WE BELIEVE IN CREATING A LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT GUIDES AND GOVERNS OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY THROUGH SOUND JUDGEMENT AND BEST PRACTICES. THE RESULTS OF PARADISE SCHOOLS CORE BELIEFS CAN BE SEEN IN THE DISTRICTS RECORD OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. AN ACCOMPLISHMENT OF PARADISE SCHOOLS HAS BEEN THE ABILITY TO EARN AND MAINTAIN HIGH MARKS IN ARIZONA'S SCHOOLS RATING SYSTEM, BASED ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. FOR MANY YEARS, INCLUDING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, PARADISE SCHOOLS EARNED AN "A" RATING BY THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. FOR MANY YEARS, INCLUDING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, PARADISE SCHOOLS STATEWIDE TEST RESULTS EXCEEDED STATE AVERAGES IN ALL CATEGORIES. IN ADDITION, PARADISE HONORS HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT AS BEING ONE OF AMERICA'S BEST IN MULTIPLE YEARS. PARAGON MANAGEMENT, INC, DBA PARADISE SCHOOLS IS A K-12 ARIZONA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE LEARNING COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO FOSTERING PERSONAL GROWTH AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. PARADISE SCHOOLS CORE BELIEFS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. WE BELIEVE STUDENTS LEARN IN A SCHOOL ATMOSPHERE THAT IS SAFE, RESPECTFUL, AND MAINTAINS HIGH ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS. 2. WE BELIEVE IN IMPLEMENTING RIGOROUS STUDENT-CENTERED CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THEIR FUTURE. 3. WE BELIEVE IN DEVELOPING AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST, COMMUNICATION, AND A COMMON GOAL. 4. WE BELIEVE IN ESTABLISHING A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY ENRICHED WITH ON-GOING STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND COLLABORATION. 5. WE BELIEVE IN RECRUITING AND MAINTAINING HIGHLY EFFECTIVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE CAPABLE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE SCHOOL RATHER THAN SELF. 6. WE BELIEVE IN CREATING A LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT GUIDES AND GOVERNS OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY THROUGH SOUND JUDGEMENT AND BEST PRACTICES. THE RESULTS OF PARADISE SCHOOLS CORE BELIEFS CAN BE SEEN IN THE DISTRICTS RECORD OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. AN ACCOMPLISHMENT OF PARADISE SCHOOLS HAS BEEN THE ABILITY TO EARN AND MAINTAIN HIGH MARKS IN ARIZONA'S SCHOOLS RATING SYSTEM, BASED ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. FOR MANY YEARS, INCLUDING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, PARADISE SCHOOLS EARNED AN "A" RATING BY THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. FOR MANY YEARS, INCLUDING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, PARADISE SCHOOLS STATEWIDE TEST RESULTS EXCEEDED STATE AVERAGES IN ALL CATEGORIES. IN ADDITION, PARADISE HONORS HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT AS BEING ONE OF AMERICA'S BEST IN MULTIPLE YEARS.

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 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 October 13, 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 June 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 January 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 October 21, 2026.

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