Columbus Classical Academy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
COLUMBUS CLASSICAL ACADEMY INCULCATES IN OUR STUDENTS, THROUGH A GENUINE AND RIGOROUS CLASSICAL EDUCATION IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, THE KNOWLEDGE AND VIRTUE UPON WHICH INDEPENDENT, RESPONSIBLE, AND JOYFUL LIVES ARE BUILT, IN THE FIRM BELIEF THAT SUCH LIVES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF A FREE AND FLOURISHING REPUBLIC.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $2.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- -25.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 45
- Highest pay
- $150,000, head of scho
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: 32 out of 100. Higher than 7% 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 90% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $1.9 million spent. IN AUGUST 2023, COLUMBUS CLASSICAL ACADEMY OPENED ITS DOORS TO 61 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8, PROVIDING A RIGOROUS, LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION USING HILLSDALE COLLEGES WORLD CLASS, K-12 CURRICULUM. NEARLY 300,000 IN TUITION ASSISTANCE WAS GIVEN TO FAMILIES IN NEED, WHILE APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET WENT TOWARD RETAINING CCAS EXCEPTIONAL FACULTY AND STAFF. INSTRUCTION IN THE ELEMENTARY GRADES UTILIZED THE SINGAPORE MATH CURRICULUM, EXPLICIT PHONICS, AND CLASSIC CHILDRENS LITERATURE. UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS CONDUCTED OVER 90 SCIENCE LABS, READ AND DISCUSSED GREAT LITERARY WORKS, AND LEARNED HISTORY, FROM THE ANCIENT TO THE MODERN ERA. MORE THAN 250 RECITATIONS OF CLASSIC POETRY AND GREAT SPEECHES WERE PERFORMED BY STUDENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. EVERY STUDENT RECEIVED INSTRUCTION IN THE FINE ARTS, CREATING WORKS OF THEIR OWN, AS WELL AS MIMICKING THOSE OF THE MASTERS LIKE VAN GOGH AND MATISSE. STUDENTS ALSO PUT ON CCAS INAUGURAL CHRISTMAS AND SPRING CONCERTS, SINGING AND PLAYING INSTRUMENTS LIKE THE UKELELE AND PIANO. THE SCHOOLS THEATER CLUB PERFORMED ALICE IN WONDERLAND; EVERY STUDENT COMPETED IN THE GREEK GAMES; UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS RECEIVED TRAINING IN ETIQUETTE AND THE SOCIAL GRACES AT THE WINTER WONDER LUNCHEON; AND THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY VISITED THE OHIO THEATER TO SEE A BALLET PERFORMANCE OF THE NUTCRACKER. CCAS INAUGURAL YEAR CONCLUDED WITH A CLOSING CEREMONY AT WHICH AWARDS FOR VIRTUE AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCETHE GOALS OF A COLUMBUS CLASSICAL EDUCATIONWERE GIVEN TO DESERVING STUDENTS, INCLUDING THE THOMAS JEFFERSON AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP, AND THE GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD FOR INTEGRITY. IN AUGUST 2023, COLUMBUS CLASSICAL ACADEMY OPENED ITS DOORS TO 61 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8, PROVIDING A RIGOROUS, LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION USING HILLSDALE COLLEGES WORLD CLASS, K-12 CURRICULUM. NEARLY 300,000 IN TUITION ASSISTANCE WAS GIVEN TO FAMILIES IN NEED, WHILE APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET WENT TOWARD RETAINING CCAS EXCEPTIONAL FACULTY AND STAFF. INSTRUCTION IN THE ELEMENTARY GRADES UTILIZED THE SINGAPORE MATH CURRICULUM, EXPLICIT PHONICS, AND CLASSIC CHILDRENS LITERATURE. UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS CONDUCTED OVER 90 SCIENCE LABS, READ AND DISCUSSED GREAT LITERARY WORKS, AND LEARNED HISTORY, FROM THE ANCIENT TO THE MODERN ERA. MORE THAN 250 RECITATIONS OF CLASSIC POETRY AND GREAT SPEECHES WERE PERFORMED BY STUDENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. EVERY STUDENT RECEIVED INSTRUCTION IN THE FINE ARTS, CREATING WORKS OF THEIR OWN, AS WELL AS MIMICKING THOSE OF THE MASTERS LIKE VAN GOGH AND MATISSE. STUDENTS ALSO PUT ON CCAS INAUGURAL CHRISTMAS AND SPRING CONCERTS, SINGING AND PLAYING INSTRUMENTS LIKE THE UKELELE AND PIANO. THE SCHOOLS THEATER CLUB PERFORMED ALICE IN WONDERLAND; EVERY STUDENT COMPETED IN THE GREEK GAMES; UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS RECEIVED TRAINING IN ETIQUETTE AND THE SOCIAL GRACES AT THE WINTER WONDER LUNCHEON; AND THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY VISITED THE OHIO THEATER TO SEE A BALLET PERFORMANCE OF THE NUTCRACKER. CCAS INAUGURAL YEAR CONCLUDED WITH A CLOSING CEREMONY AT WHICH AWARDS FOR VIRTUE AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCETHE GOALS OF A COLUMBUS CLASSICAL EDUCATIONWERE GIVEN TO DESERVING STUDENTS, INCLUDING THE THOMAS JEFFERSON AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP, AND THE GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD FOR INTEGRITY.
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 September 2022.
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.