Whittier Christian High School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 77 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
CHRIST-CENTERED ACADEMIC COMMUNITY WHERE STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT, INSPIRED, AND PREPARED TO BE CRITICAL THINKERS AND AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANS, EQUIPPING THEM TO HONOR GOD THROUGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, HUMBLE SERVICE, AND COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP.
- Income
- $10.6 million
- Spending
- $11.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 89%
- Employees
- 139
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $249,789, head of school
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: 34 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 60% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 77 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: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
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 (3)
- $4.9 million spent. LEADERSHIP AND INFLUENCE OF FACULTY AND STAFFAT WCHS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE KEY TO EQUIPPING THE MINDS AND SPIRITS OF OUR STUDENTS LIES IN THEIR REGULAR ENGAGEMENT WITH TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS WHO AUTHENTICALLY LIVE OUT THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST ON A DAILY BASIS.WE ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO ATTRACT AND DEVELOP STAFF WHO ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE MISSION OF WCHS. EACH MEMBER OF OUR TEAM IS NOT ONLY A PERSON OF CHARACTER, DEVOTED TO LOVING GOD AND SEEKING THE BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT ALSO POSSESSES EXPERTISE IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELD AND THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE CREATIVELY AND EFFECTIVELY BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. THE RESULTS OF OUR INVESTMENT ARE EVIDENT IN OUR STUDENT BODY, WHICH IS INCREASINGLY GROWING IN THEIR FAITH AND TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THEIR BELIEFS. THEY ALSO DEMONSTRATE EXCELLENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT ACROSS VARIOUS ACADEMIC AREAS. AS A 1:1 HIGH SCHOOL, WITH EACH STUDENT UTILIZING AN IPAD AND FACULTY LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY CREATIVELY AND EFFECTIVELY IN THE CLASSROOM, WE EMBRACE INNOVATION TO ENHANCE LEARNING EXPERIENCES.DESPITE OUR SCHOOL'S DIVERSITY IN MANY AREAS, 99% OF OUR GRADUATES ATTEND A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. FURTHERMORE, GRADUATES OF OUR ALPHA HONORS PROGRAM OFTEN ENTER COLLEGES AS SOPHOMORES DUE TO THE ADVANCED CLASSES TAKEN AND CREDITS ACHIEVED. OUR BROAD RANGE OF COURSE OFFERINGS, MEANINGFUL WEEKLY CHAPEL SESSIONS ATTENDED BY ALL STUDENTS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT SERVICE COLLECTIVELY PREPARE GRADUATES FOR THE CHALLENGES THEY WILL ENCOUNTER AND EMPOWER THEM TO BRING GLORY TO GOD IN THEIR ENDEAVORS TO IMPACT THE WORLD.
- $2.0 million spent. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT WCHSAT WCHS, WE BELIEVE IN NURTURING MORE THAN JUST ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE; WE PROVIDE A VIBRANT PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN A DIVERSE RANGE OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITES.ATHLETICS: OUR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES BENEFIT IMMENSELY FROM THE MENTORING AND TRAINING PROVIDED BY COACHES WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT BOTH THEIR SPORT AND THE HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STUDENTS. WHETHER PARTICIPATING IN OUR BOYS OR GIRLS' SPORTS TEAMS, OR AS MEMBERS OF OUR CHEER TEAM, STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO EMBODY DRIVE, DISCIPLINE, AND CHARACTER THROUGH ATHLETIC COMPETITION. WHILE LEAGUE AND CIF CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE PART OF THE WCHS EXPERIENCE, EVERY STUDENT, REGARDLESS OF SUCCESS LEVEL, LEARNS VALUABLE LESSONS FROM TEAM SPORTS.FINE ARTS: IN OUR BELIEF THAT EVERY STUDENT'S GOD-GIVEN GIFTS CAN GLORIFY GOD, THE FINE ARTS PROGRAM AT WCHS THRIVES. STUDENTS ENGAGE IN VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC EXPERIENCES, PROVIDING THEM WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS AND GAIN PERSONAL CONFIDENCE THROUGH PERFORMANCES. ADDITIONALLY, OUR VISUAL ARTS AND DANCE PROGRAMS, BOTH IN THE CLASSROOM AND OUTSIDE VENUES, ALLOW STUDENTS TO EXPLORE AND REFINE THEIR ARTISTIC ABILITIES.THEATER ARTS: WCHS BOASTS A DYNAMIC THEATER ARTS PROGRAM WHERE STUDENTS COMBINE ACTING, VOICE, AND MUSICAL TALENTS IN A VARIETY OF THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS. THIS PROGRAM NOT ONLY HONES THEIR ARTISTIC SKILLS BUT ALSO FOSTERS TEAMWORK AND CREATIVITY.THE RESULT OF OUR SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IS GRADUATES WHO ARE NOT ONLY ACADEMICALLY PREPARED BUT ALSO POSSESS THE CHARACTER AND MATURITY CULTIVATED THROUGH THEIR DIVERSE INTERESTS AND PARTICIPATION AT WCHS.
- $1.6 million spent. FINANCIAL AIDOUR GOAL AT WCHS IS NOT ONLY TO SUSTAIN BUT ALSO TO BUILD UPON OUR INSTITUTION, MAINTAINING A GENEROUS SPIRIT AND ENSURING THAT THE DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY REMAIN WIDE OPEN FOR ALL STUDENTS THROUGH FINANCIAL AID. WE UNDERSTAND THAT FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS CAN OFTEN BE A BARRIER TO ENROLLMENT. TO ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A FORMAL FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM AIMED PRIMARILY AT ASSISTING FAMILIES BASED ON THEIR DEMONSTRATED NEED.EACH FAMILY INTERESTED IN FINANCIAL AID SUBMITS THEIR FINANCIAL INFORMATION WHICH IS REVIEWED BY A FINANCIAL AID COMMITTEE. RECOMMENDATIONS AND DECISIONS ARE MADE AND AWARDS ARE GRANTED TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES.WCHS PROVIDES FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE TO 50% OF THE STUDENT BODY, ALLOWING HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS TO EMBARK ON THEIR TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY AT WCHS.THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR DONORS AND THE COMMITMENT OF OUR PARENTS TO FULFILL THEIR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS, WCHS HAS BEEN ABLE TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES OF STUDENTS WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE MEANS TO ENROLL.
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 1959.
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.