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Maranatha High School

EIN 95-2401932 · Pasadena, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MARANATHA HIGH SCHOOL IS A CHRIST-CENTERED, EVANGELICAL COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL THAT CELEBRATES THE WHOLE STUDENT BY EQUIPPING HEARTS AND MINDS TO REFLECT GOD'S GLORY THROUGH ACADEMICS, AS WELL AS THE ARTS, ATHLETICS, AND SERVICE. WE ARE A CHRISTIAN COLLEGE-PREPARATORY SCHOOL OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER THAT DEVELOPS AND SUPPORTS STUDENTS AS THEY SEEK AND ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE IN THEIR DIVERSE INTERESTS AND PASSIONS.

Income
$20.9 million
Spending
$19.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-7.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
169
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$236,362, 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: 43 out of 100. Higher than 18% 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

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 44 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. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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. $16.2 million spent. MARANATHA HIGH SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1965 WITH A STARTING ENROLLMENT OF 29 STUDENTS AND HAS GROWN TO BE ONE OF THE AREA'S LEADING PRIVATE SCHOOLS. MARANATHA ENROLLED 570 STUDENTS IN 2024-25 (53% MALE & 47% FEMALE) FROM 83 DIFFERENT ZIP CODES, 157 DIFFERENT MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND 160 DIFFERENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH BACKGROUNDS. THE CAMPUS IS LOCATED ON THE FORMER AMBASSADOR COLLEGE CAMPUS JUST OFF THE 210 FREEWAY NEAR OLD TOWN PASADENA. MARANATHA FILLS A UNIQUE ROLE IN THE PASADENA AREA PRIVATE SCHOOL MARKET AS THE ONLY NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. THE OVERALL EDUCATIONAL GOAL IS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH A COLLEGE PREPARATORY EXPERIENCE WHILE INTEGRATING A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW IN AN INTENTIONALLY CHRIST-HONORING ENVIRONMENT. EXCELLENCE IS PURSUED ACROSS ALL AREAS OF THE SCHOOL RESULTING IN A DIVERSITY OF EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS AND THE ARTS. THE SCHOOL OFFERED 34 ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) AND HONORS COURSES IN 2024-25. 271 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN AP COURSES, AND 642 AP EXAMS WERE ADMINISTERED. THE STUDENT PASS RATE FOR AP EXAMS WAS 73% LAST YEAR. DURING 2024 MARANATHA RECEIVED HIGHEST LEVEL AWARD FROM THE COLLEGE BOARD FOR THE PLATINUM AP SCHOOL HONOR ROLL. ONLY 6% OF ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS RECEIVE THIS PLATINUM RECOGNITION. THE SCHOOL'S ATHLETIC PROGRAM FEATURES 37 TEAMS IN 20 SPORTS AND HAS WON A TOTAL OF 209 CIF LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS, 29 CIF CHAMPIONSHIPS AND 7 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. APPROXIMATELY 80% OF THE STUDENT BODY PARTICIPATES IN ATHLETICS EACH YEAR AND 25% OF SENIOR ATHLETES GO ON TO COMPETE AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL. THE SCHOOL'S ARTS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF BOTH VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS. ABOUT HALF OF THE STUDENT BODY PARTICIPATES IN THE VARIOUS ARTS OFFERINGS. VISUAL ART COURSES INCLUDE DRAWING, PAINTING, GRAPHIC ARTS AND PHOTOGRAPHY. PERFORMING ARTS INCLUDES ORCHESTRA, MIXED ENSEMBLE, MUSIC THEORY, DANCE TEAM, DANCE COMPANY AND THEATER TROUPE. EACH YEAR THERE ARE 4 MAJOR PERFORMANCES, OF WHICH 2 ARE THEATRICAL AND 2 ARE PERFORMING ART SHOWCASES. SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR OUR VISUAL ARTS PARTICIPANTS JOIN IN OR HOST ART FESTIVALS.

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 April 1966.

    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.

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.