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Oaks Christian School

EIN 95-4656912 · Westlake Vlg, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 53 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE SCHOOL'S MISSION IS: TO DEDICATE OURSELVES TO CHRIST IN THE PURSUIT OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, AND ATHLETIC DISTINCTION WHILE GROWING IN KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM THROUGH GOD'S ABUNDANT GRACE.

Income
$91.0 million
Spending
$86.7 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
723
Volunteers
375
Highest pay
$552,406, head of school/president

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: 39 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 53 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $68.1 million spent. PRIMARY EDUCATION PROGRAM OAKS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (OCS) IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-DENOMINATIONAL, CHRISTIAN COLLEGE-PREPARATORY SCHOOL SERVING STUDENTS IN 4TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE. THE SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1997 AND OPENED IN 2000 WITH 196 STUDENTS SHARING ONE CAMPUS. CURRENTLY, OCS ENROLLS OVER 1,600 STUDENTS ANNUALLY. A MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS ADJACENT TO THE ORIGINAL CAMPUS WAS ADDED IN 2009. ACADEMY V OR FIFTH GRADE WAS ADDED IN THE FALL OF 2014 AND THE FALL OF 2023 MARKED THE LAUNCH OF THE INAUGURAL FOURTH GRADE CLASS TO KICKSTART THE SCHOOL'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EXPANSION. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDED ON JUNE 30, 2025 THE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT WAS 1,690. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE SCHOOL'S THREE PILLARS ARE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND ATHLETIC DISTINCTION. THESE DISTINCTIVES ARE EVIDENCED THROUGH STRONG ACADEMICS, PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS (THEATRE, CHOIR, BAND, ORCHESTRA, DANCE, 2D AND 3D ART, PHOTOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC DESIGN AND YEARBOOK) AS WELL AS COMPETITIVE ATHLETIC TEAM PARTICIPATION. THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR MARKED THE SCHOOL'S 25TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND A SPECIAL FOUNDERS' DAY CHAPEL CELEBRATION WAS HELD THAT WELCOMED BACK MANY OF ITS ORIGINAL ADMINISTRATORS AND ALUMNI. A HISTORY VIDEO OF OCS MILESTONES FEATURING THE EARLY PIONEERS WHO BUILT OAKS CHRISTIAN WAS SHARED, AS WELL AS A MESSAGE FROM CO-FOUNDER DALLAS PRICE-VAN BREDA WHO WAS HONORED ON STAGE. THE CHAPEL HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE SCHOOL'S MEANINGFUL MOMENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PAST 25 YEARS.ACADEMICS IN 24-25 SAW THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE SCHOOL'S FIFTH AND NEWEST INSTITUTE - THE INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SCIENCE. STUDENTS IN THE INSTITUTE STARTED TAKING INTRODUCTORY HEALTH CLASSES THE PRIOR YEAR AND WORKING WITH THE ANATOMAGE TABLE, BUT THIS YEAR SAW A BIG RAMP UP OF THE PROGRAM WITH STUDENTS INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WINNING HEALTH KNOWLEDGE COMPETITIONS. THE SCHOOL ALSO HOSTED THE CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RONALD REAGAN DEBATE SERIES ON CAMPUS WELCOMING 50 DEBATERS FROM ACROSS THE REGION WHERE OCS STUDENT LUCA ROSEN WON THE TOURNAMENT AND EARNED THE TITLE OF RONALD REAGAN FOUNDATION REGIONAL DEBATE CHAMPION. THE CLASS OF 2025 WAS THE LARGEST SENIOR CLASS IN OCS HISTORY WITH 296 GRADUATES WITH 90% ATTENDING A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE AND 40% ADMITTED TO HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGES. THERE ARE ALSO 55 ATHLETES COMPETING AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL, 58 GOING INTO STEM FIELDS, 33 NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERS, AND 27 PURSUING ART MAJORS.IN ARTS, THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR INCLUDE THE HS MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF BYE BYE BIRDIE, MS MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF NEWSIES, JR., VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS TRIPS OVER SPRING BREAK TO JAPAN AND ESWATINI, AFRICA. THE SEVENTH ANNUAL OAKS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL FILM FESTIVAL WAS HELD THIS YEAR AT THE REGAL THEATER IN THOUSAND OAKS AND WITH OVER 30 FILMS SCREENED, THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL SHOWCASED THE INCREDIBLE TALENT, CREATIVITY, AND STORYTELLING SKILLS OF STUDENT FILMMAKERS IN THE OCS INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND INNOVATION.SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 24-25 INCLUDES THE GIRLS WATER POLO WINNING THE CIF-SS OPEN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP, BOYS TENNIS WINNING THE MARMONTE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP, BOYS GOLF WINNING CIF-SS DIVISION 2 CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE SCHOOL'S 60TH CIF-SS TEAM TITLE. AND LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, THE 2025 SEASON WAS A BIG YEAR FOR THE OCS CROSS COUNTRY PROGRAM WITH TWO HISTORIC WINS - THEIR FIRST CIF TITLE IN NOVEMBER, FOLLOWED BY A STATE CROWN, THE EIGHTH OVERALL STATE TITLE IN SCHOOL HISTORY.
  2. $3.3 million spent. AUXILIARY PROGRAMSAUXILIARY PROGRAMS INCLUDE SUMMER SPORT CAMPS (WITH AN ENROLLMENT OF OVER 1,000 CAMPERS), BUSING TRANSPORTATION, A MIDDLE SCHOOL CAFETERIA, A HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA, AND CAMPUS STORE SERVICES.
  3. $2.9 million spent. STUDENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THE SCHOOL'S ADDED STUDENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PERFORMING ARTS EVENTS AS WELL AS VISUAL ARTS DISPLAYS, ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS, SPIRITUAL LIFE/MISSION TRIP OPPORTUNITIES, COLLEGE COUNSELING TRIPS, TEST PREPARATION, PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS LOCATION TRIPS AND NUMEROUS CLUB, SOCIAL AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. OCS STUDENTS HAVE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL SERVICE AND ACADEMIC TRIPS BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONALLY. EACH YEAR APPROXIMATELY 200 STUDENTS JOIN THESE TRIPS TO HELP TEACH ENGLISH, BUILD HOUSES OR OTHER STRUCTURES, VISIT ORPHANAGES AND SHARE THE GOSPEL. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE. O)IN THE PAST, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE TRAVELED TO COSTA RICA, CHINA AND MEXICO WHILE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE TRAVELED TO CHINA, GUATEMALA, AFRICA, HAITI, MEXICO, ROMANIA AND ELSEWHERE. THE RESIDENTIAL LIFE PROGRAM HAS SIGNIFICANTLY GROWN IN PAST FEW YEARS AND HAS HOSTED OVER 100 STUDENTS FROM KOREA, CHINA, MACAU, TAIWAN, UGANDA, NORWAY, AND COLOMBIA. THE OCS RESIDENTIAL BOARDING FACILITY OPENED ON AUGUST 2020 WITH 40 STUDENTS MAKING HISTORY AS THE VERY FIRST RESIDENTS OF THE STATE-OF-THE-ART DORM. THE PROGRAM HOSTS STUDENTS FROM 17 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING FROM EUROPE, ASIA AND SOUTH AMERICA.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.