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Odyssey Charter Schools

EIN 95-4753574 · Altadena, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION IS TO DEVELOP STUDENTS WHO ARE ACTIVE IN THEIR LEARNING, AWARE OF THEIR INTERESTS, AND WHO SEEK TO EXPAND AND EXPLORE THEIR KNOWLEDGE THROUGH DYNAMIC COLLABORATION WITH PEERS, TEACHERS, AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY.

Income
$13.8 million
Spending
$12.4 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 86%
Employees
108
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$189,386, executive director

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% 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

    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 (2)
  1. $9.1 million spent. OPERATION OF TWO (2) PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS: ODYSSEY CHARTER AND OCS - SOUTH. ODYSSEY CHARTER SERVED STUDENTS IN GRADES K TO 8 AND OCS - SOUTH SERVED STUDENTS IN GRADES TK (TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN) TO 7. THE SCHOOL SITES ARE LOCATED IN THE ALTADENA COMMUNITY WITHIN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THE UNIQUE SCHOOL DESIGN EMBRACES THE INDIVIDUAL AND VARIED LEARNING STYLES OF ALL STUDENTS AND IS TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO LEARN BEST BY DOING. IN OUR CLASSROOMS, STUDENTS EXPERIENCE LEARNING IN BOTH TRADITIONAL AND INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT BLEND A MULTITUDE OF CONTENT SOURCES, LEARNING MODALITIES, INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES, AND PEDAGOGIES.
  2. $518,258 spent. IN JANUARY 2025, THE EATON FIRE IN THE LOS ANGELES REGION DIRECTLY IMPACTED THE ORGANIZATION, SPECIFICALLY THE SCHOOL CAMPUS FOR OCS-SOUTH LOCATED IN PASADENA. THE FIRE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT FACILITY DAMAGE AND EXTENDED DISRUPTION TO EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. THE FIRE LED TO A PROLONGED CLOSURE, DISPLACEMENT OF STUDENTS AND STAFF, AND SUBSTANTIAL COSTS RELATED TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE, TEMPORARY RELOCATION, AND INSTRUCTIONAL CONTINUITY. THE ORGANIZATION INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL COSTS RELATED TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE, FACILITY RESTORATION, AND CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS. INSURANCE PROCEEDS ARE EXPECTED TO PARTIALLY OFFSET SOME OF THESE EXPENSES. MANAGEMENT CONTINUES TO ASSESS THE LONG-TERM OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THIS SIGNIFICANT EVENT.

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 May 2003.

    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.