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Le Jardin Academy Inc

EIN 99-0146978 · Kailua, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CULTIVATE A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS WHO EMBRACE HANA PONO TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE WORLD.

Income
$29.4 million
Spending
$30.1 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
430
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$543,069, 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.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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: 93 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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. $21.9 million spent. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1961 , THE ACADEMY HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL PRESCHOOL TO A TWO-CAMPUS, PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12 LEARNING INSTITUTION. THE ACADEMY IS CHARACTERIZED BY ITS COMMITMENT TO GROWTH, EXTRAORDINARY LEARNING EXPERIENCES, AND A STRONG, INTERCONNECTED COMMUNITY. THE ACADEMY'S VALUES ARE TO: (1) HONOR INDIVIDUAL PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS, (2) STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE,(3) INNOVATE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE, (4) SERVE PEACE, AND (5) NURTURE RELATIONSHIPS AND RESOURCES.THE ACADEMY'S DISTINCTIVE LEARNING MODEL EMBRACES IB FOUNDATIONAL VALUES AND ACADEMIC RIGOR AS PART OF ITS MULTIFACETED EDUCATIONAL FRAMEWORK AND PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH A CONTINUUM OF EDUCATION, CONSISTING OF THREE PROGRAMS (PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAM, MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAM, DIPLOMA PROGRAM) UNITED BY THE IB PHILOSOPHY.THE PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE BOTH PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE DIPLOMA PROGRAM CULMINATES IN THE IB DIPLOMA. AS A GLOBAL CITIZEN'S DIPLOMA CONSORTIUM SCHOOL, THE ACADEMY'S STUDENTS ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EARN THE GLOBAL CITIZEN'S DIPLOMA.THE ACADEMY'S EMPHASIS ON INQUIRY, SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING, AND DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION PROMOTE LIFELONG LEARNING WHILE THE PRACTICE OF THINKING, SOCIAL COMMUNICATION, RESEARCH, AND SELF-MANAGEMENT SKILLS PREPARES STUDENTS FOR THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE 21ST CENTURY. THE ACADEMY IS A MEMBER OF THE HAWAII ASSOCIATION FOR INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (HAIS) AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (NAIS), AND IS ACCREDITED BY THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES (WASC).
  2. $3.9 million spent. LE JARDIN ACADEMY PROVIDES TUITION ASSISTANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 170 STUDENTS WITH AVERAGE AWARD OF OVER $6,000. THESE AWARDS GENERALLY RANGE FROM 10% TO 100% OF NEED. THE AMOUNT OF TUITION ASSISTANCE DEPENDS UPON A FAMILY'S INCOME, ASSETS, NUMBER OF DEPENDENTS, NUMBER OF CHILDREN ATTENDING AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL, LIVING EXPENSES, TAXES, MEDICAL EXPENSES, PERSONAL INDEBTEDNESS, AND ANY EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES. THE ASSETS AND EARNING OF BOTH PARENTS WILL BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING AWARD AMOUNTS. TUITION ASSISTANCE GRANTS ARE MADE ON THE BASIS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND ARE CONSISTENT WITH ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES.

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 February 1972.

    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.