Overview
What is Polaris Charter Academy?
Polaris Charter Academy is a distinguished K-8 school situated in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Recognized for its rigorous and engaging approach to teaching and learning, the academy serves as an EL Education credentialed mentor school, fostering critical thinking and creativity among its students. Through learning expeditions, students tackle real-world problems related to social justice, applying academic standards to find complex solutions. This innovative methodology has garnered Polaris Charter Academy recognition at both the EL Education National Conference and the Hewlett Foundation's Deeper Learning Conference. The academy's mission is to cultivate self-motivated, creative, and critical thinkers, aiming to nurture lifelong learners and citizens with a strong sense of personal and civic responsibility. As a Level 1 school, Polaris Charter Academy boasts an impressive track record, with 8th-grade graduates transitioning successfully to top high schools in the city. In line with its 501(c)(3) status, Polaris Charter Academy is dedicated to organizing and operating a charter school in Chicago, Illinois, and engaging in other education-related activities. With a workforce of 82 employees, the academy has made a significant impact on national and international education, showcasing its innovative approach as an exemplary school model and featuring student work in the Harvard Graduate School of Education's online archive, "Models of Excellence."
Official website here: www.pcachicago.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Rating from Charity Navigator: 96%, Four-Star out of Four Star rating.
Polaris Charter Academy has earned a strong Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting its commitment to accountability and financial transparency. The organization scores exceptionally well with a 96% in Accountability & Finance, indicating rigorous oversight and management practices, which are crucial for building trust with donors and stakeholders.
The nonprofit demonstrates robust governance, with 90% of its board members being independent. This independence enhances decision-making processes and reduces conflicts of interest. Additionally, the organization has implemented essential policies, including conflict of interest and whistleblower protections, ensuring ethical conduct and accountability throughout its operations.
Financially, Polaris Charter Academy showcases a healthy balance between assets and liabilities, with only 3.39% liabilities to assets, and it allocates a commendable 86.25% of its expenses directly to programs. This focus on programmatic investment underscores its dedication to fulfilling its mission, although specifics on program outcomes or community impact were not detailed in the available data.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator.
Is Polaris Charter Academy legitimate?
Polaris Charter Academy is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Polaris Charter Academy submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.
Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:
Executive Compensation: $243,684
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $3,383,547
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: www.pcachicago.org
What is the mission statement of Polaris Charter Academy?
Polaris Charter Academy's mission is centered around educating students to become self-motivated, creative, and critical thinkers. The ultimate goal is to foster life-long learners and citizens with a strong sense of personal and civic responsibility. In addition to operating a charter school in Chicago, the academy engages in other educational activities permissible under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The academy is recognized for its rigorous and engaging approach to teaching and learning, showcasing its students' abilities in national and international conferences. Polaris Charter Academy has had a significant impact on education, with its students delivering keynote addresses at prominent events and teachers presenting their work worldwide. The academy is featured as an exemplary school model in various educational sources, including Paul Tough's book "Helping Children Succeed" and the Harvard Graduate School of Education's online archive "Models of Excellence."
Official website here: www.pcachicago.org
Who is the CEO of Polaris Charter Academy?
Michelle Navarre is the Head Of School/Member of Polaris Charter Academy.
Official website here: www.pcachicago.org
What is the revenue of Polaris Charter Academy?
Polaris Charter Academy's revenue in 2022 was $6,074,897.
Official website here: www.pcachicago.org
Who are the executives of Polaris Charter Academy and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at Polaris Charter Academy during 2022 was $44,235. There are 82 employees and 25 volunteers at Polaris Charter Academy.
Here are 11 key members and their salaries:
- Compensation: $187,983
- Related: $0
- Other: $41,788
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $105,443
- Related: $0
- Other: $28,331
- Compensation: $101,774
- Related: $0
- Other: $23,033
Official website here: www.pcachicago.org
Where can I find the form 990 for Polaris Charter Academy?
Polaris Charter Academy's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: www.pcachicago.org
Learn more at the official website: www.pcachicago.org
Mission Statement of Polaris Charter Academy
Polaris Charter Academy, as a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to educating its students to become self-motivated, creative, and critical thinkers. The ultimate goal of this institution is to foster lifelong learners and citizens with a strong sense of personal and civic responsibility. The mission of Polaris Charter Academy extends beyond its primary function of operating a charter school in Chicago, as it also engages in various education activities permitted under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Polaris Charter Academy is recognized for its rigorous and engaging approach to teaching and learning. As an EL Education credentialed mentor school, it encourages its students to engage in learning expeditions that connect academic standards to real-world problems related to social justice. This innovative approach has earned Polaris Charter Academy a broad impact on national and international education. Its students have delivered keynote addresses at prominent education conferences, and teachers and administrators have presented their work to thousands of educators both nationally and internationally.
Polaris Charter Academy is renowned for its high standards, as evidenced by its Level 1 status. Its eighth-grade graduates consistently transition to top high schools around the city, demonstrating the success of its educational approach. Polaris Charter Academy is also featured as an exemplary school model in Paul Tough's book "Helping Children Succeed," and its student work is showcased in the Harvard Graduate School of Education's online archive "Models of Excellence." The school's commitment to education and personal development has earned it recognition and respect in the field of education.
Shop smarter and support your favorite cause with the Give Freely browser extension. Save money with coupons and donate to charity with a single click. Download now!
Impact
July, 2024
Polaris Charter Academy's impact is significant and far-reaching. The school has established itself as a recognized leader in providing a rigorous and engaging approach to education in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. By focusing on developing self-motivated, creative, and critical thinkers, Polaris Charter Academy is shaping lifelong learners and responsible citizens with a strong sense of personal and civic duty.
Through their unique educational model, which includes learning expeditions that address real-world issues of social justice, Polaris Charter Academy has not only achieved academic success but has also influenced national and international education practices. Students have delivered keynote addresses at prestigious conferences, and the school's work has been highlighted in publications and online archives, showcasing its excellence in education.
Furthermore, Polaris Charter Academy's Level 1 rating demonstrates its commitment to high academic standards, ensuring that 8th-grade graduates successfully transition to top high schools around the city. Overall, the impact of Polaris Charter Academy extends beyond its immediate community, inspiring educators and students alike to strive for excellence in education and civic responsibility.
This information is meant to be a general summary of Polaris Charter Academy. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.
Financials
This financial information is from Propublica.
Other financial information:
This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2022.
- Investment Income: $302
- Program Service Revenue: $245,188
- Gross Receipts: $6,100,684
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $3,753,040
- Total Liabilities: $280,105
- Net Assets: $3,472,935
Want to help this charity, for free? You can click here to learn more about Give Freely
Programs
Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.
FOOD PROGRAM
Revenue
$230,450
STUDENT ACTIVITY FEES
Revenue
$14,738
Organization Details
Founding Year
2006
Phone
(773) 534-0820Principal Officer
Michelle Navarre
Main Address
620 NORTH SAWYER AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL, 60624
Website
www.pcachicago.orgNTEE Category
Code: B24 - Education
If you are a representative of Polaris Charter Academy and wish to learn more about how Give Freely can help you raise funds, please click here: https://givefreely.com/nonprofits/. Our services are offered at no cost to your organization.