Chesterton Academy of St Philip Neri

What it reported doing in 2024

Chesterton Academy provides a classical education that is rooted in the Catholic faith. The students attend daily Mass, Catholic theology is integrated into each subject, and the classical curriculum is inspired by G.K. Chesterton's approach to faith and reason and St. Philip Neri's holy humor and responsiveness to his times. Conveniently located in the heart of Kansas City, Chesterton Academy of St. Philip Neri is located less than one block from Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. The academy's proximity to our Lady of Good Counsel allows students to assist at daily Mass within a stone's throw from the school. This newly acquired location includes ample classroom space, plentiful natural light, space for theatrical performances, a gymnasium, and much more. The school is run by a board of dedicated parents, educators, and community leaders. We hire excellent classical teachers from both a local and nationwide search who take the Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. We are part of the fast-growing Chesterton Schools Network founded by Dale Ahiquist and Tom Bengston of Minneapolis. Our goal is to form joyful, generous, and confident Catholic leaders prepared for life and mission in the modern world. Through our Three Pillars Model, we form our students in: intellect, character, and spirituality. Intellectually, we teach the classics of Western thought from physics to philosophy, and the interrelationship of the great ideas; teaching students not merely what to think but how to think. We build character by helping students grow in the four cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice, which we believe is the foundation of leadership. Spiritually, our students come to understand and embrace the truth of why they exist: to know God, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 58.9%; rating input score 59
• Program expense ratio: 66.1%; rating input score 66
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.52 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 4 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 44
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 11%; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.34; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 24.6%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 36% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 35% per year; rating input score 100; 94th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.7% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings