Creative Minds International Public Charter School

What it reported doing in 2024

Established in 2012, creative minds international public charter school strikes a unique balance in education by taking a global approach to learning while always maintaining focus and attention on the development of the individual student. Creative minds encourages and respects individuality. Our teaching and administration staff support our students to build on their strengths and talents. Through the lens of our international curriculum, our students in preschool through 8th grade gain an understanding of, and an appreciation and respect for, differences of all kinds, making them confident, culturally aware individuals capable of succeeding in a diverse and global society. In 2017, creative minds became the first school in the united states to achieve accreditation in the international primary curriculum (ipc) and began using the international middle years curriculum (imyc). International early years curriculum (ipc): in kindergarten through fourth grade, the international primary curriculum provides a rigorous, thematic teaching structure designed to engage children of all abilities in being creative thinkers and problem-solvers in a globalized world. Instructional units combine core academic subjects, science, social studies, and the arts. The curriculum is designed so that students do the following: - acquire the essential knowledge, skills, and understanding of a broad range of subjects. - engage with their learning through positive experiences, so they remain committed to learning throughout their lives. - develop the personal qualities they need to be good, contributing citizens. - develop a sense of their nationality and culture, and at the same time, develop respect for the nationalities and cultures of others. International middle years curriculum (imyc) the imyc process of learning creates opportunities to connect learning and develop a personal perspective, work with peers, take risks in a safe environment, and become confident, independent, and engaged learners. Learning with the imyc follows six-week units based on a conceptual idea or theme called the big idea. Students link the learning in their different subjects through this big idea and analyze what they are learning from personal, interpersonal, and global perspectives. All creative minds students in kindergarten through eighth-grade study common core standards-based english language arts and mathematics. In addition to arts integration in our academic subjects through ipc and imyc, we provide our students with music, movement, and visual arts during the school day. Global language classes in spanish and mandarin are provided to all students through eighth grade exposing them to both language and culture. Technology is an integrated part of our curricula. The ipc and imyc clearly define learning goals that describe the knowledge, skills, and understanding students should have in information and communication technology. Students build skills in information and communications technology through hands-on projects that are part of the ipc and imyc. Technology is used to communicate, connect, and hone critical thinking. Extended creative day creative minds boasts a dynamic and inclusive extended creative day program that includes a wide array of clubs, sports, and other activities. The objective of the programming is to offer enriching, discovery-based activities that complement and support the schools mission and allow students to pursue their talents and interests. The clubs include girls who code, debate, student government, basketball, and more. At creative minds, we know that for our students to be ready to participate in a global society, they require more than academic skills. They need strong social and emotional intelligence to navigate an increasingly diverse, global society. Personal goals creative minds teaches and explores the personal goals and dispositions emphasized in the ieyc, ipc, and imyc. We thoughtfully create developmentally appropriate

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 93%; rating input score 93
• Program expense ratio: 87.3%; rating input score 87
• Fundraising efficiency: $14.96 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd 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; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -7.4%; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.08; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.92; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.3%; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 12.8% per year; rating input score 100; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 13.5% per year; rating input score 100; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 23.6% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings