Crown Leadership Academy Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Crown began when a group of educators, parents, and business leaders came together with a shared dream: to create a learning environment that would challenge students to become critical thinkers, and leaders equipped to influence their communities and the world. We envisioned a culture that nurtured within students a genuine love for people, creative expression, and wisdom and integrity.That dream took shape when seven students and two teachers pioneered Crown Leadership Academy in a one-room schoolhouse tucked inside an office building on Coleman Boulevard in Mt. Pleasant, SC. As the academy grew, we spent two years at Holy Cross on Sullivan's Island before moving into one of our current campuses on Long Point Drive, in Mt. Pleasant.In 2019, Crown expanded its reach by opening our North Charleston campus at North Palm Community Church, extending our mission and welcoming a new group of students and families into the Crown community.Project Based LearningNurturing originality is inherent in every aspect of teaching and learning at Crown. Our teachers are passionate about presenting creative and individualized information to students. We encourage everyone at Crown to express creativity in their assignments. Students who think for themselves and have curious minds will exercise these gifts and fulfill their highest goals.Team multi-disciplinary projects require accessing all available resources, encouraging introspection and communication, and accepting personal and group responsibility. Teachers evaluate these projects not just on the content students learn, but the skills they hone to work in teams as adults. Conflict resolution is built as peers navigate how to work together. We realize that this is a difficult skill for many young people, but we feel it is crucial in our students' future success.We use SC State Educational Standards as the outline of what is covered in academic classes throughout every grade level. Class discussions and "driving questions" shape the direction that students run in order to learn academic material, while also growing in practical skills. Students show mastery of material through project evaluation, presentation, classroom participation and assignments. Traditional print textbooks rarely drive the learning at Crown; however, we do use the following textbooks in math and in language arts: Math Teaching Textbooks , McRuffy Math; CK12 Language Arts McRuffy.Executive Functioning SkillsWorkload ManagementWe aim for our students to be individuals who experience a balanced life that includes time with family and participation in sporting, artistic and community events that contribute to their growth. Our students manage their time at school wisely so that they rarely have homework. Each student has scheduled time daily to work on independent assignments with peers and teachers.ScheduleStudents attend academic classes Monday through Thursday, from 9:00am to 3:15pm. If a student completes his or her schoolwork by Thursday at 2:00, Friday attendance is not required. Each morning begins with Prayer, Worship, and our School Meeting where we discuss issues affecting our school, community and world. Generally, we take a one week break following each quarter. In addition, Crown allows distance-learning arrangements to accommodate family travels and other out-of-town experiences, when coordinated with teachers in advance.EnrichmentCrown students are encouraged to explore special interests outside the classroom. Fridays are wonderful opportunities for volunteering, hobbies, and extra-curricular lessons. High School students may earn credit by meeting with our Guidance Counselor prior to the experience for approval and then presenting upon completion. Our students have participated in sailing training, art lessons, internships, photography classes, business entrepreneurship, and travel. New Mount Pleasant Campus 2025-2026Crown Leadership Academy is finalizing preparations for the 2025-2026 school year in its ne

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 50.2%; rating input score 50
• Program expense ratio: 84.1%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $12.1 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 44; 44th 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; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 71.4%; rating input score 71; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • 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: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 40.5%; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.62; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.2; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.4%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 11.4% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 16.6% per year; rating input score 100; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 37% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings