Dream Charter School

What it reported doing in 2024

Program a: elementary school: founded in 2008, dream's unique grow the whole child education model is powered by four distinct, yet interconnected, elements that drive transformative change for youth. Rigorous academics; social-emotional learning; athletics, health, and wellness; and family and community engagement are all equal, crucial parts of the everyday at dream. Elementary scholars in grades k-5 receive extensive support with two teachers in the classroom so that scholars at all levels are able to learn and thrive in a positive environment. Our elementary school curriculum ranges from literacy and math to the arts and physical education. Scholars also have access to dream's award-winning after-school and summer program called real kids. Program b: middle school: dream middle schools serve scholars in grades 6-8. Using a whole child approach and constructivist curriculum, our middle schools prepare students for high performing high schools. Scholars study the fundamentals of math, science, social studies, english language arts, and physical education. Scholars also participate in a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities such as sports, art, music, debate, coding, and more. Middle school scholars also participate in dreambuilders, an optional after-school enrichment program which involves academic support, team building activities, service-learning projects, and health and wellness activities. Dream operates on an extended-day and extended-year model to ensure students have enough opportunities to grow after school and during the summers.program c: high school: dream charter high school prepares students for college and beyond by developing critical literacy skills needed for their success as professionals and as agents of social change. We serve over 400 scholars in grades 9-12. At dchs, students have access to ap courses, one-on-one college counseling, free afterschool activities and sports such as debate club, basketball, and student government, and summer jobs. Throughout their time at dream, students assemble a portfolio of college-level performance assessments. This portfolio is representative of students' ability to learn, apply, and reflect across all disciplines. In their defenses of learning, students present and defend their portfolio as a capstone activity and rite of passage. As a result, dchs graduates are both highly skilled and critically conscious and every day, they're out in the world making a difference.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 89.1%; rating input score 89
• Program expense ratio: 80%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $14.04 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th 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; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -11.3%; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.25; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.01; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1.2%; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 20.4% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 18.8% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 33.2% per year; rating input score 100; 98th percentile among comparable filings