Eastside Community School

What it reported doing in 2024

Grade School & Middle School - The key to education at Eastside Community School is balance: between students' practical knowledge and their creative enthusiasm; in a rich curriculum where challenging academics are integrated with arts, music, and movement; and where we ensure that learning happens naturally and rhythmically while helping develop students' skill and interest in a variety of subjects and activities. Subjects are made engaging and exciting by teachers skilled in oral storytelling and by integrating each subject with a variety of arts.Elementary School: Students don't merely absorb the subjects taught in the two-hour main lesson. Instead, they reach a deep understanding of each lesson by bringing it to life in books that they design, write, and illustrate about each subject. Day-to-day learning takes place in a non-competitive environment. Parents receive regular updates through parent-teacher conferences, written evaluations of student progress, and close relationships between teachers, students, and families. Teachers and students often progress together from first grade through the middle school years. Other specialty teachers add to the weekly rhythm by sharing their expertise in language instruction, music, handwork, and movement education.Middle School: The middle school years can be both full of anxiousness to explore the world or conversely, full of anxiousness to not be ready. We meet these transition years by seeking a balance between a comforting continuity from the lower grades and increased academic and artistic challenges. Students participate in multi-day trips such as biking, hiking, and kayaking, which bring hands-on experiences linked to the academic curriculum. In eighth grade, all students complete a comprehensive research project, complete with written report, artistic project, display, and oral presentation to the school community. This comprehensive approach to academics, the arts, and real-life activities prepares students well for the challenges of high school. And they take with them a healthy, inclusive approach to social relationships, as they refine their ability to work as a team and to respect each other's individuality.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 87.5%; rating input score 88
• Program expense ratio: 86%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: $462.22 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 96; 96th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 44th 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: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • 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: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -3%; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.21; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.81; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.1%; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 16.1% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 21.5% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 33.9% per year; rating input score 100; 95th percentile among comparable filings