The Maya Angelou Public Charter School

What it reported doing in 2024

The primary mission of the maya angelou public charter school is to create learning communities in lower income urban areas where all students, particularly those who have not succeeded in traditional schools, can reach their potential and prepare for college, career, and a lifetime of success. At maya angelou, students develop the academic, social, and employment skills they need to build rewarding lives and promote positive change. The maya angelou public charter high school and the young adult learning center provide a comprehensive education in a non-traditional setting to all students including those who have not been successful in their educational experiences. This is achieved through a demanding academic program, socio-emotional learning support, and tiered interventions that focus on the whole child. Students leave with a foundation to be successful in their pursuit of education and careers. Founded in 1997, the see forever foundation was created to offer a holistic program to teens involved in the juvenile justice system. At that time, court-involved teens told the organizations co-founders that they wanted to earn money, learn marketable skills, and gain responsibility. When they returned to school, they also wanted to attend small classes with teachers who cared about them, and they wanted help making hard decisions. The maya angelou school opened its doors in 1997 as a comprehensive program for 20 teens, all of whom were committed to the dc department of youth and rehabilitation services or were on probation. The charter school grew each year, as students from all over the city and from all sorts of academic backgrounds actively sought admission. Some of these young people were out of school, some were doing poorly in traditional school settings and heard about the one-on-one support offered to students, and others were referred by governmental agencies. Nearly all of the students are years behind grade level academically, many have special needs, and most have experienced significant trauma at some point in their lives. At the maya angelou charter school, the aim is to provide these students with the best education they have ever had. To meet the needs of the growing student population, particularly in the ward 7 and ward 8 areas of the district of columbia, in september 2004 the see forever foundation opened a second campus of the maya angelou public charter school in partnership with the district of columbia public schools. The second campus, located in the former dcps evans middle school, is located in the 5600 block of east capitol street, ne. In 2010, maya angelou established a young adult learning center (yalc), which opened in fall 2012. The purpose of the adult program is to provide academic and workforce development to older youth/young adults, ages 17-24, who do not have a high school credential, and particularly those transitioning from incarceration. These adult students work toward attaining their ged and can also pursue vocational certifications and participate in work programs. Maya angelou offers a residential program to select students. The residential program provides single sex homes (two males, three females) to students who benefit from the stability of a safe, supportive, and structured environment. Each home is staffed by a residential counselor.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 83.3%; rating input score 83
• Program expense ratio: 91.5%; rating input score 92
• Fundraising efficiency: $16.87 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• 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: 7.1%; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.72; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.37; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.8% per year; rating input score 100; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.7% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 13.3% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings