Delaware County Christian School Society 
The information on this page was last updated 1/16/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Delaware County Christian School is a co-ed, independent, interdenominational college prep Christian day school located in Newtown Square, PA.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Delaware County Christian School
462 Malin Road
Newtown Square, PA 19073
Website: dccs.org
Phone: 610-353-6522
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 231367719
CEO/President: Daniel Steinfield
Chairman: Megan Daly King
Board size: 13
Founder: small group of parents
Ruling year: 1954
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2003
Purpose
Vision: Delaware County Christian School (DC) is an exemplary educational institution in the greater Philadelphia area, providing a comprehensive PreK-12 college preparatory education that is grounded in the Word of God. Firmly rooted in Christian community, DC seeks to continue building rigorous, innovative programs in academics, the arts and athletics. The school provides students a liberal arts education, engaging the mind and body as well as developing leaders who are equipped to impact the world for Christ. Moreover, DC aspires to be an institutional leader and model for schools both nationwide and globally.
Mission statement
The Mission of DC is: To educate students who will serve God and impact the world through biblical thought and action.
Statement of faith
The following statement of faith was adopted in 1950 and has not been changed in the school's history. We believe these to be core Christian doctrines. Parents must indicate their agreement with this statement when completing the application form.
The basis of faith shall be the Word of God as interpreted by the following:
We believe that the Bible, made up of 66 books, verbally inspired, and free from error in doctrine, fact, and ethic, i.e., inerrant, is the Word of God and the only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice.
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existent in three co-equal persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal and physical return in power and glory.
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that through sin, he brought upon himself and his posterity not only physical death, but also spiritual death which is separation from God; that all human beings by physical birth possess a sinful nature and are therefore actual sinners in thought, word, and deed; and that man, as such, is condemned to hell and utterly unable to remedy his lost condition by himself or by ecclesiastical rite.
We believe that the salvation of lost and sinful man is a free gift of God's grace apart from works, based solely upon Christ's vicarious and atoning death, effected by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, and received by trusting in Christ's finished work on the cross.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by Whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost -- they that are saved to the resurrection of life and they that are lost to the resurrection of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: K-12 Schools/Academies
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 509 of 1074 | 38 of 48 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 122 of 1075 | 19 of 48 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 489 of 1075 | 29 of 48 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 957 of 1074 | 48 of 48 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 12% | 9% | 17% | 11% | 23% | 10% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 15% | 24% | 17% | 25% | 13% | 20% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 85% | 76% | 83% | 75% | 87% | 80% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 81% | 82% | 81% | 79% | 82% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 95% | 96% | 94% | 82% | 101% | 94% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 75% | 77% | 78% | 67% | 80% | 77% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 5% | 4% | 6% | 18% | -1% | 6% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 5% | 2% | 2% | 9% | -1% | 3% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 17% | 15% | 16% | 18% | 16% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.44 | 0.33 | 0.34 | 0.35 | 0.39 | 0.39 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.21 | 8.52 | 12.66 | 7.60 | 14.00 | 16.03 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.64 | 2.81 | 4.29 | 2.68 | 5.49 | 6.30 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 3.43 | 2.10 | 1.21 | 1.81 | 1.01 | 0.91 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.29 | 0.48 | 0.82 | 0.55 | 0.99 | 1.10 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.98 | 2.24 | 0.49 | 2.01 | 0.03 | -0.19 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 35% | 16% | 15% | 16% | 17% | 18% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 16% | 11% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 11% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 136% | 254% | 251% | 237% | 211% | 209% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $3,993,797 | $2,704,268 | $4,510,801 | $2,202,716 | $1,845,343 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $422,275 | $117,929 | $225,751 | $183,851 | $233,583 |
| Short-term investments | $44,635 | $43,458 | $42,247 | $41,141 | $40,002 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $4,460,707 | $2,865,655 | $4,778,799 | $2,427,708 | $2,118,928 |
| Long-term investments | $6,006,694 | $5,979,531 | $6,131,816 | $6,015,019 | $5,690,123 |
| Fixed assets | $27,509,700 | $27,389,428 | $25,370,688 | $25,527,078 | $26,110,522 |
| Other long-term assets | $19,495 | $35,895 | $26,495 | $23,395 | $36,435 |
| Total long-term assets | $33,535,889 | $33,404,854 | $31,528,999 | $31,565,492 | $31,837,080 |
| Total assets | $37,996,596 | $36,270,509 | $36,307,798 | $33,993,200 | $33,956,008 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $986,801 | $891,583 | $948,159 | $960,692 | $884,608 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,138,396 | $1,467,587 | $1,689,239 | $1,436,260 | $1,447,062 |
| Total current liabilities | $2,125,197 | $2,359,170 | $2,637,398 | $2,396,952 | $2,331,670 |
| Debt | $4,077,106 | $3,001,495 | $3,227,591 | $3,457,244 | $3,675,265 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $6,893 | $12,214 | $17,564 | $22,904 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $4,077,106 | $3,008,388 | $3,239,805 | $3,474,808 | $3,698,169 |
| Total liabilities | $6,202,303 | $5,367,558 | $5,877,203 | $5,871,760 | $6,029,839 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $25,067,591 | $24,958,521 | $22,303,386 | $22,501,006 | $22,661,467 |
| With donor restrictions | $6,726,702 | $5,944,430 | $8,127,209 | $5,620,434 | $5,264,702 |
| Net assets | $31,794,293 | $30,902,951 | $30,430,595 | $28,121,440 | $27,926,169 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $3,163,218 | $2,272,618 | $3,859,872 | $1,682,618 | $2,823,015 |
| Program service revenue | $9,785,068 | $10,148,690 | $10,567,577 | $10,903,743 | $10,910,885 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $17,153 | $469,138 | $889,318 | $290,707 | $225,769 |
| Other revenue | $136,488 | $153,272 | $250,905 | $266,070 | $301,075 |
| Total other revenue | $9,938,709 | $10,771,100 | $11,707,800 | $11,460,520 | $11,437,729 |
| Total revenue | $13,101,927 | $13,043,718 | $15,567,672 | $13,143,138 | $14,260,744 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $10,117,565 | $10,127,647 | $10,373,961 | $10,549,977 | $10,929,499 |
| Management and general | $2,116,722 | $1,795,467 | $2,006,508 | $2,389,887 | $2,121,394 |
| Fundraising | $298,232 | $378,124 | $433,082 | $392,854 | $290,189 |
| Total expenses | $12,532,519 | $12,301,238 | $12,813,551 | $13,332,718 | $13,341,082 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $569,408 | $742,480 | $2,754,121 | ($189,580) | $919,662 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $569,408 | $742,480 | $2,754,121 | ($189,580) | $919,662 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Laura Penley | Chief Financial Officer | $140,217 |
| George McFarland | Interim Head of School (part year) | $117,673 |
| Dan Steinfield | Head of School | $85,518 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2020
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 1/16/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In 1949, a small group of parents gathered together with the shared conviction that God wanted to raise up a school where children and young people would be educated in "the fear of the Lord." Throughout the year, these visionary parents gathered weekly to pray for God's direction and seek His provision in making Christ-centered education the key to knowledge.
On November 4, 1949 with $44.87 in the treasury, the Christian School Association of Delaware County (aka The Delaware County Christian School Society) was formed and its members stepped out in faith with a shared commitment to open the doors of a Christian (elementary) school in Delaware County by September 1950.
In September 1950, Delaware County Christian School officially opened its doors to 58 students in grades K-5. Holding firm to God's promise found in Jeremiah 32:17, "Ah Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.", forty-three families stepped out in faith and enrolled their children for the 1950-51 school year. Operating on a budget of $6,907 and housed in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, the new Christian school began its first year employing two full-time teachers and two part-time teachers.
Following its early beginnings in that local church basement, Delaware County Christian School has been located in Newtown Square since 1955 when it purchased the former 11-acre George Strawbridge Estate on Malin Road. In 1964 the school embarked on its first building program to provide the school with a gymnasium-auditorium. The adjacent five acres were also added to the school campus. During the 1970's, the upper school and middle school buildings were constructed.
In 1983, Delaware County Christian School purchased the former Alice Grimm School at 2 Bishop Hollow Road in Newtown Square from the Marple-Newtown School District. This addition provided much-needed space for elementary students in grades K-5.
To meet the needs of its growing student population from the greater Delaware Valley five-county area, the school continued to expand its facilities in 1994 with the addition of a new fine arts building, Lowrie Annex, on the Upper Campus.
As more families seek an education that is centered around Jesus Christ, the school continues to expand and improve its facilities. In 2000 DC added the DeMoss Center for Worship and the Arts. This addition of a 600-seat auditorium/classroom building provided much-needed classroom space as well as a common center for worship, parent meetings, student assemblies, concerts, and plays.
In 2009, to meet the needs of its expanding lower school program, DC sold the Bishop Hollow campus and purchased the thirty-three acre Lower Campus in nearby Devon.
Since its beginning in 1950, Delaware County Christian School has been committed to providing students with quality education from a Christian perspective in order to keep with its mission of educating students who will serve God and impact the world through biblical thought and action.