The City School 
The information on this page was last updated 7/23/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
ONE CHILD AT A TIME - The City School is a Pre-K to Grade 12 Christian school in the heart of Philadelphia. We believe an excellent education should be accessible for families in the city.
Contact information
Mailing address:
The City School
4115 Baltimore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Website: cityschool.org
Phone: 215-382-7839
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 232073123
CEO/President: Joel Gaines
Chairman: Dimitria Davenport
Board size: 12
Founder: James Petty / Paul Miller
Ruling year: 1979
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2011
Purpose
Our rigorous college-preparatory program prepares students for success in their lifelong pursuit of learning. We instill a genuine love of learning in our students.
Mission statement
The City School's mission is to train students' minds, disciple their hearts and bring light to the city-one child at a time. Since 1978, our commitment to this mission has guided us as we prepare students to thrive in school, in college, at home, and in all of life.
Statement of faith
At The City School, education is grounded in our Christian faith which flows from the conviction that the Bible is the inspired and authoritative word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice. We therefore affirm the following:
That there is only one sovereign God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The full deity-and-humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, his virgin birth, sinless life, and proclamation of the kingdom through word and deed, leading to his atoning death in which he was made to be sin and through which believers are reconciled to God; his bodily resurrection, ascension to the right hand of God the Father and personal return in power and glory.
That all humanity has sinned-rebelled against God-and fallen short of the glory of God, resulting in spiritual and physical death.
That a person is justified and reconciled with God by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
That unless a person is spiritually reborn by the Holy Spirit he or she will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
The present ministry of the Holy Spirit, whose indwelling enables the Christian to walk by the Spirit, demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, and follow Jesus through self-denial and cross-bearing.
The continuing ministry of the Spirit to create the church, God's holy nation, and empower her to carry on the work that Jesus began while on earth, making disciples and bearing witness to the hope of the gospel.
The spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ and his church.
The will of God, revealed in the Bible, is for shalom-peace, reconciliation, and harmony between God, humanity, and creation-realized through faith in and obedience to Jesus Christ, who is the true source of peace and reconciliation.
The fulfillment of God's kingdom when Jesus returns in glory to judge the living and the dead, ending the struggles of this age and bringing God's final victory in a new heaven and a new earth.
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 | | 494 of 1123 | 30 of 50 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 241 of 1124 | 23 of 50 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 695 of 1124 | 35 of 50 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 635 of 1123 | 29 of 50 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 11% | 14% | 11% | 11% | 12% | 12% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 7% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 12% | 30% | 46% | 49% | 54% | 56% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 7% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 88% | 70% | 54% | 51% | 46% | 44% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 79% | 79% | 79% | 80% | 80% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 90% | 109% | 96% | 91% | 99% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 78% | 71% | 86% | 76% | 73% | 79% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 10% | -9% | 4% | 9% | 1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 4% | 22% | -21% | 8% | 16% | 2% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 15% | 16% | 17% | 15% | 14% | 13% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.51 | 0.54 | 0.46 | 0.37 | 0.33 | 0.39 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.24 | 8.26 | 6.39 | 5.11 | 5.02 | 7.60 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.92 | 4.48 | 2.91 | 1.91 | 1.64 | 2.95 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 3.02 | 2.45 | 3.46 | 4.17 | 4.65 | 2.65 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.33 | 0.41 | 0.29 | 0.24 | 0.22 | 0.38 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.16 | 1.58 | 2.93 | 4.78 | 5.74 | 2.53 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 33% | 73% | 81% | 79% | 81% | 85% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 9% | 63% | 76% | 74% | 76% | 79% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 135% | 50% | 41% | 55% | 59% | 39% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $289,159 | $557,182 | $1,596,555 | $1,510,522 | $884,461 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $114,874 | $156,687 | $109,142 | $164,933 | $53,757 |
| Short-term investments | $904,430 | $1,117,166 | $754,306 | $913,417 | $694,895 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,308,463 | $1,831,035 | $2,460,003 | $2,588,872 | $1,633,113 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $9,242,767 | $9,655,519 | $10,062,491 | $10,292,849 | $10,684,822 |
| Other long-term assets | $260,829 | $216,129 | $47,972 | $111,049 | $86,191 |
| Total long-term assets | $9,503,596 | $9,871,648 | $10,110,463 | $10,403,898 | $10,771,013 |
| Total assets | $10,812,059 | $11,702,683 | $12,570,466 | $12,992,770 | $12,404,126 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $498,905 | $469,415 | $520,421 | $476,614 | $535,397 |
| Other current liabilities | $35,840 | $59,035 | $68,956 | $80,197 | $80,585 |
| Total current liabilities | $534,745 | $528,450 | $589,377 | $556,811 | $615,982 |
| Debt | $6,846,977 | $8,846,977 | $9,346,977 | $9,846,977 | $9,846,977 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $480,735 | $123,633 | $52,495 | $66,320 | $66,320 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $7,327,712 | $8,970,610 | $9,399,472 | $9,913,297 | $9,913,297 |
| Total liabilities | $7,862,457 | $9,499,060 | $9,988,849 | $10,470,108 | $10,529,279 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $2,004,305 | $1,036,106 | $1,450,844 | $1,580,551 | $1,148,312 |
| With donor restrictions | $945,297 | $1,167,517 | $1,130,773 | $942,111 | $726,535 |
| Net assets | $2,949,602 | $2,203,623 | $2,581,617 | $2,522,662 | $1,874,847 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $1,941,428 | $2,231,888 | $2,380,036 | $2,490,606 | $2,702,914 |
| Program service revenue | $2,292,487 | $2,382,789 | $2,312,036 | $2,027,400 | $2,025,298 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $31,059 | $4,604 | $16,768 | $11,801 | $12,202 |
| Other revenue | $2,239,704 | $246,924 | $184,908 | $119,325 | $122,101 |
| Total other revenue | $4,563,250 | $2,634,317 | $2,513,712 | $2,158,526 | $2,159,601 |
| Total revenue | $6,504,678 | $4,866,205 | $4,893,748 | $4,649,132 | $4,862,515 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $4,628,388 | $4,193,285 | $3,718,047 | $3,376,431 | $3,844,699 |
| Management and general | $961,032 | $888,598 | $721,282 | $582,426 | $650,692 |
| Fundraising | $270,281 | $244,889 | $256,100 | $287,317 | $324,631 |
| Total expenses | $5,859,701 | $5,326,772 | $4,695,429 | $4,246,174 | $4,820,022 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $644,977 | ($460,567) | $198,319 | $402,958 | $42,493 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $644,977 | ($460,567) | $198,319 | $402,958 | $42,493 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Joel R Gaines | fmr head of sch | $141,215 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2024
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 7/23/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
For a timeline, Visit: https://cityschool.org/about/history/
Program accomplishments
For the past 10 years, 100% of our high school graduates have been accepted into a college of their choice. Recent graduates have been accepted to schools like Brown University, Wheaton College, University of Pennsylvania, Savannah College of Art and Design, The Royal Academy of Music, and Oberlin College. Our College Guidance Counselor works closely with students to ensure they find a school where they will continue to thrive in their lifelong pursuit of learning.