Dutton Christian School 
The information on this page was last updated 5/20/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
We offer a high quality Christ-centered education for your child. Our exceptional teaching staff make the difference. Our mission is to nurture the heart with Biblical truth, equip the mind through academic excellence, and impact the world for Christ.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Dutton Christian School
6729 Hanna Lake Avenue SE
Caledonia, MI 49316
Website: duttonchristianschool.org
Phone: 616-698-8660
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 381539995
CEO/President: Mark Witvliet
Chairman: Adam Ringnalda
Board size: 12
Founder:
Ruling year: 1957
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Our world belongs to God and all truth comes from Him. Our instruction is Biblically based and intentionally integrates a Reformed understanding of the Christian faith into all learning.
Education is the process of nurturing the whole child as an intellectual, emotional, physical, social and spiritual being, uniquely created by God.
Mission statement
Within a Reformed worldview, Dutton Christian School will:
Nurture the heart with Biblical truth
Equip the mind through academic excellence
Impact the world for Christ.
Statement of faith
Articles
| 6/5/2026 | Anderson University, Dallas Christian School Jump Into Highest Tier for Financial Efficiency |
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: K-12 Schools/Academies
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 504 of 1435 | 80 of 191 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 20 of 1435 | 13 of 191 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 678 of 1435 | 91 of 191 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1118 of 1436 | 168 of 191 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $17,137 in government grants in 2025.
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 11% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 13% | 50% | 37% | 28% | 35% | 53% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 87% | 50% | 63% | 72% | 65% | 47% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 84% | 85% | 85% | 86% | 89% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 53% | 90% | 87% | 77% | 56% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 76% | 45% | 76% | 74% | 67% | 50% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 47% | 10% | 13% | 23% | 44% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | 19% | 4% | 4% | 7% | 18% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 16% | 15% | 15% | 14% | 11% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.54 | 0.21 | 0.32 | 0.26 | 0.25 | 0.23 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.99 | 2.85 | 2.94 | 2.99 | 2.88 | 1.94 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.80 | 0.60 | 0.95 | 0.77 | 0.71 | 0.45 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 2.80 | 17.01 | 13.74 | 40.11 | 29.05 | 41.25 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.35 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.02 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.98 | 18.79 | 11.68 | 15.18 | 16.32 | 25.91 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 29% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 10% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 117% | 464% | 301% | 385% | 400% | 424% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $3,066,687 | $7,999,203 | $7,456,473 | $7,420,902 | $10,272,441 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $966,388 | $238,588 | $140,082 | $100,975 | $390,508 |
| Short-term investments | $6,564,682 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $10,597,757 | $8,237,791 | $7,596,555 | $7,521,877 | $10,662,949 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $19,559,336 | $15,964,468 | $15,098,014 | $13,887,257 | $9,811,849 |
| Other long-term assets | $12,088 | $49,803 | $27,908 | $216,461 | $216,461 |
| Total long-term assets | $19,571,424 | $16,014,271 | $15,125,922 | $14,103,718 | $10,028,310 |
| Total assets | $30,169,181 | $24,252,062 | $22,722,477 | $21,625,595 | $20,691,259 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $426,286 | $392,537 | $24,738 | $11,422 | $1,332 |
| Other current liabilities | $196,794 | $207,082 | $164,653 | $247,466 | $257,193 |
| Total current liabilities | $623,080 | $599,619 | $189,391 | $258,888 | $258,525 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $7,667 | $1,000 | $0 | $5,192 | $11,732 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $7,667 | $1,000 | $0 | $5,192 | $11,732 |
| Total liabilities | $630,747 | $600,619 | $189,391 | $264,080 | $270,257 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $29,538,434 | $23,651,443 | $22,533,086 | $21,361,515 | $20,421,002 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $5,951,782 | $3,222,934 | $1,904,260 | $2,445,204 | $4,509,879 |
| Program service revenue | $5,893,616 | $5,310,229 | $4,816,599 | $4,334,095 | $3,756,427 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $192,246 | $233,650 | $94,794 | $170,226 | $293,843 |
| Other revenue | ($70,635) | ($57,406) | ($52,510) | ($54,889) | ($16,559) |
| Total other revenue | $6,015,227 | $5,486,473 | $4,858,883 | $4,449,432 | $4,033,711 |
| Total revenue | $11,967,009 | $8,709,407 | $6,763,143 | $6,894,636 | $8,543,590 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $5,359,277 | $6,648,860 | $4,983,930 | $4,616,281 | $4,306,679 |
| Management and general | $1,010,705 | $1,201,713 | $871,630 | $724,220 | $511,247 |
| Fundraising | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total expenses | $6,369,982 | $7,850,573 | $5,855,560 | $5,340,501 | $4,817,926 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $5,597,027 | $858,834 | $907,583 | $1,554,135 | $3,725,664 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $5,597,027 | $858,834 | $907,583 | $1,554,135 | $3,725,664 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Mark Witvliet | Administrator | $123,973 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2025
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 5/20/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Christian education has long been a priority for the community of believers in and around Dutton. Students from the Dutton CRC began attending Cutlerville Christian School in 1938. As the number of students from the Dutton CRC began to grow, so did the need to provide reliable transportation. In time, it was becoming clear that a new school in Dutton was becoming necessary. To that end, on April 15, 1953, the Dutton Christian School Association was formed to address the immediate need for more transportation to the Cutlerville School and to begin the process of planning for the new school in Dutton.
An unexpected gift of $30,000 allowed the construction to move forward much earlier than expected. The first building was dedicated in July of 1955 in what is now the Kindergarten hallway.
On September 7, 1955, Dutton Christian School opened its doors to 78 1st grade through 9th grade students taught by four faculty members. Kindergarten was added in 1956.
In 1963, another construction phase nearly doubled the size of the school. However, it was not until the Dutton CRC was built just north of the elementary building that we had access to a gymnasium. Additions and renovations were completed at the elementary building in 1977, 1982, and 2003, including a music room addition in 2002. The middle school (now our North Campus) was built and completed for classes in August 1988.
Jane Blacquiere started Noah's Ark PreKindergarten program as a private business in 1985 in a large room at Providence CRC. Noah's Ark began with one class of 24 students. In 1986, Dutton Christian School rented space to Noah's Ark PreKindergarten and the following year, Dutton Christian's school board decided to add Noah's Ark to the school. As the program continued to grow, a 3-year-old program was added. In the fall of 2019, a nature-based class was introduced with an outdoor classroom known as a playscape added to the South Campus. As of 2025, we have nearly 150 students enrolled in our PreKindergarten programs.
The early 1990's proved to be a very challenging time in the history of Dutton Christian School. We faced declining enrollment, large debt, and increasing costs. Additionally, the 9th grade class shifted to South Christian High School in 1992.
In 2005, DCS implemented a long-range strategic plan that helps analyze our current strengths and weaknesses, study internal and external data, and identify critical issues facing our school. This process occurs every three - four years and has been extremely valuable. We have created committees and task forces to address our critical needs. Out of this process came our land acquisition committee. During the 2015-16 school year, the Schilder building and surrounding land were purchased from the American Reformed Church. This building was demolished in the summer of 2016. A house on 68th Street adjacent to the North Campus parking lot was purchased during that time.
Since 2012, DCS has experienced a period of tremendous growth which has led to several capital campaigns to provide classroom space for our students. Over the past decade, our PreKindergarten - 8th grade enrollment has grown from 486 students in 2012 to over 850 students enrolled for the 2025-26 school year. With this growth, different classes were offered such as the 3-day, progressive, and 5-day kindergarten options (2015) and we currently have three sections of each grade 1st - 8th. By God's gracious hand, we have been able to remain debt-free through each of these building projects.