Southern Maryland Christian Academy 
The information on this page was last updated 10/14/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Contact information
Mailing address:
Southern Maryland Christian Academy
P.O. Box 1668
White PLains, MD 20695
Website: www.somdchristianacademy.com
Phone: 301-870-2550
Organization details
EIN: 521405200
CEO/President: Matthew Gaines
Chairman: Colleen Gaines
Board size: 5
Founder:
Ruling year: 1986
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 07/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
The goal of the Bible-Integrated Curriculum is to lead the student to recognize that all Truth extends from God and the person of Jesus Christ, and to think critically about the world through God's Truth as revealed in his Word. Not only is there prayer and Bible reading in each classroom, but each academic subject includes in-depth discovery of how God's Creation and Love is revealed to us.
Mission statement
The mission of Southern Maryland Christian Academy is to create a nurturing environment that inspires personal academic excellence and the development of a lifelong commitment to the lordship of Christ.
Statement of faith
WE BELIEVE:
That "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, - by which we understand the whole book called THE BIBLE: that it is inerrant in the original writing and that its teaching and authority are absolute, supreme and final; that the Holy Spirit guided the holy men of old in all that they wrote.
The Godhead eternally exits in three persons-the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having the same nature, attributes and perfection.
In the Personality and Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, truly God and truly man.
That man was created in the image of God, after His likeness, as stated in the word of God, but the whole human race fell in the fall of the first Adam. Not only was his moral nature grievously injured by the fall but also he totally lost all spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and subject to the power of the devil. "The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Therefore, he cannot enter the kingdom of God until he is born again by the Holy Spirit.
That Jesus Christ became the sinner's substitute before God, and died as a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.
In the resurrection of the crucified body of Jesus Christ: that His body was raised from the dead according to the Scriptures, and that He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God as the believer's high priest and advocate.
That Christ in the fullness of the blessings He has secured by His death and resurrection is received by faith alone, and that the moment we trust in Him as Saviour, we pass out of death into everlasting life. At the time of acceptance of Christ as Saviour, He comes to dwell within the believer and to live out His life of holiness and power through Him.
That the Church is composed of all those who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. It is the body and bride of Christ. Every believer, whether Jew or Gentile, is baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, and having become members of one another we are responsible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond peace, rising above all sectarian prejudices and denominational bigotry and loving one another with a pure heart.
That all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ are called into a life of separation from worldly and sinful practices. In the evangelization of the world, that the supreme mission of the people of God in this age is to preach the Gospel to every creature. That special emphasis should be placed upon the evangelization of children. In the personal return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that the coming again of Jesus Christ is the "Blessed Hope" set before us, for which we should be constantly looking. Our citizenship is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour.
That the souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus for salvation do at death immediately pass into His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming, when soul and body shall be reunited with Him forever in glory.
That the souls of the lost remain after death in misery until the final judgment of the great white throne. In the reality and personality of Satan, "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world."
That marriage is God-ordained and the biblical institution of marriage is, as the Bible teaches, for one man to be married to one woman. That God's order for holy matrimony is between God, a man, and his wife; for the establishment of the individual family unit in human society.
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 | | 211 of 1582 | 31 of 271 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 753 of 1583 | 159 of 271 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 335 of 1583 | 59 of 271 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 190 of 1583 | 25 of 271 |
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 | 9% | 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 | 12% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% |
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 | 88% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 99% | 100% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 89% | 91% | 91% | 90% | 84% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 95% | 87% | 95% | 105% | 116% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 77% | 85% | 79% | 86% | 94% | 98% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 5% | 13% | 5% | -5% | -16% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 7% | 14% | 45% | 25% | -31% | -51% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 11% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 16% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.54 | 1.10 | 1.00 | 1.04 | 0.99 | 0.72 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.13 | 5.45 | 6.12 | 13.22 | 33.60 | 12.29 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.98 | 5.97 | 6.13 | 13.74 | 33.34 | 8.81 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 2.80 | 8380.00 | 7243.87 | 3008.66 | 1161.65 | 3580.67 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.35 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.53 | 2.01 | 1.96 | 0.87 | 0.36 | 1.36 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 30% | 61% | 66% | 78% | 84% | 81% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 10% | 61% | 66% | 78% | 84% | 81% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 116% | 36% | 34% | 21% | 16% | 27% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $753,292 | $658,284 | $266,863 | $101,317 | $303,449 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $908 | $908 | $908 | $908 | $908 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $754,200 | $659,192 | $267,771 | $102,225 | $304,357 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $3,193,663 | $3,239,216 | $3,262,965 | $3,326,783 | $3,433,715 |
| Other long-term assets | $160,601 | $134,440 | $9,638 | $6,112 | $3,394 |
| Total long-term assets | $3,354,264 | $3,373,656 | $3,272,603 | $3,332,895 | $3,437,109 |
| Total assets | $4,108,464 | $4,032,848 | $3,540,374 | $3,435,120 | $3,741,466 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $90 | $91 | $89 | $88 | $85 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $90 | $91 | $89 | $88 | $85 |
| Debt | $2,496,517 | $2,643,205 | $2,765,545 | $2,893,029 | $3,024,570 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $6,002 | $2,240 | $902 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $2,502,519 | $2,645,445 | $2,766,447 | $2,893,029 | $3,024,570 |
| Total liabilities | $2,502,609 | $2,645,536 | $2,766,536 | $2,893,117 | $3,024,655 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,605,855 | $1,387,312 | $773,838 | $542,003 | $716,811 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $1,605,855 | $1,387,312 | $773,838 | $542,003 | $716,811 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $0 | $0 | $8,000 | $26,750 | $893 |
| Program service revenue | $4,641,016 | $4,078,622 | $3,600,753 | $3,180,480 | $2,293,030 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $18,111 | $17,278 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other revenue | $62,394 | $568,516 | $261,672 | $31,837 | $22,017 |
| Total other revenue | $4,721,521 | $4,664,416 | $3,862,425 | $3,212,317 | $2,315,047 |
| Total revenue | $4,721,521 | $4,664,416 | $3,870,425 | $3,239,067 | $2,315,940 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $4,003,899 | $3,689,473 | $3,340,353 | $3,056,948 | $2,264,883 |
| Management and general | $498,368 | $353,037 | $339,932 | $351,406 | $416,070 |
| Fundraising | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total expenses | $4,502,267 | $4,042,510 | $3,680,285 | $3,408,354 | $2,680,953 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $219,254 | $621,906 | $190,140 | ($169,287) | ($365,013) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $219,254 | $621,906 | $190,140 | ($169,287) | ($365,013) |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
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 10/14/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In the early 1980s, Colleen Gaines, SMCA's founder and administrator, noticed the significant need for quality Christian education in the Southern Maryland area. Although the public school system was thriving, Colleen wished to provide families with the option of biblically-based teaching for their children, an option that had remained distant until that time. Colleen was convinced that parents needed a school that would promise to educate and care for kids as though it were an extension of the family. Convicted by this need and armed with a vision, Colleen set out on a journey of faith, grace, and providence that would eventually lead to the founding of the center of godly learning and Christ-like teaching now known as Southern Maryland Christian Academy.
Holding its first class sessions in 1985, Southern Maryland Christian Academy's first students met in the classrooms of a commercial building on Bannister Circle in Waldorf. However, within four years, Colleen's vision paired with God's providence proved to be too much for the crowded halls of Banister Circle, and she began searching for a site and facility that would most benefit her growing student body. Following the leading of the Holy Spirit, Colleen finally settled on a beautiful, spacious, 25 acre lot on Faith Baptist Church Road in White Plains. By God's grace, this new location would provide the student body with large facilities, a sports complex, and plenty of growing room. Delighted with the prospects this new location would provide, the property was purchased with the help of families and local businesses who had also captured Colleen's vision and God's plan, and in 1989, the student body, faculty, and parents all helped to relocate SMCA to where it stands to this day.
With God's grace, SMCA continued to grow, and soon, the administration building could no longer house all of the student body. As such, a chapel building, classrooms, and a high school wing were added. These additions served SMCA's needs for a season, but God was not finished with His great work. Years later, the high school had grown to such numbers that the old wing could no longer serve as a reasonable location for the bustling student body. SMCA added a secondary school building to hold grades 6-12 and in so doing, created a truly genuine middle and high school experience.
Together, these three buildings, administrative, chapel, and secondary school, compose the three part harmony of SMCA's current educational campus. These three buildings house, broadly, SMCA's three levels of academies: Pre-K and elementary, middle, and secondary, respectively. SMCA's spacious campus helps these academies to function most effectively in meeting the needs of their specific student body while remaining under the blanket of SMCA's biblical and educational standards and vision. However, the campus is not so spacious as to prevent its students of various ages from engaging one another throughout the school day. SMCA's sense of community and family is never lost. For instance, the school's cafeteria, located in the administrative building, becomes much more than simply a place to eat when students from various grade levels come together to enjoy food and fellowship.
Throughout all of the changes that SMCA has undergone in its exciting history one thing has always remained unshakeable: its conviction to bring strong, biblically-based Christian education to the Southern Maryland student body. SMCA's vision is as strong today as it was in 1985, and it stands resolute to provide its students with the loving, godly education that they deserve. SMCA has always believed that education should be an extension of the family, and indeed, the school treats all of its students as though they are family.
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow SMCA stands as a testament to God's grace in the proof of the two-fold truth that nothing can happen apart from God but rather that anything can happen together with God.