Southside Christian School Upstate 
The information on this page was last updated 3/25/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Southside Christian School exists to partner with Christian parents in providing an excellent education consistent with biblical truth. Through superior academics, award-winning fine arts, competitive athletics, and multiple co-curricular activities, students are prepared to discover, grow, and achieve all God has for them.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Southside Christian School
2211 Woodruff Road
Simpsonville, SC 29681
Website: www.southsidechristian.org
Phone: (864) 234-7595
Organization details
EIN: 743095222
CEO/President: Dr. Sam Barfell
Chairman: Mike Dowling
Board size: 8
Founder:
Ruling year: 2004
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 05/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Partnering with Christian parents to serve our community as a leader in Christian education, resulting in transformed lives equipped to reflect and extend the kingdom of God.
Southside Christian School is committed to partnering with Christian parents to serve our community by providing an affordable and accessible Christ-centered education. Remaining true to our heritage, we offer our students transformational education anchored in Christ.
Mission statement
Southside Christian School equips students of Christian parents to grow in Christ, excel academically, and impact their community.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
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Transparency grade
D
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Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: K-12 Schools/Academies
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 954 of 1435 | 144 of 191 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1220 of 1435 | 175 of 191 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 601 of 1435 | 78 of 191 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 733 of 1436 | 107 of 191 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 11% | 60% | 32% | 23% | 12% | 55% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 13% | 5% | 8% | 8% | 13% | 4% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 87% | 95% | 92% | 92% | 87% | 96% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 84% | 84% | 84% | 86% | 85% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 101% | 98% | 77% | 88% | 101% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 76% | 85% | 83% | 65% | 75% | 86% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | -1% | 2% | 23% | 12% | -1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | -1% | 1% | 23% | 16% | -1% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 13% | 13% | 14% | 12% | 13% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.54 | 0.53 | 0.48 | 0.44 | 0.73 | 0.72 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.99 | 3.94 | 4.21 | 3.97 | 3.49 | 4.37 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.80 | 2.08 | 2.03 | 1.74 | 2.56 | 3.12 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 2.80 | 1.81 | 1.80 | 1.81 | 1.44 | 1.46 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.35 | 0.55 | 0.55 | 0.55 | 0.70 | 0.68 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.98 | 2.58 | 2.63 | 3.08 | 1.42 | 1.21 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 29% | 48% | 47% | 45% | 33% | 39% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 10% | 33% | 33% | 31% | 13% | 23% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 117% | 100% | 109% | 125% | 91% | 86% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $11,174,179 | $10,394,507 | $7,210,226 | $5,674,778 | $4,054,946 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $485,180 | $529,850 | $3,837,438 | $416,134 | $407,509 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $11,659,359 | $10,924,357 | $11,047,664 | $6,090,912 | $4,462,455 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $34,112,889 | $35,007,388 | $14,862,736 | $15,141,731 | $15,018,168 |
| Other long-term assets | $220,026 | $110,091 | $17,929,466 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $34,332,915 | $35,117,479 | $32,792,202 | $15,141,731 | $15,018,168 |
| Total assets | $45,992,274 | $46,041,836 | $43,839,866 | $21,232,643 | $19,480,623 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $1,927,484 | $1,519,566 | $1,540,101 | $1,105,484 | $1,035,775 |
| Other current liabilities | $4,521,232 | $4,533,365 | $4,579,979 | $3,137,592 | $2,016,083 |
| Total current liabilities | $6,448,716 | $6,052,931 | $6,120,080 | $4,243,076 | $3,051,858 |
| Debt | $15,177,213 | $15,290,868 | $13,619,765 | $2,753,290 | $4,383,759 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $220,605 | $391,032 | $150,575 | $64,466 | $80,186 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $15,397,818 | $15,681,900 | $13,770,340 | $2,817,756 | $4,463,945 |
| Total liabilities | $21,846,534 | $21,734,831 | $19,890,420 | $7,060,832 | $7,515,803 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $23,514,522 | $23,411,655 | $22,648,384 | $13,643,081 | $11,816,195 |
| With donor restrictions | $631,218 | $895,350 | $1,301,062 | $528,730 | $148,625 |
| Net assets | $24,145,740 | $24,307,005 | $23,949,446 | $14,171,811 | $11,964,820 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $1,220,517 | $1,790,658 | $1,983,226 | $2,244,560 | $503,767 |
| Program service revenue | $22,463,745 | $20,622,174 | $22,568,960 | $15,361,567 | $13,289,128 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $125,105 | $25,586 | $10,703 | $3,895 | $13,122 |
| Other revenue | $276,428 | $138,714 | $198,850 | $160,099 | $33,555 |
| Total other revenue | $22,865,278 | $20,786,474 | $22,778,513 | $15,525,561 | $13,335,805 |
| Total revenue | $24,085,795 | $22,577,132 | $24,761,739 | $17,770,121 | $13,839,572 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $20,418,782 | $18,698,715 | $16,107,877 | $13,377,666 | $11,895,103 |
| Management and general | $3,094,628 | $2,950,624 | $2,610,634 | $1,908,180 | $1,770,602 |
| Fundraising | $733,650 | $570,234 | $459,157 | $277,284 | $277,803 |
| Total expenses | $24,247,060 | $22,219,573 | $19,177,668 | $15,563,130 | $13,943,508 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($161,265) | $357,559 | $5,584,071 | $2,206,991 | ($103,936) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($161,265) | $357,559 | $5,584,071 | $2,206,991 | ($103,936) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Dr Sam Barfell | Superintendent | $281,973 |
| David Blom | Exec Director of Finance | $130,641 |
| Eric Alfrey | Elementary School Principal | $119,700 |
| Luke Bowers | Middle School Principal | $119,455 |
| Shelby Hooper | High School Principal | $107,637 |
Compensation data as of: 5/31/2025
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 3/25/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Milestones
1967-School founded as a ministry of Southside Baptist Church on Augusta Rd.
1987-First graduating class from Woodruff Rd. Campus
1992-Addition of "T" wing adding more classrooms
2002-Gym fire that resulted in the repair of current facilities and addition of 5 classrooms and office space
2014-Sabre Track completed
2016-Sabre Stadium completed
2018-New campus master plan completed identifying growth accommodating up to 1,400 students on our campus
2019-SCS became the 17th Christian school to receive ACSI's prestigious "Exemplary Accreditation" designation, indicating a higher standard for education has been attained at SCS
2021-The Rooted and Rising Capital Campaign, a multi-year capital campaign to provide funding for a 63,000 sq. ft. expansion including more instructional space for all of SCS, was approved.
2023-Moved into our new building