Desert Christian Schools 
The information on this page was last updated 3/25/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
DCS exists to glorify Jesus Christ in all that we do by educating with excellence the whole student: spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically. For over 45 years, we have committed to partnering with parents to provide an exceptional and comprehensive biblically-integrated education to equip students to excel, to impact their world for the glory of Christ, fulfilling God's purpose for their lives. The theme verse of our school offers this guiding reminder for our staff, faculty, and students:
"...honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect..." (1 Peter 3:15-18).
With that perspective in mind, it is our deepest desire that students of DCS are closer to Jesus Christ on the day they graduate than the day they started with us as we endeavor to prepare each student to be READY WITH THE TRUTH.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Desert Christian Schools
44662 15th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534
Website: www.desertchristian.com
Phone: 661.948.5071
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 870419198
CEO/President: Josh DeVore
Chairman: Matthew Farinelli
Board size: 13
Founder:
Ruling year: 1985
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Partnering with parents to provide an exceptional and comprehensive biblically-integrated education to equip students to excel, to impact their world for the glory of Christ, fulfilling God's purpose for their lives.
Mission statement
Desert Christian Schools exists to glorify Jesus Christ in all that we do by educating with excellence the whole student: spiritually, intellectually, relationally, and physically.
Statement of faith
As a school we commit ourselves to the following statement of faith, which will be the basis of our instruction:
We believe . . .
In one God, Creator of all, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That Jesus Christ is true God and true man, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven where, at the right hand of God, He is our High Priest and Advocate.
That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ, convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, and indwell, guide, and empower the believer for godly living and service.
The Bible to be the only inspired Word of God, without error in the original, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the final authority for all Christian faith and life.
That all people are sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. Only by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.
That the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for redemption and only those who receive Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and are the children of God.
That the true Church is composed of all who have been regenerated by saving faith and are united as the Body of Christ of which He is the Head.
In the personal, imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this "Blessed Hope" has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer.
In the bodily resurrection of the dead: the believer to eternal joy with the Lord and the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting punishment.
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 | | 1052 of 1435 | 151 of 191 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1023 of 1435 | 144 of 191 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 294 of 1435 | 36 of 191 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1406 of 1436 | 190 of 191 |
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% | 30% | 3% | 1% | 7% | 18% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 3% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 13% | 7% | 57% | 70% | 35% | 16% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 87% | 93% | 43% | 30% | 65% | 84% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 88% | 88% | 91% | 91% | 89% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 99% | 46% | 32% | 89% | 103% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 76% | 88% | 41% | 29% | 81% | 92% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 1% | 54% | 68% | 11% | -3% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | 0% | 23% | 48% | 5% | -1% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 9% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 8% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.54 | 0.21 | 0.19 | 0.21 | 0.39 | 0.36 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.99 | 17.77 | 3.20 | 2.55 | 9.62 | 5.07 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.80 | 3.69 | 0.60 | 0.55 | 3.74 | 1.81 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 2.80 | 2.57 | 12.96 | 10.87 | 1.80 | 3.72 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.35 | 0.39 | 0.08 | 0.09 | 0.56 | 0.27 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.98 | 1.99 | 18.41 | 19.98 | 1.42 | 4.86 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 29% | 2% | 3% | 5% | 9% | 13% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 10% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 7% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 117% | 471% | 514% | 445% | 234% | 245% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $1,576,615 | $10,336,271 | $12,152,746 | $1,462,687 | $1,492,623 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $250,885 | $1,210,395 | $177,994 | $221,631 | $154,818 |
| Short-term investments | $521,006 | $1,615,536 | $756,189 | $239,796 | $1,706,242 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $2,348,506 | $13,162,202 | $13,086,929 | $1,924,114 | $3,353,683 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $39,391,468 | $27,486,206 | $18,835,811 | $12,981,906 | $13,665,437 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $1,515,739 | $1,511,166 | $3,606,297 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $39,391,468 | $29,001,945 | $20,346,977 | $16,588,203 | $13,665,437 |
| Total assets | $41,739,974 | $42,164,147 | $33,433,906 | $18,512,317 | $17,019,120 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $282,382 | $352,992 | $803,885 | $338,813 | $254,552 |
| Other current liabilities | $629,882 | $662,916 | $400,285 | $732,750 | $646,719 |
| Total current liabilities | $912,264 | $1,015,908 | $1,204,170 | $1,071,563 | $901,271 |
| Debt | $0 | $424,877 | $497,019 | $564,969 | $1,251,366 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $424,877 | $497,019 | $564,969 | $1,251,366 |
| Total liabilities | $912,264 | $1,440,785 | $1,701,189 | $1,636,532 | $2,152,637 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $40,428,413 | $29,512,574 | $21,757,159 | $16,053,118 | $12,727,611 |
| With donor restrictions | $399,297 | $11,210,788 | $9,975,558 | $822,667 | $2,138,872 |
| Net assets | $40,827,710 | $40,723,362 | $31,732,717 | $16,875,785 | $14,866,483 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $632,537 | $9,788,936 | $15,704,205 | $2,793,196 | $946,628 |
| Program service revenue | $7,497,755 | $6,579,594 | $5,985,318 | $5,011,197 | $4,287,129 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $394,376 | $581,786 | $289,732 | $50,030 | $477,524 |
| Other revenue | $230,413 | $190,102 | $310,928 | $234,473 | $189,676 |
| Total other revenue | $8,122,544 | $7,351,482 | $6,585,978 | $5,295,700 | $4,954,329 |
| Total revenue | $8,755,081 | $17,140,418 | $22,290,183 | $8,088,896 | $5,900,957 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $7,665,847 | $6,978,632 | $6,468,127 | $6,547,995 | $5,404,612 |
| Management and general | $816,017 | $658,178 | $450,553 | $454,502 | $484,932 |
| Fundraising | $191,823 | $279,531 | $218,682 | $198,685 | $168,599 |
| Total expenses | $8,673,687 | $7,916,341 | $7,137,362 | $7,201,182 | $6,058,143 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $81,394 | $9,224,077 | $15,152,821 | $887,714 | ($157,186) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $81,394 | $9,224,077 | $15,152,821 | $887,714 | ($157,186) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Brian Modarelli | Head Master to 06/30/25 | $108,333 |
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 3/25/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In 1977, First Baptist Church (now known as Grace Chapel) opened the Family Learning Center as a ministry of the church. It consisted of one kindergarten class, several preschool classes, and an after school care program for community school children called Peach Factory. In 1979, first and second grade classes were added, expanding it into a grade school. The school continued to add grades until a K-8 program was fully established In 1985 a physical enrichment program was introduced that included gymnastics, dance, and baton.
A major step was taken in 1988 with the change of name to Desert Christian Schools and the opening of Desert Christian High School, which grew by one class per year, yielding its first graduating class in 1992. A home education program for parents who wished to teach their children at home was established in 1991 as an extension of the Desert Christian Schools' ministry.
First Baptist Church released the leadership of the school in 1998 to form a separate non-profit corporation that would assume responsibility for Desert Christian Schools and develop new ministries to accomplish its mission. In the ensuing years, the main campus and the high school campus were purchased, the home education program expanded to include independent study classes, the gymnastics center opened classes to the community, the preschool opened two new campuses located on the east side of Lancaster and the west side of Palmdale, the Runner Student Activity Center and a state-of-the art gymnastic center were built on the main campus, an international student program was established, and athletic and academic programs expanded to meet the growing needs of the school community.
In July 2015, Desert Christian Ministries was dissolved and Desert Christian Schools again became a ministry of Grace Chapel. This put both the school and church in a stronger position in all areas of ministry.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in spring of 2020, Desert Christian Schools continued to serve students and families with variations of distance learning and on-campus childcare. Traditional on-campus education returned in 2021 along with a host of significant capital improvements. Some highlights included a brand-new preschool playground, new stucco and fresh paint throughout the horseshoe and all modular buildings, and glass-work around the horseshoe.
God has richly blessed Desert Christian Schools in many ways. Attendance has grown from 94 students in 1977, to a current enrollment of over 1,800 students. Additionally, the ministry has expanded from one campus to programs at four locations. The faculty, staff and administration praise God for the opportunity to partner with parents in providing a Christian education experience for children and youth in the Antelope Valley.