Lighthouse Christian School 
The information on this page was last updated 6/4/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Located in Gig Harbor, WA, Lighthouse is a private school that offers vibrant, Christ-centered education to students in grades K-8.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Lighthouse Christian School
3008 36th St NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Website: www.lcschool.org
Phone: 253.858.5962
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 911637244
CEO/President: Stephen Roddy
Chairman: Dan Carpenter
Board size: 14
Founder:
Ruling year: 1994
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Lighthouse Christian School is committed to a Christian philosophy of education. Every facet of the educational program is conditioned and directed by a Christ-centered, Biblical perspective. We believe that God created and sustains all things through His Son, Jesus Christ; therefore, the universe and all life are dynamically related to God and exist for the purpose of glorifying Him.
Mission statement
Lighthouse Christian School exists to glorify God by providing quality, Christ-centered education that will nurture students to become spiritually minded, academically versed, socially balanced, and equipped to make a positive impact in their community to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Statement of faith
We believe in the Bible alone as the inspired Word of God, the only inerrant authority for our Christian faith and life (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
We believe in one true God, our eternal creator, an infinitely perfect being, existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Isaiah 40:28; 44:6-8; Matthew 28:19).
We believe that marriage is instituted by God and is between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6).
We believe that God created human beings as either male or female (Genesis 1:27, Mark 10:6-9).
We believe in God the Father, the ruler of the universe and our heavenly Father (1 Timothy 1:2; 6:15, 16).
We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, true God and true man, our crucified and risen Savior and Lord; in His virgin birth; His sinless life; His miracles; His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood; His literal, bodily resurrection; His ascension to the right hand of the Father; and His personal, bodily return in power and glory (John 1:1-18; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Matthew 1; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 15; Hebrews 1, 9, 10).
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who made us God's children by the new birth when we trusted Jesus Christ, and who is at work in our hearts prompting obedience and love for God (Romans 5:5; 8:13-17).
We believe that all people have sinned against our holy and righteous God, and are therefore worthy of God's judgment (Romans 3:23; 6:23).
We believe in the good news, that Jesus Christ died, bearing the penalty for our sins and was buried, that He rose again to provide forgiveness and eternal life for all who, by the grace of God, trust in Him alone (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 10:9-10).
We believe in the grace of God, who has saved us, not because of who we are or what we have done, but as a gift received by faith alone (Titus 3:5-7; Ephesians 2:8-9).
We believe in the universal church, invisibly uniting all true believers in our Lord Jesus Christ as brothers and sisters. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). We believe in local churches, visible gatherings of believers, for worship, fellowship, instruction, and service for Christ (Acts 2:42-47).
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15).
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 | | 980 of 1338 | 117 of 140 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 764 of 1338 | 91 of 140 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1302 of 1338 | 138 of 140 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 488 of 1340 | 51 of 141 |
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% | 19% | 15% | 15% | 11% | 5% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 1% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 13% | 13% | 18% | 13% | 12% | 24% |
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% | 87% | 82% | 87% | 88% | 76% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 59% | 56% | 65% | 73% | 76% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 93% | 88% | 84% | 89% | 86% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 76% | 54% | 49% | 55% | 64% | 65% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 7% | 12% | 16% | 11% | 14% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | 6% | 9% | 13% | 9% | 10% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 39% | 41% | 33% | 26% | 23% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.51 | 0.59 | 0.61 | 0.63 | 0.60 | 0.48 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.20 | 3.21 | 3.18 | 2.61 | 3.14 | 3.34 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.72 | 1.90 | 1.92 | 1.65 | 1.87 | 1.61 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 2.86 | 12.31 | 9.24 | 11.56 | 14.91 | 7.39 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.34 | 0.08 | 0.11 | 0.09 | 0.07 | 0.14 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.12 | 5.79 | 5.56 | 6.65 | 5.98 | 6.45 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 30% | 16% | 10% | 12% | 13% | 17% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 10% | 13% | 6% | 7% | 10% | 12% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 125% | 142% | 149% | 140% | 147% | 173% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $3,014,155 | $2,798,546 | $3,393,522 | $2,154,545 | $1,924,265 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $429,746 | $368,965 | $305,587 | $473,661 | $455,692 |
| Short-term investments | $815,850 | $624,005 | $552,788 | $462,063 | $444,480 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $4,259,751 | $3,791,516 | $4,251,897 | $3,090,269 | $2,824,437 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $9,203,465 | $7,898,329 | $6,375,082 | $6,450,471 | $6,259,117 |
| Other long-term assets | $223,354 | $360,296 | $476,874 | $170,874 | $357,812 |
| Total long-term assets | $9,426,819 | $8,258,625 | $6,851,956 | $6,621,345 | $6,616,929 |
| Total assets | $13,686,570 | $12,050,141 | $11,103,853 | $9,711,614 | $9,441,366 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $124,022 | $243,616 | $247,639 | $62,557 | $226,359 |
| Other current liabilities | $222,077 | $166,933 | $120,318 | $144,697 | $155,677 |
| Total current liabilities | $346,099 | $410,549 | $367,957 | $207,254 | $382,036 |
| Debt | $1,731,482 | $719,588 | $830,917 | $937,645 | $1,147,100 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $58,328 | $47,744 | $79,548 | $78,387 | $79,187 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $1,789,810 | $767,332 | $910,465 | $1,016,032 | $1,226,287 |
| Total liabilities | $2,135,909 | $1,177,881 | $1,278,422 | $1,223,286 | $1,608,323 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $10,232,451 | $9,766,258 | $8,499,630 | $7,687,958 | $7,041,131 |
| With donor restrictions | $1,318,210 | $1,106,002 | $1,325,801 | $800,370 | $791,912 |
| Net assets | $11,550,661 | $10,872,260 | $9,825,431 | $8,488,328 | $7,833,043 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $1,130,118 | $1,479,080 | $1,104,121 | $781,151 | $1,279,718 |
| Program service revenue | $7,018,054 | $6,678,286 | $7,034,221 | $5,589,912 | $3,854,491 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $155,965 | $148,949 | $71,294 | $16 | $26,268 |
| Other revenue | $450,298 | ($4,713) | $101,301 | $151,890 | $127,653 |
| Total other revenue | $7,624,317 | $6,822,522 | $7,206,816 | $5,741,818 | $4,008,412 |
| Total revenue | $8,754,435 | $8,301,602 | $8,310,937 | $6,522,969 | $5,288,130 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $4,747,750 | $4,066,126 | $4,559,602 | $4,197,367 | $3,431,991 |
| Management and general | $3,155,461 | $3,001,511 | $2,277,172 | $1,495,972 | $1,040,475 |
| Fundraising | $209,242 | $227,794 | $168,473 | $87,439 | $68,422 |
| Total expenses | $8,112,453 | $7,295,431 | $7,005,247 | $5,780,778 | $4,540,888 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $641,982 | $1,006,171 | $1,305,690 | $742,191 | $747,242 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $641,982 | $1,006,171 | $1,305,690 | $742,191 | $747,242 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Stephen Roddy | Director of Education | $151,274 |
| Teresa Garcia | Principal | $108,604 |
| Kate Bare | Director of Operations | $103,827 |
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 6/4/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In 1994, a small group of teachers and parents in Gig Harbor began to pray. They were united by a vision to found a school that would provide a quality, Christ-centered education. Though they had no building, students, bank account, supplies, board, or name, they had faith. They worked overtime, relying on the Lord's guidance, and Lighthouse Christian School opened with 90 students in grades K-8 in the fall of 1994.
Classes in the early years met in classroom space donated by three local churches. From the beginning, the school was marked by loving and creative teachers, strong families, a superb administrator, and a dedicated board. There were many challenges - having to clean out classrooms at the end of each week, communication between three campuses, a shoestring budget - but what the school lacked in resources it more than made up for with its close family feel. Good people were its greatest asset. Parents put their hope in the school and volunteered many hours to help give their children a great education. The school laid the groundwork of its reputation as a safe, quality institution in the community.
Lighthouse took a great step toward unity and permanence when it moved onto its campus. A special couple purchased and eventually donated the 27-acre property on Point Fosdick Drive to the school. A local contractor donated its old office building to serve as administrative and classroom space. Volunteers landscaped a lovely campus of modular classrooms that opened in the fall of 1998. As the school expanded, it never lost sight of its fundamental commitment to honor the Lord. Students carried His light into weekly chapel, academic competitions, sports teams, and field trips.
In 2002, Lighthouse's leaders took another big step to provide students with the best. A large capital campaign enabled the school to begin construction on its dream building, the state-of-the-art 66,000-square-foot facility that students enjoy today. Though there were moments when it seemed like the school's leaders may have dreamed too big, the Lord always rewarded their faith by providing help when it was most needed. When the building opened in 2004, long-time teachers had to pinch themselves to be sure they were at the same school! The building's specialized spaces, from the science laboratory to the performing hall, gave new opportunities to Lighthouse's students. Soon the school was able to also give back to the surrounding community - which had been so supportive in the early years - by offering space to churches, clubs, and sports teams.
Today, Lighthouse is proud to maintain the vision of its founders by providing a high-quality, Christ-centered education. As it has grown into a modern school with high-tech facilities, its faithful family heart has not changed. It exists to serve as a beacon to shine God's light in the Gig Harbor and Kitsap Peninsula communities, helping learners to become Godly leaders.