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Desert Christian Schools Inc

Tucson, AZ · EIN 870419198 · Form 990 · FY2021 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.desertchristian.org
revenue
$8.0M
expenses
$7.6M
net assets
$15.2M
employees
163
volunteers
150
program ratio
91%
mission · from form 990

Preschool-12 Christian education, more fully explained in Part III, item 1.

profile · synthesized from sources

Desert Christian Schools Inc provides Christ-centered education from preschool through high school in Tucson, Arizona. The organization offers a traditional liberal arts curriculum emphasizing academic excellence and spiritual development. They also provide financial aid workshops and assistance programs to make Christian education accessible to families.

named programs · 9 · from sources

what they call their work

Elementary Program
Grades K-6 academic and spiritual development with Bible instruction, Chapel, art, music, PE, and library skills
Elementary School Program (K-6)
Academic program encouraging high achievement within a challenging, disciplined, and caring environment, with emphasis on basic learning skills, Bible instruction, and additional activities like music, art, and PE.
Exceptional Student Services
Special education support and co-teaching across campuses for students with diverse learning needs
Financial Aid Workshops
Workshops explaining how to apply for, give, and raise funds for tuition assistance programs like ESA and STO.
High School Program
Grades 9-12 rigorous liberal arts curriculum with STEM, humanities, Bible, and fine arts, focused on critical thinking and service
International Student Program
Program supporting international students enrolled at Desert Christian Schools.
Junior High Program
Grades 7-8 curriculum emphasizing skill mastery, real-world application, Bible instruction, and Chapel
Preschool
Christ-centered, play-based learning for 3-5 year olds, including bilingual options and aftercare
Preschool Program
Christ-centered, child-focused, and play-based learning experience fostering a lifelong passion for learning through exploration and hands-on discovery.
activities · 9 groups

what they do

  • Classical Christian Education Programs 12 activities
    • Deliver Christ-centered education from preschool through 12th grade
      Provides academic, social, and spiritual development in a family-oriented environment for students from preschool through 12th grade, integrating a biblical worldview into all levels of instruction, including dedicated Bible classes and Chapel.
    • High School Education
      Operates a high school campus, leading academic and administrative operations, and providing an education that integrates a biblical worldview into academics to develop students' intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth.
    • High School Education
      Provides a high school education that integrates a biblical worldview into academics to develop students' intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth, including clubs like Student Council and Mock Trial.
    • High School Education
      Provides a high school education that integrates a biblical worldview into academics to develop students' intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth, including clubs, Bible studies, class trips, and an all-school retreat.
    • High School Education
      Provides a high school education that integrates a biblical worldview into academics to develop students' intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth, including clubs like Student Council and Mock Trial, and an all-school retreat.
    • Maintain accreditation and governance standards
      Operates under an elected Board of Trustees, maintains accreditation through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), employs licensed faculty, and is licensed by the Arizona Department of Health, Childcare Licensure.
    • Operate two physical campuses for Preschool-12th grade
      Runs a Preschool through 6th Grade campus with athletic fields and a farm for hands-on learning, and a separate Junior High and High School campus with a central quad and newly developed educational space; collectively serving students from preschool through 12th grade.
    • Provide spiritual formation and extracurricular programs
      Offers discipleship classes, Bible studies, student-led clubs (e.g., Student Council, Mock Trial), class trips, and an all-school retreat to support spiritual growth and student leadership.
    • School Governance and Operations
      Operates under governance by an elected Board of Trustees, maintains accreditation through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), and provides leadership for elementary education, preschool programs, operational leadership, and junior high education.
    • School Operations and Governance
      Operates two campuses (Preschool-6th Grade and Junior High/High School) and is governed by an elected Board of Trustees, providing academic, social, and spiritual education from preschool through 12th grade.
    • School Operations and Governance
      Operates two campuses (Preschool-6th Grade and Junior High-High School) and is governed by an elected Board of Trustees, maintaining accreditation through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and employing licensed, qualified faculty.
    • Spiritual Development Programs
      Offers Elementary and Junior High Discipleship Classes, High School clubs including Student Council and Mock Trial, lunchtime and after-school Bible studies, class trips, and an all-school retreat to nurture spiritual growth and strong character.
  • Needs-Based Educational Financial Aid 5 activities
    • Provide tuition assistance and financial aid support
      Helps families cover 40% to 100% of tuition through state-funded programs, offers in-house aid for verified financial need, and provides discounts for families in ministry, military, public service, or with multiple children enrolled.
    • Tuition Assistance Programs
      Helps families cover tuition costs using state-funded assistance programs, offers additional in-house tuition assistance for verified financial need, and provides discounts for families in full-time ministry, military, public service, or with multiple children enrolled.
    • Tuition Assistance Programs
      Helps families cover tuition costs through state-funded assistance programs, provides additional in-house tuition assistance for verified financial need, and offers discounts for families in full-time ministry, military, public service, or with multiple children enrolled.
    • Tuition Assistance and Financial Aid
      Helps families cover tuition costs through state-funded assistance programs, provides additional in-house tuition assistance for verified financial need, and offers discounts for families in full-time ministry, military, public service, or with multiple children enrolled.
    • Tuition Assistance and Financial Aid
      Helps families cover tuition costs through state-funded assistance programs, offers additional in-house tuition assistance for verified financial need, and provides discounts for families in full-time ministry, military, public service, or with multiple children enrolled.
  • FAFSA & Scholarship Application Support 3 activities
    • Financial Aid Workshops
      Hosts Financial Aid Workshops in partnership with The Institute for Better Education to educate families on applying for, giving, and raising scholarship funds.
    • Financial Aid Workshops
      Hosts Financial Aid Workshops in partnership with The Institute for Better Education to educate families on applying for, giving, and raising scholarship funds.
    • Host financial aid workshops for families
      Conducts Financial Aid Workshops in partnership with The Institute for Better Education to help families apply for, raise, and manage scholarship funds.
  • Specialized Private Day Schools for Students with Disabilities 3 activities
    • Special Education Services
      Provides academic support and special education services for students with exceptional learning needs at both the Speedway and Wrightstown campuses, recognizing individual gifts and diverse learning styles within a Christian framework.
    • Special Education Services
      Provides academic support and special education services for students with exceptional learning needs at both the Speedway and Wrightstown campuses, recognizing individual gifts and diverse learning styles within a Christian framework.
    • Support students with special education needs
      Provides special education services at the Speedway campus and offers academic support for students with exceptional learning needs, recognizing diverse learning styles within a Christian framework.
  • International Student Hosting & Support Programs 2 activities
    • Enroll international students with host family placement
      Welcomes F-1 Visa international students and supports their integration by matching each with a screened American host family and providing academic and language support.
    • International Student Program
      Welcomes F-1 Visa international students, matches them with screened American host families, and offers an ELL support program with academic English courses and tutoring.
  • Parent and Family Engagement Coordination 1 activity
    • Engage families through parent resources
      Provides a dedicated parent resources page with information and opportunities for engagement to support family involvement in the school community.
  • Education Equity Compliance 1 activity
    • Ensure non-discriminatory admissions and program access
      Admits students and administers educational, admissions, scholarship, and athletic programs without discrimination based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, in compliance with federal and state law.
  • Preschool and Kindergarten Readiness Programs 1 activity
    • Preschool Education
      Provides Christ-centered, play-based preschool programs with bilingual education, focusing on spiritual development and lifelong learning through hands-on discovery.
  • Uncategorized 11 activities
    • Deliver bilingual and language support programs
      Provides bilingual education in preschool and teaches Spanish to elementary and junior high students, along with an ELL support program offering academic English instruction and tutoring for international students.
    • Elementary Education
      Offers an elementary academic program for students through 6th grade, emphasizing mastery of basic skills, Christian worldview integration, dedicated Bible instruction, Chapel, and Spanish language teaching.
    • Elementary Education
      Operates a Preschool through 6th Grade campus and offers an elementary academic program emphasizing mastery of basic skills, Christian worldview integration, dedicated Bible instruction, Chapel, and Spanish language teaching.
    • Elementary Education
      Offers an elementary academic program emphasizing mastery of basic skills, Christian worldview integration, dedicated Bible instruction, Chapel, and Spanish language teaching.
    • Elementary Education
      Offers an elementary academic program emphasizing mastery of basic skills, Christian worldview integration, dedicated Bible instruction, Chapel, and Spanish language teaching.
    • International Student Program
      Welcomes F-1 Visa international students, matches them with screened American host families, and offers an ELL support program with academic English courses and tutoring.
    • Junior High Education
      Operates a junior high program focused on academic excellence, real-world application, and spiritual development through Bible instruction, Chapel, and Spanish language teaching.
    • Junior High Education
      Operates a campus for Junior High students, providing an academic program focused on excellence, real-world application, spiritual development through Bible instruction and Chapel, and Spanish language teaching.
    • Junior High Education
      Operates a junior high program focused on academic excellence, real-world application, spiritual development through Bible instruction and Chapel, and offers Spanish language teaching.
    • Junior High Education
      Operates a junior high program focused on academic excellence, real-world application, spiritual development through Bible instruction and Chapel, and Spanish language teaching.
    • Preschool Education
      Provides Christ-centered, play-based preschool programs with bilingual education, focusing on spiritual development and lifelong learning through hands-on discovery.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$8.00M
Contributions & grants$2.79M35%
Program service revenue$5.01M63%
Investment income$-34K-0%
Other revenue$234K
expenses
Total expenses$7.60M
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$4.00M
Grants paid out$1.70M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$16.88M
Cash$1.46M
Investments$240K
Liabilities$1.64M
Net assets$15.24M
Liquid reserves2.7 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +35.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Luebke Richard Acting Head Master 40 $29K
board members · 11
  • Adama Mark — Trustee
  • Buell Margaret — Trustee, Secretary
  • Davis Courtney — Trustee
  • Farinelli Matthew — Trustee
  • Hemme Angelica — Trustee
  • Kishbaugh Stacy — Trustee
  • O'Hair Eddie — Trustee, Vice Pres
  • Rodgers Brandon — Trustee, President
  • Tucker Robert — Trustee, Treasurer
  • Vondrak Emily — Trustee
  • Welch Lauren — Trustee
relationships · 6

who they work with

  • Association of Christian Schools International Network — Accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International.
  • Association of Christian Schools International Network — Member school accredited by ACSI
  • Speedway Campus Partner — Delivers educational services at the Speedway location
  • The Institute for Better Education Partner — Co-hosts Financial Aid Workshops with Desert Christian Schools to educate families on scholarship applications and fundraising.
  • University of Arizona Network — Located in the same city and part of the broader educational environment accessible to DCS students.
  • Wrightstown Campus Partner — Operates educational and administrative programs at the Wrightstown location