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Leading Edge Academy Maricopa

Gilbert, AZ · EIN 270349709 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE B90 · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · leadingedgeacademy.com
revenue
$8.1M
expenses
$7.1M
net assets
$5.3M
employees
112
volunteers
10
program ratio
50%
mission · from form 990

The Schools mission is to educate students by operating a charter school in Arizona.

profile · synthesized from sources

Charter school network operating tuition-free K-12 campuses across Arizona, including in East Mesa, Gilbert, Maricopa, and online. Focuses on academic excellence and character development through a structured, technology-enriched environment. Serves students in grades K-8 at physical campuses and offers full online programs for grades K-12, with small class sizes and a uniform policy.

named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Capturing Kids’ Hearts
School-wide culture program focused on building relationships, trust, and student leadership; implemented at East Mesa campus with 100% staff training
Character Development Program
Integrates the "6 Pillars of Character" into academics and personal development across all campuses
Free/Reduced Lunch Program
Government-sponsored meal program providing catered hot lunches to eligible students
Online Education (OnlineLEA)
Full-time online K-12 program serving students across Arizona with structured, technology-enriched learning
activities · 10 clusters

what they do

  • Student Wellness & Support Services 4 activities
    • Deliver differentiated instruction for diverse learners
      Implements differentiated instruction strategies to address the unique academic needs of students with diverse learning styles across its campuses.
    • Implementing Differentiated Instruction
      Implements differentiated instruction to cater to the unique academic needs of students with diverse learning styles.
    • Implementing Differentiated Instruction
      Implements differentiated instruction to cater to the unique academic needs of students with diverse learning styles.
    • Implementing Differentiated Instruction
      Implements differentiated instruction to cater to the unique academic needs of students with diverse learning styles.
  • Parent and Family Engagement Coordination 4 activities
    • Engage parents through structured volunteer opportunities
      Offers structured parent volunteer opportunities including classroom support, event coordination, and parenting workshops to build family-school partnerships.
    • Facilitating Parent Volunteer Opportunities
      Offers structured opportunities for parents to volunteer, including classroom support, event coordination, and parenting workshops.
    • Offering Parent Volunteer Opportunities
      Provides structured opportunities for parents to volunteer, including classroom support, event coordination, and parenting workshops.
    • Offering Parent Volunteer Opportunities
      Provides structured opportunities for parents to volunteer, including classroom support, event coordination, and parenting workshops.
  • Student Enrollment & Admissions Management 4 activities
    • Facilitating Student Enrollment
      Conducts an annual enrollment lottery in February for student admissions and maintains a first-come, first-served waiting list when classes are at capacity.
    • Facilitating Student Enrollment
      Conducts an annual enrollment lottery in February for student admissions and maintains a first-come, first-served waiting list when classes are at capacity.
    • Manage student enrollment through lottery and waitlist
      Conducts an annual enrollment lottery in February and maintains a first-come, first-served waiting list when classes are at capacity.
    • Managing Student Enrollment
      Conducts an annual enrollment lottery in February for student admissions and maintains a first-come, first-served waiting list when classes reach capacity.
  • School-Based Meal Programs 4 activities
    • Offer free full-day kindergarten and meal programs
      Provides free full-day kindergarten and a catered hot lunch program, including participation in the government-sponsored Free/Reduced Lunch Program, to support student access and well-being.
    • Providing School Lunch Programs
      Offers a catered hot lunch program and participates in the government-sponsored Free/Reduced Lunch Program for students.
    • Providing School Lunch Programs
      Offers a catered hot lunch program and participates in the government-sponsored Free/Reduced Lunch Program.
    • Providing School Lunch Programs
      Offers a catered hot lunch program and participates in the government-sponsored Free/Reduced Lunch Program.
  • Advanced & Dual Enrollment Course Offerings 4 activities
    • Offering Dual Enrollment Programs
      Provides dual enrollment programs that enable high school students to take college courses.
    • Offering Dual Enrollment Programs
      Provides dual enrollment programs that enable high school students to take college courses.
    • Offering Dual Enrollment Programs
      Provides dual enrollment programs that enable high school students to take college courses.
    • Provide dual enrollment and college preparatory programs
      Offers dual enrollment programs that allow high school students to take college courses as part of its college preparatory mission across its Arizona campuses.
  • Classical & Back-to-Basics Charter Schools 4 activities
    • Operate K-12 tuition-free public charter schools
      Operates multiple K-12 tuition-free public charter school campuses across Arizona, offering advanced academics, character education, small class sizes, and competitive sports in a technology-enriched environment.
    • Operating K-12 Charter Schools
      Operates K-12 tuition-free public charter school campuses across Arizona, including East Mesa, Queen Creek, Gilbert, and Maricopa, offering advanced academics, character education, small class sizes, and competitive sports in a technology-enriched and family-oriented environment.
    • Operating K-12 Charter Schools
      Operates K-12 tuition-free public charter school campuses across Arizona, including East Mesa, Queen Creek, Gilbert, and Maricopa, offering advanced academics, character education, small class sizes, and competitive sports in a technology-enriched and family-oriented environment.
    • Operating K-12 Charter Schools
      Operates K-12 tuition-free public charter school campuses across Arizona, including East Mesa, Queen Creek, Gilbert, and Maricopa, offering advanced academics, character education, small class sizes, and competitive sports in a technology-enriched and family-oriented environment.
  • Nonprofit K–8 Charter & Waldorf Schools 3 activities
    • Providing Free Full-Day Kindergarten
      Offers free full-day kindergarten as part of its charter school program.
    • Providing Free Full-Day Kindergarten
      Offers free full-day kindergarten as part of its charter school program.
    • Providing Free Full-Day Kindergarten
      Offers free full-day kindergarten as part of its charter school program.
  • Instrument Loan Program 3 activities
    • Support extracurricular and service learning programs
      Establishes instrumental band programs and supports annual international service learning trips, such as the Jamaica Service Learning trip for GEC students, funded through tax credit donations.
    • Supporting Extracurricular Programs via Tax Credits
      Uses tax credit donations to establish programs such as Mountain View’s first Instrumental Band Program and support the annual Jamaica Service Learning trip for GEC students.
    • Supporting Extracurricular Programs via Tax Credits
      Uses tax credit donations to establish programs such as Mountain View’s first Instrumental Band Program and support the annual Jamaica Service Learning trip for GEC students.
  • Instrument Donation and Distribution for Youth and Refugees 1 activity
    • Supporting Extracurricular Programs via Tax Credits
      Uses tax credit donations to establish programs like Mountain View’s first Instrumental Band Program and support initiatives such as the annual Jamaica Service Learning trip for GEC students.
  • Uncategorized 4 activities
    • Implement school-wide social-emotional learning framework
      Leads with the Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) framework, with full staff training at the East Mesa campus and recognition as a CKH National Showcase School for 2024–2025.
    • Implementing Capturing Kids’ Hearts Strategies
      Trains 100% of staff at the East Mesa campus in Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) strategies and has been recognized as a CKH National Showcase School for the 2024–2025 school year.
    • Implementing Capturing Kids’ Hearts Strategies
      Trains 100% of staff at the East Mesa campus in Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) strategies, leading to recognition as a CKH National Showcase School.
    • Implementing Capturing Kids’ Hearts Strategies
      Trains 100% of staff at the East Mesa campus in Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) strategies, leading to recognition as a CKH National Showcase School.
financials · form 990 · fy2021

the money

revenue
Total revenue$8.12M
Contributions & grants$8.01M99%
Program service revenue$66K1%
Investment income$8K0%
Other revenue$36K
expenses
Total expenses$7.08M
Program expenses50%
Admin / overhead50%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$3.81M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$12.82M
Cash$3.31M
Investments$0
Liabilities$7.49M
Net assets$5.33M
Liquid reserves5.6 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +16.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

board members · 5
  • Aeson Johnson — Director
  • Damon Norris — Director
  • Delmer Geesey — CEO
  • Rusty Akers — Director
  • Tim Hall — Director
relationships · 6

who they work with

  • Arizona Government — Participates in the Arizona Arts Proficiency Seal program established by the state.
  • Arizona Department of Education Government — Subject to oversight and regulation by the Arizona Department of Education.
  • ParentVUE Partner — Technology partner for academic monitoring and family communication.
  • Parents Partner — Partners with parents through volunteer opportunities, family workshops, and shared responsibility in student learning.
  • State Board of Charter Schools Government — Accountable to the State Board of Charter Schools for performance and compliance.
  • StudentVUE Partner — Technology partner for academic monitoring and student communication.