Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Noble Network of Charter Schools
Address:	1010 N. Noble Street
	Chicago, IL 60642
Phone:	773-278-6895
Web Address:	http://www.noblenetwork.org

Noble Network of Charter Schools does not meet the following Standard for Charity Accountability.

Standard 16: Annual Report - Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets. Noble Network of Charter Schools does not meet this standard because the most recent annual report did not include: Total fund raising expenses.

In addition, the BBB of Chicago & Northern Illinois requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight and finances and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 2Standards for Charity Accountability: 1 and 14.

Noble Network of Charter Schools meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.

The Noble Network of Charter Schools is Chicago’s largest charter high school network and the highest performing open-enrollment high school in the Chicago Public Schools system. The Noble Network is comprised of 10 public high school campuses in eight Chicago neighborhoods. Nine of the ten Noble campuses are in low-income census tracts, and six of these nine are in deeply distressed low-income census tracts as designated by the U.S. Census Bureau. Noble serves a student body that is 97% minority, 89% low-income and 12% special needs. Since 1999 Noble has grown to currently serve more than 5,200 students in the 2010-2011 school year. Noble’s rigorous academic model is built on a data-driven culture strengthened by regular assessment and teacher professional development, best practice sharing, and strong school leadership. These components, combined with a longer school day and school year, provide a college preparatory environment that prepares students for success in college and beyond. Noble continues to keep pace with some of Chicago’s highest performing selective enrollment schools. In 2010, all five Noble campuses with junior classes scored in the top ten among 116 open enrollment high schools with the highest average ACT performance. Noble has a 99% graduation rate, with 91% of students advancing on to college. The Class of 2011 had 98% college enrollment and 78% of graduates are in the first generation of their family to attend college.

For the fiscal year ended May 30, 2010, Noble Network of Charter Schools's program expenses were:

Program Services	43,023,107
Total Program Expenses:	$43,023,107

Chief Executive : Michael Milkie, Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*:

$208,576

Chair of the Board: Allan Muchin
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Founding Partner

Board Size: 18

Paid Staff Size: 650

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

grant proposals, internet, planned giving arrangements

Fund raising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $5,332,555, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Noble Network of Charter Schools's audited financial statements - consolidated for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2010.

Source of Funds
Per-Capita Tuition - CPS	29,221,016
Contributions and Grants	5,062,457
Contributed Services	3,021,739
Special Education - CPS	2,434,132
Chapter 1 - CPS	2,195,666
School Lunch Program	1,811,422
Growth Funds - CPS	1,113,416
Small Schools - CPS	1,095,900
Student Fees and Activities	983,200
E-Rate Discount Funding	945,648
Title I - CPS	911,201
Textbook Sales	508,633
Miscellaneous	499,177
ROTC	347,305
Startup Funds - CPS	345,443
Right Angle, Noble Network Program	270,098
Title II - CPS	202,065
Rental Income	175,839
Registration and Tution	120,812
Community Schools Grant - (Title I)	102,609
English Language Learners - CPS	73,132
Case Manager Stipends - CPS	24,336
Transfer to Noble Day Care	20,000
Investment Income	18,717
Total Income	$51,503,963

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 89%  Fund Raising: 1%  Administrative: 10%

Total income				$51,503,963
	Program expenses			$43,023,107
	Fund raising expenses			294,876
	Administrative expenses			4,574,126
Total expenses				$47,892,109
Income in Excess of Expenses				3,611,854
Beginning net assets				16,689,622
Ending net assets				20,301,476
Total liabilities				38,353,134
Total assets				$58,654,610