Follow the Money: Are Funds Being Embezzled at Gateway Charter Academy?

Gateway Charter Academy, Dr. Lucy and Robbie Moore

DALLAS, Texas (TXAN 24) -- Gateway Charter Academy, a publicly funded charter school located at 1015 E Wheatland Rd, Dallas, Texas, is under scrutiny for its financial management and academic performance. A review of the school’s 2022 tax filings, combined with data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), raises serious concerns about fiscal responsibility and student achievement.

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Financial Red Flags from 2022 Tax Filings

An analysis of Gateway Charter Academy’s most recent public tax records

(2022) reveals several questionable financial practices:

• $4.1 Million in Compensation to Officers and Employees – Superintendent Dr. Robbie Moore received $215,103, far exceeding others listed, despite the school’s relatively small student population and Dr. Lucy Moore with a compensation number of $110,536 with 0 average hours per week listed in 2022.

• $2.5 Million in “Management and General” Expenses – The broad categorization makes it difficult to determine how these funds were actually used.

• Over $1.2 Million in Rent and Facility Costs – If the property is owned by an affiliated church or related entity, this could indicate self-dealing.

• $450,000 in Interest Payments – Raises questions about outstanding debts and how they impact school funding.

• $1.9 Million in Undefined “Other Expenses” – The lack of detail in financial reporting creates further transparency concerns.

• Low Work Hours for Key Officers – Some officers report working just one hour per week while holding leadership roles.

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Heavy Reliance on Government Grants

Gateway Charter Academy reported $8.4 million in government funding compared to just $174,203 in private contributions. With no significant revenue from other sources such as fundraising or investments, the school’s financial health appears entirely dependent on public funding.

Academic Performance and Student Data

According to NCES data for the 2023-2024 school year, Gateway Charter Academy serves 216 students across grades 6-12, with a student-teacher ratio of 13.37:1. However, U.S. News & World Report rankings highlight significant academic challenges:

#10,972 in National Rankings

#1,042 in Texas High Schools

#224 in Dallas Metro Area High Schools

#1,073 among Charter High Schools

Additionally, subject proficiency rates raise concerns about student preparedness:

Mathematics Proficiency – 33%

Reading Proficiency – 48%

Science Proficiency – 36%

Graduation Rate – 100%

Despite the reported 100% graduation rate, the low proficiency scores suggest students may be graduating without mastering essential academic skills.

Former Employee's Perspective: "Higher-ups that own the school pocket every penny that comes in. They do not care about the students having supplies or books. There is no library or place for students to get books. The owners make sure they fire any teacher that acts like they care about the students. As soon as I told them the kids are losing because they have no resources, they fired me. Mind you, I was one of maybe three degreed teachers there."

Parent's Perspective: "There are few good teachers. Administrators do not have control of the misconduct of teachers towards students. Most of the teachers are not even certified to teach and should not have their own class. Some children get mistreated by the teachers, and the administrators do nothing about it."

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Conclusion

Gateway Charter Academy’s financial management and academic performance raise serious questions about its effectiveness as a publicly funded institution. TXAN 24 News will continue investigating potential mismanagement and monitoring any developments regarding oversight or accountability measures.

For updates on this ongoing investigation, follow TXAN 24 News.