Shady Hill School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE MISSION STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE O.
- Income
- $35.9 million
- Spending
- $32.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 17.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 76%
- Employees
- 278
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $645,615, trustee; head of school
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 21 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $23.5 million spent. INSTRUCTIONAL - SHADY HILL SCHOOL FOSTERS JOYFUL, ACTIVE LEARNING INFORMED BY MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES--EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO BE INTELLECTUALLY ADVENTUROUS AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY JUST.
- $1.4 million spent. AFTER SCHOOL & SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS - THE GOAL OF THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A RELAXED, SAFE, NURTURING, AND DYNAMIC NEIGHBORHOOD SETTING FOR CHILDREN ONCE THEIR DAY ENDS. WE AIM TO PROVIDE A STIMULATING AND FUN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH CHILDREN CAN EXPLORE THEIR OWN UNIQUE IMAGINATIONS, DEVELOP FRIENDSHIPS AND TEST THEIR ABILITIES. THE PROGRAM IS PLANNED WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE ROOM FOR CHILDREN TO INITIATE AND INVENT THEIR OWN GAMES AND PROJECTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE OFFER A QUIET AND SUPPORTIVE SPACE FOR STUDENTS TO WORK ON THEIR HOMEWORK.OUR SUMMER CAMP PHILOSOPHY IS IN KEEPING WITH THE SCHOOL'S MISSION TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OF ACCEPTANCE. WE GIVE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION AND ENCOURAGE CAMPERS TO DEVELOP A PASSION FOR LIFE THROUGH PLAYTIME, EXPLORATION AND THE BUSINESS OF MAKING FRIENDS. WE UNDERSTAND THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY THAT THE SUMMER PROVIDES FOR LEARNING AND FUN.
- $329,771 spent. TEACHER TRAINING CENTER (TTC)- THE CENTER PROVIDES ASPIRING TEACHERS WITH WELL-GUIDED EXPERIENCES IN PRE-K THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE CLASSROOMS WHERE PRACTICE MERGED WITH THEORY IS PARAMOUNT. IMMERSION IN THE CLASSROOM WHILE STUDYING AND WORKING ALONGSIDE A TALENTED MENTOR IS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN HOW TO TEACH. IN THIS ONE-YEAR, SITE-BASED PREPARATION PROGRAM, APPRENTICE TEACHERS DISCOVER WHAT TEACHING IS ALL ABOUT THROUGH OBSERVATION, SUPERVISED TEACHING, WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, AND CONTINUOUS INVOLVEMENT IN THE LIFE OF THE SCHOOL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1937.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.