Schools for Children Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN, INC. ("SFC") IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT CREATES, OPERATES AND CONNECTS DISTINCT PILLARS OF INDEPENDENT, THERAPEUTIC, AND EXTENDED LEARNING PROGRAMS AND SCHOOLS. EACH OF ITS SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE UNIQUE LEARNING NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS IN A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY. THE RESPECTIVE PILLARS DRAW STRENGTH FROM THEIR COMMON FOUNDATION. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING REST AT THE VERY CENTER OF THIS FOUNDATION. BY FOSTERING BEST PRACTICES, INNOVATION, FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES, AND SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE, SFC ENABLES ITS SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS TO EMPOWER ALL STUDENTS TO DEVELOP AGENCY AND BE ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY SUCCESSFUL.
- Income
- $20.0 million
- Spending
- $19.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 98%
- Employees
- 265
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $245,783, 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
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 64% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 37 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 2514 of 14 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 (7)
- $7.8 million spent. LESLEY ELLIS IS AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL (PRESCHOOL-GRADE 8) LOCATED IN ARLINGTON. IT OFFERS A CHILD-CENTERED DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH TO LEARNING WITH SPECIAL EMPHASES ON A LOW STUDENT-TO-FACULTY RATIO, A COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-BIAS/MULTICULTURAL CURRICULUM AND EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION. ITS COMMUNITY IS DEFINED BY RESPECT AND A CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY. ITS ACADEMIC PROGRAM HAS THE FLEXIBILITY TO MEET INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS WHILE BUILDING ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS. A VIBRANT ARTS PROGRAM EXPOSES STUDENTS TO THE VAST CANVAS OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION, AND THE SCHOOLWIDE SPANISH PROGRAM SEIZES ON THE EASE OF EARLY LANGUAGE ACQUISITION TO INSTILL A BROAD CULTURAL AND LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY. THE ANTI-BIAS CURRICULUM IS THE COMPASS THAT GUIDES THE LESLEY ELLIS EXPERIENCE AND A REMINDER THAT STUDENTS, FACULTY AND PARENTS ARE NOT ONLY PART OF A CARING SCHOOL COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO OF A LARGER GLOBAL COMMUNITY THAT DEMANDS OUR UNDERSTANDING AND MINDFULNESS.
- $5.3 million spent. DEARBORN ACADEMY IS A STATE-APPROVED DAY SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN GRADES 3-12. IT IS LOCATED IN NEWTON, MA. STUDENTS RECEIVE SPECIALIZED HELP LEARNING SKILLS NEEDED TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES THAT OFTEN ARE THE RESULT OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING, LANGUAGE-BASED AND/OR OTHER LEARNING DIFFICULTIES. THE SCHOOL PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE ACADEMIC PROGRAM THAT, IN ADDITION TO LANGUAGE ARTS, MATH, SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES, INCLUDES SPANISH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, METAL AND WOOD SHOPS, JEWELRY, ART, MUSIC AND INDIVIDUALIZED READING INSTRUCTION. ITS THERAPEUTIC SERVICES INCLUDE WEEKLY THERAPY, CLINICIANS WHO ARE EMBEDDED IN THE CLASSROOM, MILIEU COUNSELORS, AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES.
- $2.5 million spent. SEAPORT ACADEMY IS AN ALTERNATIVE STATE-APPROVED SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOL FOR YOUNG MEN IN GRADES 8-12, LOCATED IN CHELSEA, MA. THE SCHOOL SPECIALIZES IN USING COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING (CPS) TO WORK WITH TEENS EXPERIENCING SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES. SEAPORT ENGAGES STUDENTS IN ACADEMIC AND ELECTIVE SUBJECTS USING TECHNIQUES THAT ARE COOPERATIVE, HANDS-ON AND ACTIVITY-BASED. HIGHLY PERSONALIZED TEACHING IS COMBINED WITH THERAPEUTIC SUPPORTS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING. SEAPORT HAS A SPECIAL FOCUS ON COMMUNICATION, EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING, SOCIAL SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING. IT ALSO TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF ITS UNIQUE ACCESS TO THE WATER AND THE SURROUNDING URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, INTEGRATING THEM INTO THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
- $982,975 spent. DEARBORN STEP (SHORT TERM EDUCATIONAL PLACEMENT) PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE (UP TO) 45-DAY CLINICAL AND EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 5-12. THESE STUDENTS MAY HAVE STRUGGLED TO BE SUCCESSFUL DUE TO SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES, LEARNING CHALLENGES, ATTENDANCE CHALLENGES, AND SUSPENSIONS. ADDITIONALLY, SOME STUDENTS ARE REFERRED TO STEP BECAUSE THEY ARE IN NEED OF A HOSPITAL STEP-DOWN TO HELP THEM BECOME RE-ACCLIMATED TO A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. STEP EVALUATES AND ASSESSES EACH STUDENT'S SPECIFIC NEEDS AND ADDRESSES CRITICAL LEARNING ISSUES AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES. IT PROVIDES THERAPY, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, FAMILY COLLABORATION/SUPPORTS, AN INDIVIDUALIZED STUDENT-CENTERED CURRICULUM, AND PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTATION OR TREATMENT. INSTRUCTION IS GUIDED BY THE CURRICULUM OF THE REFERRING SCHOOLS. STEP HELPS STUDENTS ACHIEVE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SUCCESS, AND TRANSITIONS THEM TO THE BEST POSSIBLE LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL PLACEMENT. IT IS LOCATED IN NEWTON, MA
- $729,405 spent. WINN BROOK EXTENDED LEARNING (WBEXL) IS LOCATED AT THE WINN BROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BELMONT, MA. THIS EEC-LICENSED PROGRAM PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN IN THE WINN BROOK SCHOOL COMMUNITY. SERVING STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 4TH GRADE, WBEXL OFFERS SUPERVISED, STAFF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE STUDENT LEARNING AND PROMOTE THEIR OVERALL SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. SKILLED FACULTY AND STAFF RECOGNIZE THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF CHILDREN AT DIFFERENT AGES AND STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT AND USE THOSE VARIATIONS AS THE BASIS FOR CREATING AN ENERGIZING CURRICULUM. IN ADDITION TO GENERAL DAILY ACTIVITIES, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN A VARIETY OF AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS.
- $235,243 spent. THE DEARBORN SUMMER PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM ACADEMIC SUPPORT AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES TO SOCIALIZE WITH FRIENDS, LEARN NEW SKILLS, AND HAVE FUN. THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO HELP STUDENTS RETAIN, CONSOLIDATE AND BUILD ON THE ACADEMIC PROGRESS THEY HAVE MADE IN THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL YEAR WHILE PROVIDING POSITIVE SOCIAL EXPERIENCES AND SUMMER ADVENTURES.
- $19,158 spent. THE SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN BROOKLINE EXTENDED LEARNING (BEXL) PROGRAMS, ALTHOUGH CLOSED EFFECTIVE 6/30/24, CONTINUED TO INCUR UNEMPLOYMENT COSTS IN FY25.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1981.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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