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Lighthouse School Inc

EIN 04-2939326 · N Chelmsford, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL IS COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING, PROTECTING AND ADVANCING THE BEST, LONG-TERM INTEREST(S) OF CHILDREN IN ALL OF ITS POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS. LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL DOES THIS BY MAINTAINING A VERY POSITIVE, SUPPORTIVE AND GROWTH-ORIENTED CULTURE FOR ALL STAFF AND THEREBY MAXIMIZING THEIR MOTIVATION TO DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF COMPREHENSIVE BIOEDUCATIONAL SERVICES POSSIBLE TO AS MANY CHILDREN WHO COULD PRACTICALLY BENEFIT FROM THESE SERVICES.

Income
$29.7 million
Spending
$25.7 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
210
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$364,868, chief executive officer

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $23.8 million spent. COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES PROGRAM, SERVING PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH MULTI-DISABILITY CONDITIONS, BOTH ACADEMICALLY AND THERAPEUTICALLY. LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL, INC. HAS BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 1967 AS A PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT (501(C)(3)), CHAPTER 766 APPROVED HUMAN SERVICE CORPORATION SERVING THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS HAVING A BROAD RANGE OF DISABLING CONDITIONS. LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL OPERATES ACCORDING TO A COMPREHENSIVE BIODEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES MODEL, MEANING SERVICES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE TOTAL LIFE DEVELOPMENT ARE PROVIDED DURING THE DAY, EVENINGS, AND WEEKENDS, BOTH ON-SITE AND IN THE HOME COMMUNITIES OF ATTENDING STUDENTS. ENROLLED STUDENTS RESIDE IN MANY OF THE CITIES AND TOWNS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND ARE TRANSPORTED TO AND FROM LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL DAILY BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES. ALL ACADEMIC, THERAPEUTIC AND LIFE PREPARATORY EXPERIENCES AT LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL ARE PLANNED AND PROVIDED ACCORDING TO THE INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS OF EACH ENROLLED STUDENT. THESE NEEDS ARE MET BY SERVICES THAT ARE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF APEX BIOEDUCATION. LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL DELIVERS A SPECIFIC ARRAY OF SERVICES ACCORDING TO EACH STUDENT'S UNIQUE PROFILE. THE COMPREHENSIVE BIODEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES MODEL OFFERS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY MENU FROM WHICH AN INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLAN IS DEVELOPED. FACULTY COMMUNICATE EXTENSIVELY SO THAT QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY CHARACTERIZE ALL STUDENT INTERACTIONS. FACULTY ARE TRAINED TO WORK TOGETHER AS A SYNERGISTIC TREATMENT TEAM IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF SERVICES. LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH DIVERSE NEEDS AND DISABILITIES. STUDENTS WHO ATTEND LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL RANGE IN AGE FROM 3-22 YEARS OF AGE AND HAVE A VARIETY OF TYPES OF SPECIAL NEEDS, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENTAL/NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, MEDICAL/GENETIC CONDITIONS, LEARNING DISABILITIES AND PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSES.ACADEMIC EDUCATION IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT. HOWEVER, FOR THE STUDENT POPULATION AT LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL IT IS NOT ENOUGH. AT LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL THERE IS A BROAD RANGE OF CURRICULUM-BASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, COMMUNICATION, CLINICAL, NEUROMOTOR AND MEDICAL SERVICES. THESE SERVICES DO NOT SIMPLY WORK ALONG SIDE OF EACH OTHER. RATHER, THEY ARE INTEGRATED INTO AN APPROACH CALLED APEX BIOEDUCATION, WHICH PRODUCES A MORE POWERFUL TECHNICAL INTERVENTION RESULTING IN POSITIVE BIODEVELOPMENT THAN ANY SERVICE ALONE COULD PRODUCE. LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOL HAS SERVED OVER 100 COMMUNITIES IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1987.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.

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.