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Neighborhood Schools Inc

EIN 04-3124370 · Jamaica Plain, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE PERSONALIZED LEARNING WITHIN A COMMUNITY TO CHILDREN REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DIVERSITY OF BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
15
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$98,425, co-school director/board member

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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 May 31, 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. $1.2 million spent. NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS, INC. IS AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL LOCATED IN JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS. STARTED BY PARENTS AND TEACHERS WITH JUST SEVEN CHILDREN IN 1986, IT HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 50 STUDENTS AT TWO SITES IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 6TH GRADE, GROUPED IN FOUR MIXED-AGE LEVELS. MIXED AGES ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE DIFFERENT POSITIONS IN A LEVEL'S AGE CONTINUUM FROM YEAR TO YEAR, AND HELP CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF NORMALCY FOR MANY LAYERS OF LEARNING TO HAPPEN SIMULTANEOUSLY.AT NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS, CHILDREN LEARN TO DISCOVER AND VALUE EACH OTHER'S DIFFERENCES AS PEOPLE AND AS LEARNERS. TIME IS SPENT IN LEARNING ABOUT SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES AND IN DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF CHILDREN IS REPRESENTED AND VALUED. WITHIN A COOPERATIVE LEARNING SITUATION, POSITIVE INTERDEPENDENCE DEVELOPS AMONG STUDENTS. STUDENTS SEE THAT THEY CAN REACH THEIR OWN LEARNING GOALS WHILE THEY WORK TO ENSURE THAT OTHERS ALSO REACH THEIR GOALS. PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFECTIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING ARE ALSO STRESSED. STUDENTS DISCUSS MATERIAL WITH EACH OTHER, HELP EACH OTHER UNDERSTAND, AND ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER TO WORK HARD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 November 6, 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 May 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 August 2000.

    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 November 4, 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.