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Waterford Country School Incorporated

EIN 06-0861862 · Quaker Hill, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WATERFORD COUNTRY SCHOOL IS DEDICATED TO DOING "WHATEVER IT TAKES" TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES THROUGH SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS, RESOURCES, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. WATERFORD COUNTRY SCHOOL HOLDS AS ITS CORE VALUE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS BASED UPON RESPECT, COMPASSION AND HOPE.

Income
$12.9 million
Spending
$12.9 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
169
Volunteers
61
Highest pay
$151,414, 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 49 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

    18 of 18 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 (7)
  1. $6.0 million spent. SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, HUMAN-ANIMAL INTERACTION, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND LIFE SKILLS. STUDENTS RANGE FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE WITH SPECIALIZED EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS. OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, COUNSELING, SPEECH THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND READING INTERVENTIONS AS INDICATED ON THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS. THEY OFTEN HAVE STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN GRADES AND ATTENDANCE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING AND BENEFIT FROM THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS AND THE THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT.
  2. $1.4 million spent. QUALITY PARENTING CENTERS - QUALITY PARENTING CENTERS ARE DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN (FROM BIRTH UP TO AGE 12) WHO WERE REMOVED FROM HOME DUE TO PROTECTIVE SERVICE CONCERNS. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE QUALITY PARENTING PROGRAMS IS TO MAINTAIN THE PARENT-CHILD ATTACHMENT, REDUCE A CHILD'S SENSE OF ABANDONMENT, PRESERVE THEIR SENSE OF BELONGING AS PART OF A FAMILY AND COMMUNITY, AND MAINTAIN CULTURAL CONNECTIONS. VISITATION COACHES FACILITATE PERMANENCY PLANNING, PROMOTE TIMELY REUNIFICATION, AND AID IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS TO ESTABLISH AN ALTERNATIVE PERMANENCY PLAN FOR THE CHILD IN OUT OF HOME CARE USING THE VISITING COACH MODEL.
  3. $1.2 million spent. SPECIALIZED TRAUMA INFORMED TREATMENT ASSESSMENT AND REUNIFICATION (STTAR) HOME IS A TEMPORARY CONGREGATE CARE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SHORT-TERM CARE, ASSESSMENT AND A RANGE OF CLINICAL SERVICES TO CHILDREN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES DUE TO ABUSE, NEGLECT OR OTHER HIGH-RISK CIRCUMSTANCES. STAFF PROVIDE EMPATHIC PROFESSIONAL CARE FOR YOUTH WITHIN A ROUTINE OF DAILY ACTIVITIES SIMILAR TO A NURTURING FAMILY STRUCTURE. THE YOUTH RECEIVE ASSESSMENT SERVICES, SUBSTANCE USE SCREENING, CRISIS MANAGEMENT, THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT, EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT, AND INTENSIVE WORK WITH ENGAGEMENT.
  4. $988,392 spent. THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE (TFC) IS A TIME LIMITED, INTENSIVE COORDINATED CLINICAL LEVEL OF FOSTER CARE PROVIDED TO CHILDREN ASSESSED TO HAVE COMPLEX TRAUMA, SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES, MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS INCLUDING SUBSTANCE USE. LICENSED THERAPISTSPROVIDE AN IN-HOME CLINICAL LEVEL OF TREATMENT USING THE FUNCTIONAL FAMILY THERAPY - FOSTER CARE MODEL, IN COLLABORATION WITH FOSTER PARENTS WHO ARE HIGHLY SKILLED AND TRAINED. FOSTER PARENTS RECEIVE INTENSIVE CLINICAL TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO HELP CHILDRENSTABILIZE IN PLACEMENT, AMELIORATE THEIR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL STRUGGLES AND ACHIEVE PERMANENCY. TFC ALSO PROVIDES IN-HOME INTENSIVE SERVICES POST PERMANENCY OUTCOME- REUNIFICATION, GUARDIANSHIP OR ADOPTION.
  5. $1.1 million spent. THERAPEUTIC BOARDING PROGRAM A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AGED BOYS, AGES 11-17, WITH SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC NEEDS. RESIDENTS ATTEND OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION DAY SCHOOL AND RECEIVE ADDITIONAL THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT IN THE RESIDENTIAL MILIEU TO HELP THEM BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ACHIEVE MORE POSITIVE OUTCOMES ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY.
  6. $283,065 spent. CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH OUTPATIENT CLINIC - TREATS TRAUMA (TF-CBT THERAPY AND 3-5-7 MODELS) AS WELL AS THE BEHAVIORAL, EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OF CHILDREN AGES 3-18. INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY THERAPY ARE PROVIDED. PSYCHIATRIC CONSULT CAN BE ARRANGED FOR MEDICATION NEEDS. THE CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC PROVIDES COMPASSIONATE, FAMILY-FOCUSED CARE, HELPING FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY EXPLORE WHAT CHILDREN NEED TO CONNECT, GROW AND THRIVE.
  7. CAMP CUHECA AN INNOVATIVE, MULTIFACETED SUMMER DAY CAMP SPECIALIZING IN ADVENTURE AND ANIMAL THERAPY FOR YOUTH AGES 5-18 THAT NEED INDIVIDUALIZED AND/OR BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT AND EXTRA ADULT SUPERVISION. SMALL GROUPS OF CAMPERS ENJOY ACTIVITIES INVOLVING NATURE, HUMAN-ANIMAL INTERACTIONS, WATER FUN, HIGH AND LOW ELEMENT ROPES COURSES, CLIMBING TOWER, ZIPLINE, GAMES, FIELD TRIPS, AND ARTS AND CRAFTS.

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 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 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 September 1970.

    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.