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Cold Spring School Inc

EIN 06-1066740 · New Haven, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COLD SPRING SCHOOL CHALLENGES CHILDREN TO BECOME SELF-RELIANT, CURIOUS AND RESOURCEFUL PROBLEM SOLVERS WITH THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SKILLS TO ENGAGE CONSTRUCTIVELY AND ETHICALLY IN OUR DIVERSE, CHANGING WORLD.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$5.0 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
57
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$233,089, executive director

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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 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. $3.7 million spent. COLD SPRING SCHOOL IS AN INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL WITH APPROXIMATELY 150 STUDENTS IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH SIXTH GRADE. THE STUDENTS REPRESENT THE DIVERSE CULTURAL, RACIAL AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS FOUND IN THE GREATER NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT AREA. THE SCHOOL OCCUPIES THREE RENOVATED BUILDINGS OVERLOOKING NEW HAVEN HARBOR AND A CITY PARK.CLASSROOMS HAVE TWO FULL-TIME TEACHERS: A HEAD TEACHER AND AN ASSOCIATE TEACHER. A LOW STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO ALLOWS TEACHERS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT, COACHING AND INSTRUCTION. CLASSROOMS ARE DESIGNED WITH SPACES THAT ACCOMMODATE SMALL, COOPERATIVE GROUP LEARNING AS WELL AS ONE-ON-ONE LEARNING WITH A TEACHER. EACH CLASSROOM ALSO HAS SPACE FOR WHOLE-CLASS MEETINGS THAT TYPICALLY START AND END EACH DAY'S ACTIVITIES. CHILDREN USUALLY STAY WITH A HEAD TEACHER FOR TWO YEARS, ALLOWING STUDENT, FAMILY AND TEACHER TO FORM A CLOSE PARTNERSHIP AND PROVIDING MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC GROWTH.THE SCHOOL EMPLOYS A THEMATIC APPROACH WHICH INTEGRATES THE STUDY OF LANGUAGE, ARTS, MATH, SOCIAL STUDIES AND SCIENCE. THROUGH AGE-APPROPRIATE THEMES, TEACHERS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RANGE OF ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SKILLS: RESEARCHING, WRITING, LISTENING, AND COMMUNICATING. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ASK, SHARE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS BRINGING THEIR OWN SKILLS AND PERSPECTIVES TO DISCUSSIONS.AN OPTIONAL EXTENDED-DAY PROGRAM IS OFFERED FROM 3:00PM-5:30PM. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES A BALANCED COMBINATION OF OUTDOOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SNACK AND PROJECT TIME FOR THE LOWER GRADES AND TIME TO WORK ON HOMEWORK FOR STUDENTS IN THE 4-6 GRADES. THE SCHOOL ALSO OFFERS VACATION CHILD CARE ON MANY OF THE DAYS WHEN SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION. THE PROGRAM ACCOMODATES A LIMITED NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN PRE K - GRADE 6, RUNS FROM 8:30AM-4:30PM AND IS STAFFED BY TWO TEACHERS WHO PLAN A DAY OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AT 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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1981.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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