Buckley Country Day School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SCHOOL'S MISSION IS GROUNDED IN THE BELIEF EXPRESSED BY B. LORD BUCKLEY THAT OPENING THE EYES AND AWAKENING THE MIND IS THE ESSENCE OF EDUCATION. GUIDED BY THAT MISSION FOR ALMOST A CENTURY, BUCKLEY HAS PURPOSELY FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING A RIGOROUS CURRICULUM AND TEACHING SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE STUDENTS' FUTURE, WHILE REMAINING COMMITTED TO A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION DEDICATED TO NURTURING THE WHOLE CHILD AND FOSTERING JOY IN LIFELONG LEARNING.
- Income
- $17.5 million
- Spending
- $17.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 8.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 91%
- Employees
- 269
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $706,264, 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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 47 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (1)
- $14.1 million spent. THE SCHOOL IS A CO-EDUCATIONAL INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL SERVING 330 CHILDREN IN GRADES PRE NURSERY THROUGH EIGHT. THE SCHOOL IS DESIGNED AS A RIGOROUS LEARNING INSTITUTION TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR ENTRY INTO SELECTIVE SECONDARY SCHOOLS.UPPER SCHOOL - PROVIDED A FULL ACADEMIC YEAR TO 129 STUDENTS IN GRADES 5-8 INCLUDING 171 CLASS INSTRUCTION DAYS.LOWER SCHOOL - PROVIDED A FULL ACADEMIC YEAR TO 201 STUDENTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD AND GRADES K-4 INCLUDING 171 CLASS INSTRUCTION DAYS.SUMMER CAMP - PROVIDED A DAY CAMP FOR CHILDREN AGED 2-15 YEARS INCLUDING 39 DAYS OF OPERATION.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1956.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.