Circle Academy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CIRCLE ACADEMY IS COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN DIVERSITY AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT FOR EVERYONE. WE ENSURE THAT STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES CONSISTENTLY FEEL AT EASE AND VALUED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. RECOGNIZING PARENTS AS COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS IN THEIR CHILDREN'S
- Income
- $5.7 million
- Spending
- $6.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 96%
- Employees
- 92
- Highest pay
- $340,162, executive di
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: 44 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 63% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% 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.
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 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
10 of 10Gave 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 (3)
- $5.5 million spent. FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, CIRCLE ACADEMY SERVED 513 STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL PRACTICES THAT HELPED TO MAINTAIN INSTRUCTIONAL COHERENCE BY DOING THE FOLLOWING: 1. CIRCLE ACADEMY PLACED A HIGH VALUE ON ESTABLISHING A WARM AND SUPPORTIVE EDUCATIONAL SETTING, ONE WHERE NURTURING LOVE, TRUST, AND RESPECT IS PARAMOUNT FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO HARBOR THESE FEELINGS FOR THEIR PEERS, EDUCUATORS, FAMILIES AND THEMSELVES. 2. AT CIRCLE ACADEMY, DIVERSITY WAS MORE THAN A CONCEPT; IT WAS A PRACTICE OF ENSURING EQUAL RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION FOR ALL PEOPLE AND CONSCIENTIOUS STEWARDSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENT. 3. THE SCHOOL AS PROACTIVE IN INVOLVING PARENTS, BELIEVING FIRMLY IN POWER OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT TO ENRICH THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF THEIR CHILDREN. 4. COMMITMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF ITS STAFF WAS EVIDENT AT CIRCLE ACADEMY, WITH TARGETED TRAINING IN THE DOMAINS OF CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AMD EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONAL METHODOLOGIES. 5. THE ACADEMY MAINTAINED A DEDICATION TO THE CONTINUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF EDUATORS, KEEPING THEM ABREAST OF THE LATEST PRESCHOOL CURRICULAR STANDARDS AND THE NEW YORK STATE COMMON CORE. 6. CIRCLE ACADEMY'S HOLLISTIC APPROACH TO EDUCATION WAS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND INTELLECTUAL ADVANCEMENT OF ITS STUDENTS, WITH EACH DAY BRINGING ACTIVITIES CRAFTED TO DEVELOP THESE CRITICAL AREAS. 7. A SIGNIFICANT FOCUS AT CIRCLE ACADEMY WAS TO STRENGTHEN ITS SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, ACHIEVED THROUGH STRATEGIC ALLIANCES WITH RESPECTED EDUCATIONAL BODIES THAT CATER TO DIVERSE LEARNNG NEEDS, BENEFITING STUDENTS AND PARENTS ALIKE THROUGH SHARED RESOURCES AND COLLABORATIVE SERVICE DELIVERY FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, CIRCLE ACADEMY SERVED 513 STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL PRACTICES THAT HELPED TO MAINTAIN INSTRUCTIONAL COHERENCE BY DOING THE FOLLOWING: 1. CIRCLE ACADEMY PLACED A HIGH VALUE ON ESTABLISHING A WARM AND SUPPORTIVE EDUCATIONAL SETTING, ONE WHERE NURTURING LOVE, TRUST, AND RESPECT IS PARAMOUNT FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO HARBOR THESE FEELINGS FOR THEIR PEERS, EDUCUATORS, FAMILIES AND THEMSELVES. 2. AT CIRCLE ACADEMY, DIVERSITY WAS MORE THAN A CONCEPT; IT WAS A PRACTICE OF ENSURING EQUAL RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION FOR ALL PEOPLE AND CONSCIENTIOUS STEWARDSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENT. 3. THE SCHOOL AS PROACTIVE IN INVOLVING PARENTS, BELIEVING FIRMLY IN POWER OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT TO ENRICH THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF THEIR CHILDREN. 4. COMMITMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF ITS STAFF WAS EVIDENT AT CIRCLE ACADEMY, WITH TARGETED TRAINING IN THE DOMAINS OF CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AMD EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONAL METHODOLOGIES. 5. THE ACADEMY MAINTAINED A DEDICATION TO THE CONTINUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF EDUATORS, KEEPING THEM ABREAST OF THE LATEST PRESCHOOL CURRICULAR STANDARDS AND THE NEW YORK STATE COMMON CORE. 6. CIRCLE ACADEMY'S HOLLISTIC APPROACH TO EDUCATION WAS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND INTELLECTUAL ADVANCEMENT OF ITS STUDENTS, WITH EACH DAY BRINGING ACTIVITIES CRAFTED TO DEVELOP THESE CRITICAL AREAS. 7. A SIGNIFICANT FOCUS AT CIRCLE ACADEMY WAS TO STRENGTHEN ITS SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, ACHIEVED THROUGH STRATEGIC ALLIANCES WITH RESPECTED EDUCATIONAL BODIES THAT CATER TO DIVERSE LEARNNG NEEDS, BENEFITING STUDENTS AND PARENTS ALIKE THROUGH SHARED RESOURCES AND COLLABORATIVE SERVICE DELIVERY
- $232,802 spent. .
- CIRCLE ACADEMY HAS EFFECTIVELY CONCENTRATED ON EDUCATIONAL SERVICES RANGING FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH 8TH GRADE, FEATURING SPECIALIZED LEARNING APPROACHES SUCH AS MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHIES AND STEM EDUCATION. IT ALSO OFFERS SPECIAL EDUCATION, PARTNERING WITH TOP-TIER EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE EXPERTS IN DIVERSE, SPECIALIZED LEARNING METHODS FOR STUDENTS.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1978.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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