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Town School Inc

EIN 13-1393610 · New York, NY

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

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 96 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE TOWN SCHOOL IS COMMITTED TO ELEMENTARY COEDUCATION, SERVING STUDENTS IN NURSERY THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. AS WE EMBRACE HIGH ACADEMIC AND ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR EACH STUDENT, WE ARE GUIDED BY OUR SCHOOL MOTTO, LET THERE BE JOY IN LEARNING. TOWN'S PROGRAM BALANCES THE TRADITIONAL AND THE INNOVATIVE, EMPHASIZING EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS AND A THOROUGH EXPOSURE TO THE ARTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION. WE TEACH CHILDREN TO THINK CREATIVELY, READ CRITICALLY AND REASON LOGICALLY, STRESSING THE VALUE OF BOTH INDIVIDUAL LEARNING AND COLLABORATION. WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, TEACHING STUDENTS TO BE INCLUSIVE AND TO RESPECT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. STUDENTS LEAVE TOWN AS WELL-ROUNDED, ARTICULATE, RESILIENT AND MORALLY RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS. THEY ARE PREPARED TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF A DEMANDING SECONDARY EDUCATION AND CONTINUE ON THE PATH OF LIFELONG LEARNING.

Income
$24.4 million
Spending
$24.7 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
22.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
146
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$818,129, head of school

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

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% 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 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 96 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 24 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 August 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. $20.8 million spent. THE TOWN SCHOOL'S PROGRAM BALANCES THE TRADITIONAL AND THE INNOVATIVE, EMPHASIZING EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS AND A THOROUGH EXPOSURE TO THE ARTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION. TOWN IS COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, TEACHING STUDENTS TO BE INCLUSIVE AND TO RESPECT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. EMBRACING THE IDEA THAT CHILDREN LEARN DIFFERENTLY THAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OR ADULTS, THE TOWN SCHOOL IS COMMITTED TO THEIR NURSERY THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE (N-8) STRUCTURE. TOWN'S CURRICULA AND TEACHING METHODS ARE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF OTHER PROGRAMS, BALANCING THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF ACADEMIC CHALLENGE AND NURTURING SUPPORT AT EACH GRADE LEVEL. THE EMPHASIS IS ON DISCOVERY, EXPLORATION, AND SOCIAL GROWTH INHERENT IN CHILDREN, ENABLED BY A CLASSROOM SETUP AND TEACHING STYLE THAT EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO SPEAK UP AND PARTICIPATE. THE TEACHERS, WHO SERVE AS MENTORS AND FACILITATORS RATHER THAN LECTURERS, APPRECIATE THE UNIQUENESS OF CHILDHOOD AND FOSTER THE INDIVIDUALITY OF EVERY STUDENT. STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM TOWN AS WELL-ROUNDED, ARTICULATE, RESILIENT, AND MORALLY RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS. THEY ARE PREPARED TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF A DEMANDING SECONDARY EDUCATION AND CONTINUE ON THE PATH OF LIFELONG LEARNING. THE TOWN SCHOOL FACULTY TO STUDENT RATIO IS ONE TO FIVE, INCLUDING MATH AND READING SPECIALISTS, GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, AND A DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY. THE RIVERFRONT BUILDING PROVIDES THE IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR WELCOMING AND ENRICHING CHILDREN'S NATURAL CURIOSITY. FACILITIES INCLUDE THREE CONNECTED BUILDINGS HOUSING A STATE-OF-THE-ART LIBRARY/TECHNOLOGY CENTER IN THE HEART OF THE SCHOOL, RECENTLY RENOVATED STATE-OF-THE-ART SCIENCE LABS, ROOMY LIGHT-FILLED CLASSROOMS, MANY OF WHICH HAVE RIVER VIEWS, FULLY EQUIPPED ART CLASSROOMS, A LARGE GYM, TWO LARGE PLAY TERRACES, AND A LARGE AUDITORIUM. THE TOWN SCHOOL RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR CHILD'S SCHOOL. TOWN OFFERS A PARENT EDUCATON PROGRAM TO INTRODUCE THE TOWN CURRICULUM AND THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN AT EACH GRADE LEVEL. IN ADDITION, THE TOWN SCHOOL OPERATES SUMMER SCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS (INCLUDING CLUBHOUSE, POSTSCRIPT, AND INDIVIDUAL INSTRUMENTAL LESSONS), AND DAY CARE PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE REGULAR SCHOOL CURRICULUM PROVIDED TO THE STUDENTS. THE TOWN SCHOOL IS ACCREDITED BY THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 March 1953.

    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.