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Alcott School

EIN 13-2939938 · Dobbs Ferry, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

IT IS THE MISSION OF THE ALCOTT SCHOOL TO PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY, DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PRESCHOOL EDUCATION TO ALL OF THE CHILDREN WHO CHOOSE TO ATTEND REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITIES OR DISABILITIES. ALCOTT SCHOOL RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANT ROLE PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES PLAYS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND IS DEDICATED TO EHLPING SUPPORT THE FAMILIES EMROLLED IN THE PROGRAMS.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
114
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$131,747, special education 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: 38 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 103% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 25

    6 of 6 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 (4)
  1. $861,054 spent. MONTESSORIALCOTT SCHOOL PROVIDES TODDLER, PRE-SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS WHICH FOLLOW THE MONTESSORI METHOD OF INSTRUCTION. OUR APPROACH TO EDUCATION IS BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT A CHILD LEARNS BEST WITHIN A PREPARED AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT WHICH SUPPORTS AND RESPECTS EACH INDIVIDUAL'S UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT.
  2. $880,397 spent. SEIT PROGRAM:SEIT TEACHERS PROVIDED SUPPORT TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND/OR DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES IN VARIOUS PRESCHOOLS THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER COUNTY. THIS ENABLED THESE CHILDREN TO ATTEND AND OR REMAIN ENROLLED IN THEIR GENERAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THERE WERE ALSO A NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO RECEIVED SUPPORT IN THEIR HOMES ALLOWING THEIR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO OBSERVE AND TAKE PART IN THE THERAPEUTIC SERVICES.
  3. $2.2 million spent. LITTLE CLASS:LITTLE CLASS IS A SELF-CONTAINED CLASSROOM (9100) FOR FULL DAY; (9115) FOR HALF-DAY.LITTLE CLASS PROGRAMS PROVIDES SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO CHILDREN FROM AGES 3-5 YEARS OF AGE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO LEARN IN A GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT. A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SUPPORT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED WITHIN THE CLASSROOM SETTING, SUCH AS: SPEECH THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND COUNSELING SERVICES.SCIS:SCIS 9165 PROGRAM:THE SCIS CLASSES PROVIDE SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND CLASS IN A MAINSTREAM CLASSROOM, EITHER IN THE TARRYTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OR AT THE ALCOTT SCHOOL AND RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES IN THAT CLASSROOM. THE CLASSES ARE CO-TAUGHT AND SPEECH THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND COUNSELING SUPPORT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED.
  4. $767,393 spent. EARLY INTERVENTION:EARLY INTERVENTION PROVIDES SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES TO CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 3 YEARS OF AGE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO LEARN IN A GENERAL EDUCATION TODDLER CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT. A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SUPPORT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED INCLUDING SELF-CONTAINED TODDLER CLASSROOMS, SPEECH THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, COUNSELING SUPPORT SERVICE AND SERVICE COORDINATION FOR FAMILIES RECEIVING EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES. EVALUATION PROGRAM:THE EVALUATION PROGRAM PROVIDES EVALUATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 4 YEARS OF AGE, WHOSE PARENTS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR DEVELOPMENT. SUPPLEMENTAL EVALUATIONS ARE PROVIDED FOR CHILDREN ALREADY RECEIVING SERVICES BUT WHO NOW ARE DEMONSTRATING DIFFICULTIES IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

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 May 1979.

    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.