Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Opportunity Charter School

EIN 20-1157094 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 1252 cents.

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

What it says it does

AT OPPORTUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL, WE WELCOME ALL STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 12, REGARDLESS OF PREVIOUS ACADEMIC SUCCESS: STUDENTS WHO ARE YEARNING TO LEARN, STUDENTS WHO HAVE FALLEN BEHIND, STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN TOLD THEIR ASPIRATIONS ARE BEYOND REACH.THROUGH A POSITIVE BELIEF IN EVERY STUDENT'S PROMISE, WE ARE COMMITTED TO BRINGING THEIR POTENTIAL TO LIFE.WE PROVIDE STAFF AND STUDENTS WITH A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO PURSUE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH AN INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN TAILORED TO THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS.WE NURTURE INTELLECTUAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH. STUDENTS RECEIVE DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION IN EVERY CURRICULAR AREA FROM OUR HIGHLY-TRAINED STAFF, WITH THE GOAL OF EXPANDING THEIR HIGHER COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING.OUR SCHOOL CULTURE IS PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN AND RESULTS-ORIENTED. STUDENTS GRADUATE HAVING ACHIEVED A CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL FOUNDATION, AS WELL AS A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR OWN STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.

Income
$11.0 million
Spending
$12.0 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
97
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$364,646, chief operating officer

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1252 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 (3)
  1. $6.5 million spent. SPECIAL EDUCATION:- FOR 2024-2025, THE OCS SPECIAL EDUCATION GRADUATION RATE WAS 86%, SCORING 3 PERCENTAGE POINTS ABOVE THE COMPARISON GROUP IN 2024-2025.- THE AVERAGE SCORE FOR THE ALGEBRA I REGENTS EXAM TAKEN BY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IS COMPARABLE TO THE COMPARISON GROUP FROM 2024-2025.
  2. $2.1 million spent. HIGH SCHOOL:- IN 2024-2025, OCS STUDENTS GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL WITHIN 4 YEARS AT 91%, 6 PERCENTAGE POINTS ABOVE THE COMPARISON GROUP IN 2024-2025.- IN 2024-2025, OCS STUDENTS ACHIEVED A 100% ATTENDANCE RATE, SCORING 19 PERCENTAGE POINTS ABOVE THE COMPARISON GROUP IN 2024-2025.- IN 2024-2025, OCS ACHIEVED 96% FOR 4-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL PERSISTENCE RATE, WHICH IS COMPARABLE TO THE COMPARISON GROUP FROM 2024-2025.
  3. $2.1 million spent. MIDDLE SCHOOL:- IN 2024-2025, OCS STUDENTS ACHIEVED A 100% ATTENDANCE RATE, SCORING 13 PERCENTAGE POINTS ABOVE THE COMPARISON GROUP IN 2024-2025.- IN 2024-2025, OCS STUDENTS ACHIEVED A HIGHER AVERAGE PROFICIENCY RATE IN THE ELA EXAM BY ELL STUDENTS IN RELATION TO THE COMPARISON GROUP IN 2024-2025.

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 October 13, 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 July 2005.

    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 October 21, 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.