Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Apple Tree Early Learning Public Charter School

EIN 20-1302458 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP BEFORE CHILDREN GET TO KINDERGARTEN BY PROVIDING THREE AND FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN WITH THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND COGNITIVE FOUNDATIONS THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL.

Income
$23.4 million
Spending
$23.0 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
247
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$334,085, board chair

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: 51 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 60% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% 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. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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 (1)
  1. $20.7 million spent. THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS OPEN TO ANY WASHINGTON, DC, CHILD IN PRE-SCHOOL AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN AND ADMISSION IS FREE. THE CHARTER SCHOOL CURRENTLY SERVES 658 CHILDREN AT EIGHT PUBLIC CHARTER PRESCHOOL CAMPUSES ACROSS THE DISTRICT. IN 2020, THE CHARTER SCHOOL SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED ITS FIFTEEN- YEAR CHARTER REVIEW WITH ITS AUTHORIZER, THE DC PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD, AND RECEIVED A CHARTER RENEWAL FOR AN ADDITIONAL FIFTEEN YEARS. IN 2025, THE CHARTER SCHOOL SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ITS TWENTY-YEAR CHARTER REVIEW WITH ITS AUTHORIZER. THE CHARTER SCHOOL UTILIZES THE COMPREHENSIVE AND EVIDENCE-BASED EVERY CHILD READY INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY APPLETREE INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION INNOVATION WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AN INVESTING IN INNOVATION (I3) GRANT FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THE MODEL BUILDS LANGUAGE, LITERACY, AND MEMORY SKILLS USING REGULAR ASSESSMENTS AND DATA OUTCOMES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON STUDENT GROWTH, DIFFERENTIATED BY AN INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS BASELINE KNOWLEDGE. THE CHARTER SCHOOLS PRIMARY SOURCES OF SUPPORT ARE LOCAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS FROM THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE CHARTER SCHOOL ALSO RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION. THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS OPEN TO ANY WASHINGTON, DC, CHILD IN PRE-SCHOOL AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN AND ADMISSION IS FREE. THE CHARTER SCHOOL CURRENTLY SERVES 658 CHILDREN AT EIGHT PUBLIC CHARTER PRESCHOOL CAMPUSES ACROSS THE DISTRICT. IN 2020, THE CHARTER SCHOOL SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED ITS FIFTEEN- YEAR CHARTER REVIEW WITH ITS AUTHORIZER, THE DC PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD, AND RECEIVED A CHARTER RENEWAL FOR AN ADDITIONAL FIFTEEN YEARS. IN 2025, THE CHARTER SCHOOL SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ITS TWENTY-YEAR CHARTER REVIEW WITH ITS AUTHORIZER. THE CHARTER SCHOOL UTILIZES THE COMPREHENSIVE AND EVIDENCE-BASED EVERY CHILD READY INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY APPLETREE INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION INNOVATION WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AN INVESTING IN INNOVATION (I3) GRANT FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THE MODEL BUILDS LANGUAGE, LITERACY, AND MEMORY SKILLS USING REGULAR ASSESSMENTS AND DATA OUTCOMES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON STUDENT GROWTH, DIFFERENTIATED BY AN INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS BASELINE KNOWLEDGE. THE CHARTER SCHOOLS PRIMARY SOURCES OF SUPPORT ARE LOCAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS FROM THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE CHARTER SCHOOL ALSO RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION.

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 July 2006.

    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.