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Rocketship Education

EIN 20-4040597 · San Jose, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION IS A NATIONAL NON-PROFIT NETWORK OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOLS SERVING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO EXCELLENT SCHOOLS. FOUNDED IN 2006, ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION IS A 501 (C)(3) NON-PROFIT CORPORATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO ELIMINATE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE CORE OF ROCKETSHIP'S INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL IS A TEACHER-LED, TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTED APPROACH TO PERSONALIZED LEARNING THAT MATCHES EACH STUDENT WITH THE RIGHT CONTENT AT THE RIGHT TIME UTILIZING THE RIGHT METHOD OF INSTRUCTION. BY DEEPLY ENGAGING PARENTS IN THEIR STUDENT'S LEARNING AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, ROCKETSHIP DEVELOPS PARENTS WHO BECOME LIFELONG ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR COMMUNITY. WORKING ALONGSIDE PARENTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, DISTRICTS, AND OTHER CHARTER SCHOOLS, ROCKETSHIP IS CATALIZING A MOVEMENT TO ELIMINATE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP IN OUR LIFETIME.

Income
$178.1 million
Spending
$176.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
1,396
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$377,475, ceo

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: 62 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 67% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% 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. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • The network of public elementary charter schools serves approximately 10,000 students in high need communities.Work delivered
  • Schools directly operated in California and Tennessee serve approximately 7,600 students.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $149.1 million spent. ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION MANAGES, OPERATES, AND PROMOTES A NETWORK OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOLS SERVING APPROXIMATELY 10,000 STUDENTS IN HIGH NEED COMMUNITIES. ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION DIRECTLY OPERATES SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA AND TENNESSEE WITH APPROXIMATELY 7,600 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

  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 December 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.