Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE OWE ARE AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY ON A MISSION TO INSPIRE UNBOUNDED CURIOSITY AND INDEPENDENT THOUGHT IN EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS. IN A UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT THAT EXTENDS WELL BEYOND CAMPUS, WE NURTURE STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE OF THEMSELVES AND THE WORLD, EXPANDING THEIR FULL ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL POTENTIAL WHILE PREPARING THEM TO LEAD LIVES CHARACTERIZED BY THOUGHTFULNESS, INTEGRITY, AND A QUEST TO EFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE.
- Income
- $61.7 million
- Spending
- $63.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -7.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Employees
- 575
- Volunteers
- 345
- Highest pay
- $532,060, head of school
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: 41 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 33% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 44 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 2528 of 28 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $56.9 million spent. DISTINGUISHED BY ITS INNOVATIVE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND SINGLE-SEX TO COED EDUCATIONAL MODEL, SPRINGSIDE CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY (SCH) OFFERS STUDENTS - 18 MONTHS TO 18 YEARS - A WELCOMING LEARNING COMMUNITY SET ON A 62-ACRE URBAN OASIS AT THE EDGE OF THE WISSAHICKON VALLEY IN CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O COMBINING 300 YEARS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH THE MERGER OF SPRINGSIDE SCHOOL AND CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY, SCH IS NOW THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL IN THE CITY, WITH OVER 1,200 STUDENTS. DEEPLY TALENTED EDUCATORS PREPARE OUR STUDENTS TO BE THOUGHTFUL, CURIOUS, AND INDEPENDENT THINKERS WITH THE SKILLSET AND MINDSET FOR FUTURE SUCCESS.THE SCHOOL'S PREMIER FACILITIES, FROM MAKERSPACES TO TURF FIELDS, DRAW STUDENTS FROM MORE THAN 100 ZIP CODES. SIGNATURE PROGRAMS INCLUDE ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP, ROBOTICS AND ENGINEERING, CLASSIC AND TECH-FORWARD ARTS, A BOOTS-ON OUTDOOR EDUCATION, AND A REGGIO EMILIA-INSPIRED EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER.FIVE VALUES SERVE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR TEACHING AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT: DIVERSITY, INTEGRITY, RESILIENCE, COURAGE, AND THOUGHTFULNESS.DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF SCH FACILITIES: - THE 19TH-CENTURY WISSAHICKON INN, HOME TO THE UPPER SCHOOL DIVISION AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES, LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES - 17 LABORATORIES, INCLUDING A 1,600-SQUARE-FOOT, STATE-OF-THE-ART ENGINEERING AND ROBOTICS LAB, THE JAMIE BELL RECORDING STUDIO FOR VIDEO AND MUSIC PRODUCTION, IMAGINEERING LAB AND PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING LAB FOR LOWER SCHOOL - CERTIFIED LEED GOLD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY BUILDING - 6 SOL LEWITT INSTALLATIONS AND A VIOLET OAKLEY MURAL - 1/2-ACRE SOLAR ARRAY ROOFTOP INSTALLATION - LOW AND HIGH ROPES CHALLENGE COURSE - 5 PERFORMING ARTS VENUES - FABRICATION AND DESIGN SPACES, INCLUDING 13 3D PRINTERS AND 2 LASER CUTTERS - EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER FOCUSED ON THE REGGIO EMILIA APPROACH - NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FITNESS CENTER - 2 RESURFACED TURF FIELDS WITH ORGANIC INFILL - NEW UPPER SCHOOL COMMONS - THE WISSAHICKON VALLEY AS AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOMPOINTS OF PRIDE: - EACH SEASON, SCH ATHLETES ARE SELECTED TO ALL-INTER-AC TEAMS AND SIGN WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY TO PURSUE THEIR PASSION AT THE NEXT LEVEL. SCH HAS EARNED BOTH INTER-AC TITLES AND STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. - UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE 100+ ELECTIVES FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE, INCLUDING FORENSICS, ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING, AND VECTOR CALCULUS. - SCH'S UPPER SCHOOL ROBOTICS TEAM WAS PART OF FIRST'S 2019 DETROIT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP-WINNING ALLIANCE. OVER THE PAST 21 YEARS, THE TEAM HAS FINISHED IN THE TOP 10 AT "WORLDS AND WON THE COVETED FIRST CHAIRMAN'S AWARD 8 TIMES. ROBOTICS STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE NATION'S TOP ENGINEERING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PRINCETON, MIT, CALTECH, PENN, BROWN, COLUMBIA, CORNELL, CARNEGIE MELLON, JOHNS HOPKINS, GEORGIA TECH, CLEMSON, RPI, WPI, ROSE HULMAN, AND ALL THREE MILITARY ACADEMIES.- 73% OF SCH FACULTY HOLD ADVANCED DEGREES AND AN AVERAGE OF 17 YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE.- 90% OF STUDENTS IN THE CLASS OF 2025 WERE ACCEPTED INTO ONE OF THEIR TOP TWO COLLEGE CHOICES.- SCH'S UNIQUE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP (CEL) CURRICULUM HAS BEEN LICENSED INTERNATIONALLY AND IS RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION. - SCH AFFIRMS THAT DIVERSITY IS A CONDITION OF EXCELLENCE AND THAT EMBRACING A DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO PROVIDING THE MOST RIGOROUS, GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE EDUCATION. AT SCH, WE AIM TO ENGAGE, UNDERSTAND, AND CELEBRATE THE BROAD RANGE OF HUMAN EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES. THROUGH OUR CURRICULUM, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY-CENTERED EVENTS, AND DAILY INTERACTIONS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO CULTIVATING EMPATHY AND INCLUSION AND NURTURING THE AUTHENTIC EXPRESSION OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL.- RECENT GRADUATES INCLUDE AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST, THE RECIPIENT OF THE "RISING STAR AWARD" FROM FIRST ROBOTICS, A FORBES MAGAZINE "30 UNDER 30" SUMMIT PARTICIPANT, A PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL "40 UNDER 40" RECIPIENT, THE SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT FOR CNBC, AND ONE OF THE UN FOUNDATION'S "TOP 10 FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS TO WATCH" LIST.ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS:- THE SCHOOL ENGAGED IN A STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE (2023-2024) AND DELIVERED SHAPING OUR FUTURE - A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR SPRINGSIDE CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY IN THE FALL OF 2025.- SCH COMPLETED THE PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (PAIS) SELF-STUDY (2023-2024) AND WELCOMED A PAIS ACCREDITATION TEAM VISIT IN THE FALL OF 2025.- SCH ACADEMY'S 10-YEAR CAMPUS MASTER PLAN IS A MULTI-PHASE, CAMPUS-WIDE VISION TO UNIFY OUR GROUNDS AND ELEVATE THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE FROM EARLY LEARNING THROUGH UPPER SCHOOL. PHASE I: COMMON GROUND (2014) TRANSFORMED OUR ATHLETIC FIELDS INTO A STATE-OF-THE-ART COMPLEX THAT LINKS THE FORMER CHA AND SPRINGSIDE CAMPUSES, ADDING NEW PATHWAYS, PLANTINGS, GREEN SPACE, AND MODERN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. PHASE II (2019) DELIVERED THE AWARD-WINNING 72,000-SQUARE-FOOT MCCAUSLAND LOWER SCHOOL AND COMMONS AND REFRESHED KEY MIDDLE SCHOOL ENTRY AND DINING SPACES. PHASE III HAS SECURED THE FUNDS TO RESTORE THE HISTORIC REC INTO A FLEXIBLE, HIGH-PERFORMING ARTS VENUE AND ADVANCE CRITICAL STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE COMMONS IS THE PLAN'S CULMINATING PHASE, CENTERED ON THE UPPER SCHOOL NUCLEUS AND DESIGNED TO COMPLETE THE VISION BY CREATING A DYNAMIC HUB FOR STUDENT LIFE WITH EXCEPTIONAL ATHLETIC AND WELLNESS SPACES. TOGETHER, THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS STRENGTHEN CAMPUS CONNECTIVITY, EXPAND ACADEMIC AND CO-CURRICULAR RESOURCES, AND ADVANCE SCH'S COMMITMENT TO WHOLE-CHILD EDUCATION.- SCH OPENED THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER IN JANUARY 2020, NOW OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY WITH OVER 120 ENROLLED STUDENTS AND ADDITIONAL FACILITIES.- SCH WELCOMED THE RETURN OF HEAD OF SCHOOL STEVE DRUGGAN IN JULY 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1942.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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