The Walden School Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 105 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE WALDEN SCHOOL ENGAGES IN THE EDUCATION OF PRESCHOOL THROUGH 5TH GRADE CHILDREN USING A MONTESSORI BASED PHILOSOPHY.
- Income
- $2.6 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 96%
- Employees
- 43
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $122,195, 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: 32 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 40% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 105 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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)
- $2.2 million spent. THE MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN IS MOST COMPREHENSIVELY DESCRIBED AS FREEDOM IN A PREPARED ENVIRONMENT. FOLLOWING THE PRINCIPLES OF ORDER, BEAUTY, AND SIMPLICITY, THIS ENVIRONMENT IS PREPARED WITH MATERIALS DESIGNED BY MARIA MONTESSORI TO ACCOMMODATE EACH DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE. CHILDREN LEARN ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN PERIODS OF INTEREST AND READINESS. WHILE THERE IS RESPECT FOR THE CHILD'S INDIVIDUALISM, THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH HE OPERATES IS WELL STRUCTURED, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE LEARNING, DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-DISCIPLINE, BUILDING OF SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND RESPONSIBLE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR.THE WALDEN SCHOOL'S ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL EMBRACES A GUIDING PHILOSOPHY THAT BLENDS MONTESSORI VALUES WITH 21ST CENTURY SKILLS. STUDENTS IN THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM AT WALDEN ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR LEARNING AS TEACHERS CONSISTENTLY CREATE AND RE-CREATE TO INDIVIDUALIZE INSTRUCTION IN A RESPONSIVE AND RESPECTFUL CLASSROOM COMMUNITY. CHILDREN MOVE NATURALLY BETWEEN INDEPENDENCE AND INTER-DEPENDENCE AS NEEDED AND ARE CONSISTENTLY CHALLENGED TO ACHIEVE THEIR BEST. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY PREPARES STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE AS CRITICALLY THINKING AND CARING CITIZENS OF THE EVER-CHANGING WORLD.THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF COLLABORATION AND PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION READY WALDEN STUDENTS TO BE LEADERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY. TEACHING AND LEARNING AT WALDEN IS JOYFUL AND ENGAGING. STUDENTS WHO GRADUATE ARE CONFIDENT, RESPONSIBLE, AND LOVE LEARNING.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1969.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.