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Pathway School

EIN 23-2586474 · West Norriton, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 51 cents.

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

What it says it does

TO BUILD ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND LIFE SKILLS IN STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO PROMOTE THEIR SUCCESS AND INDEPENDENCE AFTER PATHWAY.

Income
$15.5 million
Spending
$15.3 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
149
Volunteers
56
Highest pay
$258,286, president and 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

Weak: 36 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 51 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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. $14.0 million spent. THE PATHWAY SCHOOL EMPLOYS AN INTEGRATED, TEAM APPROACH FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AGES 4-21 WITH MILD TO MODERATE AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE AND OTHER NEUROLOGICAL IMPAIRMENTS. EDUCATION IS PROVIDED ON AN INDIVIDUALIZED BASIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH EACH STUDENT'S INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN (IEP) AND IS DESIGNED TO MEET THEIR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL, AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS. SERVICES ARE IMPLEMENTED ON A 12- ACRE CAMPUS AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. ADDITIONAL RELATED SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE: SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, READING SUPPORT, ADAPTIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION, COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION AND POST-GRADUATION PLANNING, CAREER EDUCATION AND CLINICAL SERVICES. PATHWAY IMPLEMENTS A SCHOOL-WIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT ENHANCES THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AND PROVIDES A SAFE, THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT FOR EACH STUDENT TO PROGRESS ACADEMICALLY AND TO DEVELOP AGE APPROPRIATE SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SKILLS. THE GOAL OF THE PATHWAY SCHOOL IS TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT EMPOWERS EACH STUDENT TO LEARN AND ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. PATHWAY STUDENTS COME FROM 40 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, 20 CHARTER SCHOOLS AND FROM 8 SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA COUNTIES. THE PATHWAY SCHOOL CURRENTLY SERVES 173 STUDENTS FROM INTERMEDIATE UNITS 14, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 AND 29.THE INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL USED AT THE PATHWAY SCHOOL RANGES FROM A SELF-CONTAINED, ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION; TO HOMOGENEOUS GROUPINGS FOR READING, MATH, SCIENCE AND WRITING INSTRUCTION; TO DEPARTMENTALIZED INSTRUCTION IN A SECONDARY (HIGH SCHOOL) PROGRAM. STAFFING RATIOS DEPEND ON THE NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT, BUT GENERALLY CLASS SIZE IS 6 - 8 STUDENTS, WITH 1 TEACHER AND 1 TEACHER ASSISTANT. EACH CLASSROOM IS EQUIPPED WITH COMPUTER AND SMARTBOARD TECHNOLOGY AND EACH STUDENT HAS THEIR OWN CHROMEBOOK TABLET. PATHWAY CONTINUES TO EXPAND THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND HAS STEM PROGRAMING WHICH IS BEING USED BY STUDENTS. THE INSTRUCTIONAL CURRICULUM WITH SCOPE AND SEQUENCE INCLUDES THE USE OF RESEARCH-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES AND IS DESIGNED TO MEET STATE COMMON CORE STANDARDS. ALL TEACHERS ARE CERTIFIED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; MOST HOLD MASTER DEGREES. SOCIAL SKILLS ARE EMBEDDED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY SO STUDENTS CAN LEARN TO INTERACT APPROPRIATELY WITH PEERS AND ADULTS ACROSS A VARIETY OF SETTINGS. REGARDLESS OF INTELLECTUAL FUNCTIONING, EVERY PATHWAY STUDENT OVER THE AGE OF 14 IS ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN THE CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES BOTH ON-CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY-BASED EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCES. ALL PATHWAY STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE THEATER PROGRAM WHERE THEY ARE LED BY PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND SET DESIGNERS ON THE PRODUCTION OF THE SCHOOL PLAYS. PATHWAY STUDENTS GRADUATE AT A RATE OF 100%. HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO ATTEND CLASSES AT MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHILE ENROLLED AT PATHWAY.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1991.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.