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The Rock School for Dance Education

EIN 23-2707419 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ROCK SCHOOL FOR DANCE EDUCATION (THE SCHOOL) IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY CLASSICAL BALLET AND DANCE TRAINING, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE PREPARATION OF GIFTED STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN DANCE WITH PROFESSIONAL COMPANIES AND EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$7.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 84%
Employees
75
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$169,450, director & president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 43 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 24 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 August 31, 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 (4)
  1. $3.1 million spent. DANCE PROGRAM - THE ROCK SCHOOL FOR DANCE EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S FINEST PRE-PROFESSIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTIONS. DANCERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE HAVE LOOKED TO THE SCHOOL FOR ITS WORLD-CLASS PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM, FEATURING EXCEPTIONAL FACULTY, INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION, AND A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT. THESE ARE EXEMPLIFIED BY THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHOOL'S ALUMS FOR OVER 60 YEARS.GRADUATES HAVE ASCENDED THE RANKS OF PREMIER DANCE COMPANIES WORLDWIDE AND ON BROADWAY AND LONDON'S WEST END. ROCK STUDENTS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE TOP HONORS IN THE PRIX DE LAUSANNE, YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX, USA INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMPETITION, MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMPETITION, AND BERLIN TANZOLYMP. THE FACULTY INCLUDES DISTINGUISHED DANCERS, INSTRUCTORS, AND CHOREOGRAPHERS. TODAY, THE ROCK SCHOOL IS PROUD TO AWARD ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS OF MORE THAN $1.2 MILLION.
  2. $1.3 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE - AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL BOARDING STUDENTS FIND AN INVITING, COMFORTABLE, AND SAFE HOME LIVING AT THE MARINE CLUB DORMITORY ACROSS FROM THE ROCK'S SOUTH PHILADELPHIA LOCATION. THESE RESIDENT AND COMMUTER STUDENTS RECEIVE BOTH DANCE TRAINING AND COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMIC EDUCATION AS PART OF THEIR ROCK SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.THE SCHOOL ALSO HAS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM CALLED ROCKREACH WHICH HAS ENGAGED K-12 PARTICIPANTS FROM UNDERFUNDED COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING TITLE 1, PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND CHARTER SCHOOLS WITH FEW OR NO ART EDUCATION OFFERINGS IN PHILADELPHIA AND DELAWARE COUNTIES FOR 22 YEARS.ROCKREACH SERVES AT LEAST ONE ENTIRE GRADE PER PROGRAM YEAR, NOT SIMPLY ONE CLASS FROM DIFFERENT GRADE LEVELS) ADDITIONALLY, UPWARDS OF 3,800 STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THE ROCK SCHOOL NUTCRACKER FOR FREE EACH YEAR THROUGH LIVE AND VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS. THE CITY DANCE PROGRAM MOVES ROCKREACH STUDENTS WITH INTEREST AND APTITUDE FOR MORE FORMAL DANCE STUDY INTO THE SCHOOL'S PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMMING ON SCHOLARSHIP.
  3. $1.4 million spent. SUMMER - THE ROCK SCHOOL BALLET INTENSIVE IS A SELECTIVE, AUDITION-ONLY PROGRAM THAT IMMERSES ASPIRING DANCERS IN A COMPREHENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH A SUPERIOR PERMANENT AND GUEST FACULTY. AN ESTIMATED 1,000 STUDENTS WORLDWIDE AUDITION FOR THE PROGRAM THAT TEACHES APPROXIMATELY 400 STUDENTS.
  4. $157,300 spent. ROCK WEST - THE ROCK SCHOOL-WEST LOCATION SERVES THE REGION'S SUBURBAN MAINLINE COMMUNITIES FROM WEST CHESTER, PA. THE MAIN LOCATION IN PHILADELPHIA AND THE SATELLITE LOCATION IN WEST CHESTER COLLABORATE, SHARING A UNIFIED CURRICULUM AND FACULTY ALONG WITH JOINT COMPETITION AND STAGE PERFORMANCES. AS WITH ROCKCENTER, THE ROCK WEST BRANCH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE INSTILLS IN STUDENTS' SELF-DISCIPLINE AND AN EAGERNESS TO LEARN, ENRICHING THEIR LIVES REGARDLESS OF THE CAREERS THEY PURSUE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 August 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 1993.

    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 October 21, 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.