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Philadelphia School

EIN 23-7091186 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL EDUCATES CHILDREN FOR A FUTURE THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO SHAPE. LEARN HERE. GO ANYWHERE.

Income
$18.8 million
Spending
$17.7 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 82%
Employees
202
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$334,252, former head of school (thru 6/30/24)

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

Good: 80 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

    20 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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $12.5 million spent. EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL TO 8TH GRADE; 41 PRESCHOOL, 52 KINDERGARTEN, 91 PRIMARY UNIT (GRADES 1-2), 132 JUNIOR UNIT (GRADES 3-5), 95 MIDDLE SCHOOL (GRADES 6-8).THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL (TPS) OPENED ITS DOORS TO ITS FIRST STUDENTS OVER 50 YEARS AGO. A LEADER IN THE PHILADELPHIA EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE, TPS HAS COME TO BE KNOWN OVER TIME FOR THREE DISTINCTIVE AND UNIQUE FEATURES: WE ARE PROGRESSIVE, OUR CLASSROOM IS EVERYWHERE, AND WE ARE PRESCHOOL THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE BY DESIGN. WE KNOW THAT LEARNING HAPPENS EVERYWHERE - IN THE CITY, IN THE COUNTRY, AND IN THE CLASSROOM. CONNECTING LESSONS TO THE REAL WORLD HELPS CHILDREN UNDERSTAND HOW THEY FIT INTO THE BIG PICTURE AND LEARN HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. TPS GRADUATES EMERGE AS SELF-CONFIDENT LEADERS MORE THAN PREPARED NOT ONLY FOR THE NEXT STEPS OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY, BUT TO SHAPE THE WORLD IN IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL WAYS. WE'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. WE'LL BE DOING THE SAME FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL'S PROGRESSIVE EDUCATIONAL APPROACH HAS DEEP THINKING, INNOVATION, AND AGENCY AS ITS GUIDING PRINCIPLES. WE ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO EXPLORE AND PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF POSSIBILITY TO FULFILL THEIR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND CIVIC POTENTIAL. WE APPROACH LEARNING THROUGH INQUIRY, PROJECTS, AND COMMUNITY. CORE VALUES AND BEST-PRACTICE RESEARCH INFORM THE SCHOOL'S PROGRAM AND PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES. OUR INTERDISCIPLINARY, THEME-BASED APPROACH PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR MASTERING ACADEMICS AND PREPARES STUDENTS FOR THE CHALLENGES THEY WILL FACE IN THE FUTURE. AS AN URBAN, PRESCHOOL - 8TH GRADE SCHOOL, WE ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY HOW YOUNG STUDENTS DEVELOP INTELLECTUALLY, EMOTIONALLY, SOCIALLY, AND PHYSICALLY. THROUGH OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, WE SEEK TO NURTURE EACH STUDENT'S MORAL COMPASS, SENSE OF PERSONAL INTEGRITY, AND RESPECT FOR BOTH INDIVIDUALITY AND COMMUNITY. LEARNING IN THE CITY, COUNTRY, AND CLASSROOM AFFIRMS OUR FOUNDERS' GOAL OF EDUCATING CHILDREN TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE AND ACTIVE STEWARDS OF THE URBAN AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS.
  2. $1.4 million spent. AUXILIARY PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO MUSIC, CHESS, SPORTS, CLUBS, AND SUMMER CAMP.

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 May 1971.

    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.