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Stem Preparatory Academy

EIN 27-2163445 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak37 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE A COLLEGE PREPARATORY EDUCATION WITH AN INTEGRATED FOCUS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS, TO FIFTH THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE STUDENTS IN SOUTH NASHVILLE.

Income
$16.1 million
Spending
$17.1 million
Spent on programs
55%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 96%
Employees
152
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$235,083, ceo & coo

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: 37 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    55% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 25

    7 of 7 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. $9.4 million spent. STEM PREPARATORY ACADEMY PROVIDES A COLLEGE PREPARATORY EDUCATION WITH AN INTEGRATED FOCUS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM). FOR THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR, STEM SERVED OVER 1,000 STUDENTS WITHIN OUR TWO SCHOOLS, STEM PREP MIDDLE (5-8) AND STEM PREP HIGH (9-12) WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS WHO (1) SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATE FOR THE MOST COMPETITIVE UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY, AND (2) BECOME LEADERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY. STEM CONTINUES TO OUTPERFORM PEER SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE ACROSS ALL SUBJECT AREAS. SINCE OPENING ITS DOORS IN JULY 2011, STEM HAS BEEN HONORED WITH NUMEROUS AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING STUDENT AND TEACHER PERFORMANCE.IN MAY 2025, STEM GRADUATED ITS SEVENTH HIGH SCHOOL CLASS, COMPRISED PREDOMINANTLY OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUSLY ENROLLED AT STEM SINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE GRADUATING CLASS EARNED $8 MILLION IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS, AND OVER 900 PERCENT OF GRADUATES WERE ACCEPTED ONTO POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS. FURTHER, THROUGH STEM'S DUAL CREDIT PARTNERSHIP, THE GRADUATING CLASS EARNED OVER 200 COLLEGE CREDITS. STUDENTS ENROLLED IN STEM'S HEALTH SCIENCES PATHWAY COMPLETED REQUISITE COURSEWORK AND PRACTICE, PER THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, FOR THE CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT (CMA) LICENSE.

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 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 June 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 August 2010.

    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.