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Coastal Montessori Charter School

EIN 27-4513777 · Pawleys Isl, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRODUCE HIGHLY-EDUCATED, SELF DIRECTED, SOCIALLY-RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS WHO WORK COLLOBORATIVELY, RESPECTFULLY, AND PEACEFULLY AS INDIVIDUAL YET INTERDEPENDENT LEARNERS IN A DIVERSE AND NURTURING COMMUNITY. THROUGH THE UNIQUE COMBINATION OF EMPIRICALLY-VALIDATED MONTESSORI PRINCIPLES, LOCALIZED CHARTER GOVERNANCE, AND OPEN ACCESS, COASTAL MONTESSORI CHARTER SCHOOL FURTHER AIMS TO PROVIDE GEORGETOWN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH AN ACADEMICALLY EXCELLENT, FINANCIALLY ACCOUNTABLE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-9.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 92%
Employees
51
Highest pay
$82,886, director

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 69% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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. $2.7 million spent. ORGANIZED UNDER THE SC CHARTER SCHOOL ACT, THE SCHOOL PROVIDES ACADEMIC CHOICE FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS, WHILE EXPANDING THE CAPACITY OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN GEORGETOWN COUNTY. THE FOUNDING COASTAL MONTESSORI CHARTER SCHOOL (CMCS) PLANNING COMMITTEE CHOSE MONTESSORI BECAUSE IT HONORS THE WAY CHILDREN LEARN NATURALLY, DEVELOPS THE WHOLE CHILD, AND PRODUCES SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. CMCS SERVES A DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION; 15% RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT, 17% ARE IDENTIFIED GIFTED AND TALENTED, 13% RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH, AND 34% ARE CATEGORIZED AS STUDENTS IN POVERTY. CMCS OFFERS A MONTESSORI EDUCATION TO STUDENTS IN GRADES FIRST THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. THE TWO PILLARS OF MONTESSORI ARE DISCOVERY LEARNING AND DEVELOPING A CHILD'S INDEPENDENCE BY NOT DOING FOR THE CHILD WHAT THE CHILD CAN DO FOR HIMSELF. MONTESSORI IS MULTI-AGE CLASSROOMS, INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION AND SELF-PACED LEARNING, HANDS-ON MATERIALS, SPECIALLY TRAINED TEACHERS FACILITATING EACH CHILD'S OWN DISCOVERY KNOWLEDGE, FREEDOM FROM WITHIN LIMITS FOSTERING INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY, SOCIAL AS WELL AS ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT, A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE WHICH INTEGRATES THE STUDY OF DIVERSE CULTURES AND RESPECT FOR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENT. ORGANIZED UNDER THE SC CHARTER SCHOOL ACT, THE SCHOOL PROVIDES ACADEMIC CHOICE FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS, WHILE EXPANDING THE CAPACITY OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN GEORGETOWN COUNTY. THE FOUNDING COASTAL MONTESSORI CHARTER SCHOOL (CMCS) PLANNING COMMITTEE CHOSE MONTESSORI BECAUSE IT HONORS THE WAY CHILDREN LEARN NATURALLY, DEVELOPS THE WHOLE CHILD, AND PRODUCES SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. CMCS SERVES A DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION; 15% RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT, 17% ARE IDENTIFIED GIFTED AND TALENTED, 13% RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH, AND 34% ARE CATEGORIZED AS STUDENTS IN POVERTY. CMCS OFFERS A MONTESSORI EDUCATION TO STUDENTS IN GRADES FIRST THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. THE TWO PILLARS OF MONTESSORI ARE DISCOVERY LEARNING AND DEVELOPING A CHILD'S INDEPENDENCE BY NOT DOING FOR THE CHILD WHAT THE CHILD CAN DO FOR HIMSELF. MONTESSORI IS MULTI-AGE CLASSROOMS, INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION AND SELF-PACED LEARNING, HANDS-ON MATERIALS, SPECIALLY TRAINED TEACHERS FACILITATING EACH CHILD'S OWN DISCOVERY KNOWLEDGE, FREEDOM FROM WITHIN LIMITS FOSTERING INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY, SOCIAL AS WELL AS ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT, A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE WHICH INTEGRATES THE STUDY OF DIVERSE CULTURES AND RESPECT FOR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

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 November 6, 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 March 2013.

    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 November 4, 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.