University Lake School Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UNIVERSITY LAKE SCHOOL IS A COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL THAT DELIVERS AN INCOMPARABLE EDUCATION DRIVEN BY HIGH STANDARDS AND A UNIQUE APPROACH TO LEARNING. OUR DYNAMIC AND RIGOROUS CURRICULUM CHALLENGES THE WHOLE STUDENT BY INTEGRATING INNOVATIVE ACADEMIC, LEADERSHIP, ATHLETIC, ARTISTIC, AND SERVICE LEARNING EXPERIENCES WITHIN A VIBRANT AND JOYFUL COMMUNITY. WE INSPIRE: INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, ORIGINAL THINKING, PERSONAL INTEGRITY, AND CHARACTER THROUGH SERVICE.
- Income
- $15.4 million
- Spending
- $9.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 111
- Volunteers
- 350
- Highest pay
- $268,055, head of school (thru june 2025)
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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $5.3 million spent. INSTRUCTION & STUDENT ACTIVITIES: THIS PAST YEAR, ULS PROVIDED OVER 300 STUDENTS WITH A RIGOROUS YET WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION THAT BLENDS STRONG ACADEMICS, FINE ARTS, ATHLETICS, LEADERSHIP, LANGUAGE, AND OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES. OUR CURRICULUM FOSTERS CRITICAL THINKING AND LEADERSHIP, WHILE STUDENTS DEVELOP A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE THROUGH DIVERSE EXPERIENCES. GRADUATES MOVE FORWARD AS WELL-PREPARED, COMPASSIONATE GLOBAL CITIZENS, READY FOR SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND LIFE.
- $1.9 million spent. FINANCIAL AID AND DISCOUNTS - THE SCHOOL INDEXED TUITION MODEL ALLOWS FOR FAMILIES TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT IN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION IN A WAY THAT IS MEANINGFUL AND ATTAINABLE FOR THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. APPROXIMATELY 116 STUDENTS WERE SERVED BY THIS PROGRAM. THE PROGRAMS ARE NON-DISCRIMINATORY AND IN FACT ALLOW A BROAD RANGE OF STUDENTS WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES TO ATTEND ULS.
- $669,329 spent. CONSUMABLE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, EXPERIENCES, OFF-CAMPUS AND ON-CAMPUS LEADERSHIP EXCURSIONS, FIELD TRIPS, ARTISTIC AND ATHLETIC ITEMS USED BY THE FACULTY AND STUDENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1956.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.