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Barstow School

EIN 44-0546207 · Kansas City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 63 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION IS A PRIVATE CO-EDUCATIONAL COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR PRESCHOOL THROUGH 12TH GRADE. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SCHOOL IS TO "PROMOTE SOUND SCHOLARSHIP AND TO GIVE SYMMETRICAL DEVELOPMENT TO MIND, BODY AND CHARACTER."

Income
$23.9 million
Spending
$26.2 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
-1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
475
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$527,453, president (until 6/30/25)

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: 35 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 63 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

    16 of 16 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. $16.9 million spent. A. BARSTOW SCHOOL'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE SOUND SCHOLARSHIP AND TO GIVE SYMMETRICAL DEVELOPMENT TO MIND, BODY AND CHARACTER. BARSTOW COMBINES RIGOROUS ACADEMICS, INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING AND AN EMPHASIS ON STEAM TO PROVIDE THE BEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL EDUCATION IN THE REGION. WE ARE A PRESCHOOL THROUGH 12TH GRADE SCHOOL EDUCATING APPROXIMATELY 775 STUDENTS AND WE GRADUATED 58 SENIORS.IDEA SPACE KC , POWERED BY BARSTOW, IS OUR LEARNING CENTER SERVING STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND AT BARSTOW. OVER 2,000 STUDENTS LEARNED TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY AND TOOLS THAT POWER TOMORROW'S WORKFORCE THROUGH OUR STEAM LEARNING EXPERIENCES.INTERNATIONALLY, WE OFFERED 1,100 AND 145 STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TAUGHT AT SCHOOLS MANAGED BY BARSTOW IN CHINA AND GHANA, RESPECTIVELY.

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 November 1943.

    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.