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Ascend Charter Schools

EIN 45-3957158 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ASCEND CHARTER SCHOOLS' (THE "SCHOOL") MISSION IS TO EQUIP EVERY STUDENT WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CHARACTER TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND. THE SCHOOL WILL SPAN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THE 12TH GRADE AT MATURITY. FROM THE EARLIEST GRADES, STUDENTS WILL STEADILY BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION OF LEARNING HABITS, CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE; EXCEL ACADEMICALLY IN THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, MASTERING HIGH-LEVEL MATH AND SCIENCE; AND GRADUATE AS CONFIDENT YOUNG ADULTS, PREPARED TO SUCCEED AS COLLEGE STUDENTS, AS CITIZENS, AND AS LEADERS IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELDS.

Income
$137.6 million
Spending
$138.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
942
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$222,349, principal

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: 39 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 96% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $115.3 million spent. ASCEND CHARTER SCHOOLS IS A NETWORK OF K-12 PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS SERVING 5,208 STUDENTS IN 17 SCHOOLS ACROSS BROOKLYN, NEW YORK'S MOST POPULOUS BOROUGH. OUR UNDERTAKING IS TO LEAD OUR STUDENTS ON A GREAT INTELLECTUAL ADVENTURE, PROVIDE THEM WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL COLLEGE PREPARATORY EDUCATION, AND PLACE THEM FIRMLY ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND.

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 September 2014.

    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.