American Dream Charter School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE AMERICAN DREAM SCHOOL'S MISSION IS TO DEVELOP ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN BOTH SPANISH AND ENGLISH, PREPARING STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-12 TO EXCEL IN COLLEGE.
- Income
- $16.0 million
- Spending
- $16.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 3.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 81%
- Employees
- 137
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $286,373, 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 86% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% 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 255 of 5 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 (1)
- $13.0 million spent. THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR MARKED OUR ELEVENTH YEAR OF OPERATION. DURING THIS YEAR, WE SERVED THE FOLLOWING GRADES AND STUDENT POPULATIONS: 6TH GRADE: 88 STUDENTS 7TH GRADE: 87 STUDENTS 8TH GRADE: 88 STUDENTS 9TH GRADE: 96 STUDENTS 10TH GRADE: 97 STUDENTS 11TH GRADE: 80 STUDENTS 12TH GRADE: 65 STUDENTS OUR MISSION CONTINUES TO GUIDE EVERY ASPECT OF OUR WORK AS WE STRIVE TO DEVELOP ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN BOTH SPANISH AND ENGLISH, PREPARING OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EXCEL IN COLLEGE. DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, WE CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON RECRUITING AND RETAINING A HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHING STAFF, FURTHER IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES, AND FOSTERING A SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. WE OPERATED A THRIVING AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, OFFERING STUDENTS A VARIETY OF ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, SPORTS, SCIENCE OLYMPIAD, AND GIRLS ON THE RUN, AMONG OTHERS. WE ALSO PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENT ENGAGEMENT, CONTINUING AFTER-SCHOOL PARENT WORKSHOPS AND HOSTING MONTHLY "CAFECITO CON LA DIRECTORA" MEETINGS TO STRENGTHEN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND ENSURE OPEN COMMUNICATION. THROUGHOUT THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, WE REMAINED COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL INSTRUCTION, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATED ITS FIFTH SENIOR CLASS, THE MAJORITY OF EARNED THE NEW YORK STATE SEAL OF BILITERACY AND WHOM WERE ACCEPTED TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT REFLECTS THE HARD WORK OF OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF. AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADES. CONSEQUENTLY, ADCS CONTINUES TO OPERATE AS A SPLIT-CAMPUS SCHOOL, WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES CO-LOCATED IN A NYC DOE BUILDING AND HIGH SCHOOL GRADES HOUSED IN PRIVATE, RENTED SPACE. THIS ARRANGEMENT ENSURES THAT WE CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS WHILE CONTINUING TO DELIVER ON OUR 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.