Friends of Montessori Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF HIGHLAWN MONTESSORI SCHOOL IS TO PROVIDE A CHILD-CENTERED MONTESSORI COMMUNITY WHICH FACILITATES THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH CHILD.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 9.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $121,414, 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
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% 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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $1.6 million spent. MONTESSORI SCHOOL WITH 184 STUDENTS: TRADITIONAL PROGRAM HOURS: 8:40 - 11:40 AM (AGES 3 TO 4) EXTENDED DAY HOURS: 8:40 AM - 2:30 PM (AGES 4 TO 6).NEW STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE TRADITION CHILDREN'S HOUSE PROGRAM, STARTING AS YOUNG AS AGE 3, ATTEND OUR SCHOOL FROM 8:40 - 11:40 AM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. AS CHILDREN SHOW ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL READINESS TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY, USUALLY BETWEEN AGES 4 AND 5, THE DIRECTRESS WILL INVITE THEM TO STAY FOR EXTENDED DAY UNTIL 2:30. THESE CHILDREN STAY FOR LUNCH BEGINNING ONE AFTERNOON A WEEK. THE CHILDREN'S WORKDAY THEN EXTENDS FROM MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION.THE CHILDREN'S HOUSE EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM IS OFFERED TO CHILDREN 4 AND OLDER. THIS SESSION RUNS FROM 8:40 - 2:30 PM. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE AFTERNOON EXTENDED DAY ALLOWS THE OLDER CHILDREN TO HAVE MORE ACADEMIC, SMALLER GROUP EXPERIENCE IN THEIR CLASSROOM. CHILDREN ARE INVITED TO START ONE AFTERNOON AND SLOWLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AFTERNOONS. THE DECISION CONCERNING THE CHILD'S READINESS FOR EXTENDED DAY IS MADE BY THE CLASSROOM TEACHER WITH INPUT FROM THE PARENTS. READINESS FOR EXTENDED DAY IS DETERMINED BY OBSERVING THE CHILD. GUIDELINES THE TEACHER WILL USE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING. THE CHILD: HAS A DESIRE TO STAY FOR LUNCH AND THE EXTENDED DAY. HAS GIVEN UP TAKING NAPS OR NO LONGER NAPS EVERYDAY. CAN WORK INDEPENDENTLY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. CAN FOCUS DURING THE MORE DIFFICULT AND COMPLICATED LESSONS. FULL DAY CHILDREN'S HOUSE PROGRAM HOURS: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM 3, 4, OR 5 DAYS PER WEEK. THE FULL DAY CHILDREN'S HOUSE PROGRAM, STARTING WITH CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS AGE 3, INCLUDES EXTENDED HOURS FROM AS EARLY AS 7:30 AM TO 5:30 PM. PARENTS HAVE THE OPTION TO ENROLL THEIR CHILD ON A FEE-BASED SCHEDULE FOR 3, 4, OR 5 FULL DAYS PER WEEK, WITH VARYING DISMISSAL TIMES UNTIL 5:30 PM. THE FULL DAY PROGRAM IS AN EXTENSION OF THE TRADITION CHILDREN'S HOUSE CLASS. CHILDREN ENJOY A RELAXED, COZY, HOME-LIKE ATMOSPHERE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A TRAINED MONTESSORI TEACHER. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS; THE NURTURING AND COMFORT OF HOME AND THE CHALLENGING STIMULATION OF MONTESSORI. CHILDREN PARTICIPATE JOYFULLY IN MANY ACTIVITIES; CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, ART, MUSIC, MOVEMENT, COOKING AND GAMES. THE CHILDREN MAY CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ORGANIZED ACTIVITY OR WORK FREELY IN A FULLY EQUIPPED MONTESSORI CLASSROOM TO ENHANCE THE CHILD'S SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL AND COGNITIVE GROWTH.CHILDREN'S HOUSE MONTESSORI CLASSROOM CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 6 DIRECTLY LEARN THROUGH THEIR SENSES AND ABSORB INFORMATION EFFORTLESSLY THROUGH MOVEMENT AND HANDS-ON MATERIALS. THE FOCUS OF MONTESSORI EDUCATION IS NOT ACADEMIC READINESS OR THE MASTERY OF A SPECIFIC SKILL, BUT DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE CHILD SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND INTELLECTUALLY. THE MIXED AGE CLASSES OFFER OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN WHICH DO NOT EXIST IN SAME-AGE SETTINGS. THE OLDERM EXPERIENCED CHILDREN BECOME LEADERS AND ROLE MODELS TO THE YOUNGER CHILDREN, WHO ABSORB SOCIAL VALUES AND CULTURAL IMPRESSIONS FROM THE ACTIVITIES OF THE OLDER CHILDREN. THE CHILDREN LEARN DETAILS OF MATH, LANGUAGE AND GEOGRAPHY JUST FROM WALKING THROUGH THE CLASSROOM! THROUGH LEADERSHIP, THE OLDER CHILDREN GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY. A NATURAL, FAMILY-LIKE ATMOSPHERE DEVELOPS SPONTANEOUSLY, RESULTING IN A BOND BETWEEN THE CHILDREN AND ALSO WITH THE GUIDE. FROM THIS COMES THE GREATEST LEVEL OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL CARE AND RESPECT.
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 November 6, 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 November 1964.
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 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.