Lowell School Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LOWELL SCHOOL EQUIPS CHILDREN TO THINK CRITICALLY, ENGAGE PURPOSEFULLY, AND LIVE AUTHENTICALLY.
- Income
- $20.6 million
- Spending
- $21.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -3.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 90%
- Employees
- 256
- Volunteers
- 251
- Highest pay
- $403,154, head of school
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 9% 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
5 of 20It owes 62% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 43 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 18 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
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 August 31, 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)
- $17.9 million spent. LOWELL SCHOOL FOSTERS INTELLECTUAL AND EMOTIONAL SELF-RELIANCE, WITH A GUIDING VALUE OF RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER. THIS APPROACH PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN TO BE HIGHLY MOTIVATED LEARNERS WITH A STRONG SENSE OF SELF-WORTH AND EFFICACY.LOWELL SCHOOL PROMOTES ACTIVE, COLLABORATIVE LEARNING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON BUILDING CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND DEVELOPING STRONG CREATIVE, CRITICAL, AND ANALYTICAL THINKING. CAREFULLY DESIGNED LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND CURRICULA ARE INTEGRATED ACROSS SUBJECTS, DRAW ON POWERFUL, RELEVANT CONTENT AND STUDENT INTERESTS, AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNAL MOTIVATION AND A STRONG VOICE.LEARNING AT LOWELL SCHOOL IS RIGOROUS: THINKING IS EMPHASIZED OVER ROTE LEARNING, AND STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO USE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS CREATIVELY AND PRACTICALLY. HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS ARE COUPLED WITH APPROPRIATE SCAFFOLDING SO THAT STUDENTS KNOW WHAT TO AIM FOR AND HOW TO GET THERE. IN THIS WAY, LOWELL SCHOOL PREPARES STUDENTS TO BE INNOVATORS AND ACHIEVERS WHO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY, SKILLS, AND INCLINATION TO SOLVE PROBLEMS NEW AND OLD.LOWELL SCHOOL IS AN INTENTIONALLY DIVERSE SCHOOL. THIS IS ESSENTIAL IN PREPARING STUDENTS FOR A FUTURE THAT WILL DEMAND DEEP MULTICULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, STRONG COLLABORATIVE SKILLS, AND COMMITMENT TO ONE'S LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE LARGER WORLD. AT LOWELL SCHOOL, WE BELIEVE THAT AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTES TO INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION AND NURTURES AN INQUISITIVE AND OPEN MIND.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 1982.
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.