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The Next Step Public Charter School

EIN 52-2103442 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 50 cents.

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

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WHO FACE EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES AND WHO ARE NOT SUPPORTED IN TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION.

Income
$14.1 million
Spending
$10.9 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
24.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
96
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$223,891, executive di

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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 50 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 25

    8 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

    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. $9.5 million spent. FOR OVER 20 YEARS, THE NEXT STEP PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL HAS SOUGHT TO FULFILL ITS VISION IN MEANINGFUL, INNOVATIVE, SUSTAINABLE AND REPLICABLE WAYS, FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH (AGES 16-30): WE ENVISION A WORLD IN WHICH ALL YOUTH RECEIVE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION AND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS HUMAN BEINGS AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. ATTENTION TO STUDENT ASPIRATIONS, AS DESCRIBED IN STUDENTS INDIVIDUALIZED LIFE PLANS, COMMITS THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO ASSISTING ACHIEVEMENT IN ACADEMIC, PERSONAL, AND CAREER DOMAINS. THIS CHARTER SCHOOL PROVIDES STUDENTS WHO FACE EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES AND ARE NOT SUPPORTED IN TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION, AS THE MISSION STATEMENT DECLARES. IN PRACTICE, THE NEXT STEP PCS OFFERS THREE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH: ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL), GED ENGLISH, AND GED ESPAOL. STUDENTS EXPERIENCE COMPREHENSIVE AND HOLISTIC RESOURCES TO ENSURE SUCCESS, AS FACILITATED BY THE DIVISION OF STUDENT SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT - CASE MANAGEMENT, CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES, FOOD AND DIAPER RESOURCES, CAREER AND LIFE SKILLS ADVISING, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. STUDENTS AT THE NEXT STEP PCS ARE EXPOSED TO THEIR CAREER ASPIRATIONS, AS WELL AS COLLEGE. THROUGH DUAL ENROLLMENT AND THE FORTHCOMING EARLY COLLEGE, STUDENTS AT THE NEXT STEP PCS RECEIVE THE SUPPORT NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THEIR ACADEMIC GOALS, WHILE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY PURSUING POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. FOR OVER 20 YEARS, THE NEXT STEP PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL HAS SOUGHT TO FULFILL ITS VISION IN MEANINGFUL, INNOVATIVE, SUSTAINABLE AND REPLICABLE WAYS, FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH (AGES 16-30): WE ENVISION A WORLD IN WHICH ALL YOUTH RECEIVE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION AND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS HUMAN BEINGS AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. ATTENTION TO STUDENT ASPIRATIONS, AS DESCRIBED IN STUDENTS INDIVIDUALIZED LIFE PLANS, COMMITS THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO ASSISTING ACHIEVEMENT IN ACADEMIC, PERSONAL, AND CAREER DOMAINS. THIS CHARTER SCHOOL PROVIDES STUDENTS WHO FACE EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES AND ARE NOT SUPPORTED IN TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION, AS THE MISSION STATEMENT DECLARES. IN PRACTICE, THE NEXT STEP PCS OFFERS THREE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH: ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL), GED ENGLISH, AND GED ESPAOL. STUDENTS EXPERIENCE COMPREHENSIVE AND HOLISTIC RESOURCES TO ENSURE SUCCESS, AS FACILITATED BY THE DIVISION OF STUDENT SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT - CASE MANAGEMENT, CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES, FOOD AND DIAPER RESOURCES, CAREER AND LIFE SKILLS ADVISING, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. STUDENTS AT THE NEXT STEP PCS ARE EXPOSED TO THEIR CAREER ASPIRATIONS, AS WELL AS COLLEGE. THROUGH DUAL ENROLLMENT AND THE FORTHCOMING EARLY COLLEGE, STUDENTS AT THE NEXT STEP PCS RECEIVE THE SUPPORT NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THEIR ACADEMIC GOALS, WHILE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY PURSUING POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.

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 October 1999.

    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.