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Carolina Day School Inc

EIN 56-0125490 · Asheville, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To inspire students to become innovative thinkers who communicate with intelligence and clarity, create with vision and purpose, and act with courage and compassion to confidently make a meaningful difference in the world.

Income
$26.8 million
Spending
$23.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
274
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$556,083, head of school

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

    17 of 18 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. $20.1 million spent. CAROLINA DAY SCHOOL IS A MODEL OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, A LEADER IN CURRICULAR INNOVATION, AND IS AN ACCREDITED, CO-EDUCATIONAL, SECULAR, INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL. IN THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, 598 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12. CAROLINA DAY SCHOOL DELIVERS A RICH, DIFFERENTIATED, PERSONALLY RIGOROUS, WHOLE-CHILD ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE THAT FOSTERS ACCELERATED LEARNING, AND PROVIDES SUPPORTS WHEN NECESSARY TO ACADEMICALLY CAPABLE, MOTIVATED AND INQUISITIVE STUDENTS. EXPERIENTIAL, DEEP LEARNING IS HALLMARK TO THE PROGRAM. EXCEPTIONAL FACULTY DEEPLY KNOW THEIR STUDENTS, WHO DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES NOT ONLY ACADEMICALLY, BUT ALSO ARTISTICALLY, ATHLETICALLY, AND SOCIALLY IN A COMMUNITY BUILT ON TRUST, INTEGRITY, AND KINDNESS. THE KEY SCHOOL, ESTABLISHED IN 1997, IS A DIVISION OF CAROLINA DAY SCHOOL. THE KEY SCHOOL PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRIGHT STUDENTS WITH LANGUAGE-BASED LEARNING DIFFERENCES. THE KEY SCHOOL'S TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM IS ACCREDITED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MULTISENSORY STRUCTURED LANGUAGE EDUCATION COUNCIL, THE ACADEMY OF ORTON- GILLINGHAM PRACTITIONERS AND EDUCATORS, AND THE INTERNATIONAL DYSLEXIA ASSOCIATION.

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 January 1944.

    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.