Mason Preparatory School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Mason Preparatory School is committed to the education of the whole child in preparation for secondary education through the cultivation of respect, integrity, and personal responsibility within a nurturing environment that results in a productive citizen of a global community.
- Income
- $6.7 million
- Spending
- $5.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 7.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 91%
- Employees
- 98
- Volunteers
- 70
- Highest pay
- $167,346, head of school
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 48 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 May 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)
- $4.7 million spent. Mason Preparatory School educates approximately 320 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade programs. The School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), and the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA). The School is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Palmetto Association of Independent Schools (PAIS). The School has a student to teacher ratio of 10 to 1. The School's program is as follows: (Continued on Schedule O)Two homerooms per gradeIndividual assistants in each pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and 1st grade class, shared assistants in each grade 2-4 ; State of the art technology equipment with technology instruction beginning in kindergarten; 1:1 iPad/tablet program in grades 3-8; Weekly curriculum including art, music, media center, physical education, guidance, French and/or Spanish Carnegie unit available in Algebra I and French I or Spanish I for proficient 8th grade students;Full time Clinical Child Psychologist;One full time learning specialist;After-school activities offered (see further below);Varied sports programs offered (see further below);Extended care available on full school days until 5:45; and Our graduates enroll in an outstanding variety of public and private high schools. Afterschool Programs Although the Mason Prep School day officially ends at 3:05 p.m., many options are available for students after school. Extended Day Offered on a flexible as-needed basis, the Extended Day program provides a supervised environment until 5:45 p.m., with time for homework as well as for recreation. Homework help is also available in Study Hall sessions conducted by staff members. Afterschool Programs Mason Prep welcomes the opportunity to coordinate various afterschool programs with outstanding organizations and professionals. Our programs provide our students in every grade with opportunities to expand their horizons through the arts, athletics, culture, math, science, strategy and engineering. The participants also continue to develop skills in the areas of communication, participation, fair play and persistence as the different activities broaden the world around them. Athletics The Mason Prep faculty, staff, and coaches strive to develop the whole child, and our athletic program plays a significant part in this effort. Our program is designed to teach basic fundamental skills and then build on those skills at appropriate age levels. Fundamental skills and strategies in several sports can be mastered in the eight years at Mason Prep, and athletes who continue through the middle school years can make an easy transition to high school sports. Mason Prep athletes also learn the meaning of hard work, integrity, responsibility, commitment, and sportsmanship - critically important traits for each athlete to take to the next level of sport and into adulthood. Mason Preps teams typically involve grades 4 - 8. We play area schools, giving our children an opportunity to make new friends through sport. Volleyball (girls) - Mason Prep fielded three volleyball teams for girls in Grades 5-8. The volleyball season runs from September to mid-October, with games played through the City of Charleston Recreational Volleyball League.Basketball (girls and boys) - The basketball program runs from mid-October through early February. Tennis (girls and boys, grades 4-8) - Tennis season takes place in the spring with competitions through the Charleston Tennis Center. Developmental Sports Before students enter a competitive arena, developmental teams are offered in basketball in grades K - 3. These teams participate in intramural sessions with volunteer parent coaches. Rather than a win/loss record, each individual's performing to the best of his or her ability and development of fundamental skills are the Mason Prep measures of success.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 May 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 May 1965.
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.
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