Cliff Valley School Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE OUTSTANDING EDUCATION, FOCUSED ON CHILDREN'S ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN A CARING COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT.
- Income
- $10.1 million
- Spending
- $9.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 90%
- Employees
- 131
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $410,879, 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: 50 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 55% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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.
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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 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 (3)
- $7.9 million spent. INSTRUCTION - CLIFF VALLEY IS DISTINGUISHED BY OUR TEACHERS' ABILITY TO BRING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE, AND CREATIVITY TO THE CLASSROOM SETTING. STUDENT-TEACHER RATIOS RANGE FROM 4:1 IN PRESCHOOL TO 8:1 IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE, AND STUDENTS' EXPERIENCES REFLECT THIS.
- $138,742 spent. SUMMER CAMP - RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES ARE OFFERED FOR CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.
- $88,971 spent. AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM - FUN AND LEARNING CONTINUE AFTER THE DAY'S LAST CLASS. STARTING IN KINDERGARTEN A WIDE VARIETY OF AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP SKILLS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. PROGRAMS ROTATE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO KEEP INTERESTS FRESH AND TO HELP STUDENTS EXPLORE NEW AREAS OF INTEREST. TEACHERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOP AND LEAD AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, BASED ON THEIR INTERESTS AND STRENGTHS, TO CREATE UNIQUE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FORM STUDENTS. MULTI-AGE GROUPING ENABLES STUDENTS TO GET TO KNOW AND MAKE FRIENDS WITH STUDENTS OUTSIDE THEIR GRADE LEVEL.
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 October 13, 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 January 1975.
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 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.