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Canterbury School Corporation

EIN 59-1058089 · Fort Myers, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CANTERBURY SCHOOL IS PK3-12, COEDUCATIONAL, COLLEGE PREPARATORY DAY SCHOOL WITH APPROXIMATELY 650 STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL IS DEDICATED TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITHIN A CARING AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY EMPHASIZING CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE.

Income
$30.1 million
Spending
$29.0 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
238
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$377,819, 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 48 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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. $23.7 million spent. CANTERBURY HISTORY IS RICH IN LEADERSHIP AND VISION BY THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US AS DONORS, VISIONARIES AND VOLUNTEERS. TOGETHER THEY HAVE SET THE COURSE FOR WHAT CANTERBURY IS TODAY, A WELL-RESPECTED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION PRODUCING STUDENTS WHO ARE PREPARED FOR SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O). COURSE OF STUDIES: OUR STUDENTS PURSUE A RIGOROUS SCHEDULE OF COLLEGE PREPARATORY CLASSES FOR ALL FOUR YEARS IN THE UPPER SCHOOL. ALL CLASSES AT CANTERBURY SCHOOL ARE TAUGHT AT THE HONORS LEVEL, WITH ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) AND INDEPENDENT STUDIES PROVIDING ADDED CHALLENGE. AP COURSES ARE PROVIDED IN ALL CORE SUBJECT AREAS. ENROLLMENT IN AP IS DETERMINED BY ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT POLICIES AND/OR PREREQUISITE COURSES. ATHLETICS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: ARTS, ATHLETICS, CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS PLAY KEY ROLES IN STUDENT LIFE. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF MUSICAL GROUPS INCLUDING JAZZ BAND, WIND ENSEMBLE, AND CONCERT BAND, AS WELL AS A VARIETY OF MAJOR THEATER PRODUCTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. CANTERBURY OFFERS AN ARRAY OF SPORTS FOR STUDENT PARTICIPATION INCLUDING: FOOTBALL, SOCCER, BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, SWIMMING, TENNIS, GOLF, CROSS-COUNTRY, TRACK AND FIELD AND LACROSSE. 75% OF OUR UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS. THERE ARE OVER 50 ACTIVE CLUBS ON CAMPUS INCLUDING YEARBOOK, CHESS, MOCK TRIAL, AND MODEL UN. CLUB MEMBERS MEET ON A REGULAR BASIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SCHOLASTIC COMPETITIONS. STUDENTS DRAWN FROM: ALVA, BOKEELIA, BONITA SPRINGS, CAPE CORAL, ESTERO, FORT MYERS, FORT MYERS BEACH, LABELLE, LEHIGH ACRES, NAPLES, NORTH FORT MYERS, PORT CHARLOTTE, PUNTA GORDA, SANIBEL GRADUATES ACCEPTED TO FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES: 100% AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 13 STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: 8:1 FINANCIAL AID: FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, CANTERBURY SCHOOL PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY $6,990,638 OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE/TUITION REMISSION TO 28.8% OF THE STUDENT BODY. CANTERBURY SCHOOL ADHERES TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS' "PRINCIPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR FINANCIAL AID". PERCENTAGE OF FACULTY & ADMINISTRATION HOLDING ADVANCED DEGREES: 30% MASCOT: COUGAR ACCREDITATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS: - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS - FLORIDA COUNCIL OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS - SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS - SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE ADMISSION COUNSELING - THE COLLEGE BOARD ACADEMIC SOCIETIES: - CUM LAUDE SOCIETY - INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN SOCIETY - LA SOCIETE HONORAIRE DE FRANCAIS - MU ALPHA THETA MATHEMATICS HONOR SOCIETY - NATIONAL ENGLISH HONOR SOCIETY - NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY - NATIONAL LATIN HONOR SOCIETY - RHO KAPPA, FCSS STUDENT HONOR SOCIETY - SCIENCE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY - SOCIEDAD HONORARIA HISPANICA PHILANTHROPY: THE SCHOOL RELIES ON TUITION AND PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT

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 April 1966.

    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.