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Hilltop Montessori School Inc

EIN 63-1209188 · Birmingham, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak23 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 197 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 LIGHT THE FLAME OF LEARNING TO ACHIEVE A LIFETIME OF SUCCESS.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-26.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
43
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$130,520, former head of school

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 23 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 66% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 197 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 25

    8 of 9 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 July 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)
  1. $1.9 million spent. TODDLER PROGRAM THE SCHOOL OFFERS BOTH PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME TODDLER PROGRAMS. TODDLERS HAVE DAILY INSTRUCTION IN THE FOUNDATIONS OF READING, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, GEOGRAPHY, FOREIGN LANGUAGE, AND PRACTICAL LIFE, AND RANGE IN AGE FROM EIGHTEEN MONTHS THROUGH YEAR THREE. AT THIS AGE LEVEL, THEY MOVE THROUGH A SET CURRICULUM AT THEIR OWN PACE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS. ALL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AREAS THAT INCLUDE GARDENING AND COOKING. SIGN LANGUAGE IS ALSO TAUGHT AS PART OF THE CURRICULUM.PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM THE SCHOOL OFFERS A PRIMARY/PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, EITHER FOR A HALF DAY OR A FULL DAY FOR CHILDREN AGES THREE THROUGH SIX. THE STUDENTS REMAIN IN THE SAME CLASSROOM, WITH THE SAME INSTRUCTOR, FOR A FULL THREE-YEAR CYCLE. CHILDREN WORK THROUGH THE CURRICULUM AT THEIR OWN PACE AND ARE EXPOSED TO FOUNDATIONS IN MATH, READING, GRAMMAR, GEOMETRY, ALGEBRA, BOTANY, ZOOLOGY, AND GEOGRAPHY. READINESS GOALS AND FORMAL ASSESSMENTS OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE STUDENT'S PROGRESS, WITH PREPARATION FOR AN ACCELERATED FIRST THROUGH THIRD-GRADE PROGRAM AS THE PRIMARY GOAL. STUDENTS AT THIS AGE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN MUSIC & ART EDUCATION, IN ADDITION TO DAILY SPANISH INSTRUCTION. PRIVATE PIANO LESSONS ARE OFFERED AT AGE FOUR, AND ONCE CHILDREN ARE IN KINDERGARTEN, THEY PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES AND FIELD TRIPS. ALL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AREAS THAT INCLUDE GARDENING AND COOKING.ELEMENTARY PROGRAM THE SCHOOL'S ELEMENTARY PROGRAM IS COMPRISED OF LOWER ELEMENTARY (FIRST THROUGH THIRD GRADE) AND UPPER ELEMENTARY (FOURTH THROUGH SIXTH GRADE). STUDENTS AT THIS LEVEL ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN THREE-YEAR CYCLES, WHERE THEY ARE IN THE SAME CLASS WITH THE SAME INSTRUCTOR FOR THE FULL CYCLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE STUDENTS BEGIN FORMAL INSTRUCTION IN COMPUTER SCIENCE, FINE ARTS, MORE ADVANCED MUSIC INSTRUCTION, AND CONTINUE WITH PHYSICAL EDUCATION. EXTRACURRICULAR OPTIONS VARY, BUT OFFERED THIS YEAR ARE: LEGO CLUB, HOME ECONOMICS, ADVANCED TECH STOP MOTION, CHESS, DANCE, PERCUSSION, SCIENCE, AND SOCCER. THERE IS AN ON-SITE, M-F AFTER-CARE OPTION CALLED IVY CAMPS FOR ELEMENTARY-AGED CHILDREN.MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM THE SCHOOL OFFERS A COMBINATION OF SEVENTH AND EIGHTH-GRADE CLASSES FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRANSITIONING THE STUDENTS TO SECONDARY EDUCATION. AS PART OF A BRIDGE/PREPARATION INTO MORE TRADITIONAL EDUCATION FOR THE STUDENT, MORE EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON ASSESSMENTS AND GRADES AT THIS LEVEL. CHILDREN WHO TYPICALLY PARTICIPATE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE HEADED TOWARD MORE CHALLENGING SECONDARY PRIVATE SCHOOLS. SUMMER ENRICHMENT THE SCHOOL OFFERS SUMMER ENRICHMENT THROUGHOUT JUNE AND JULY. STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE TO BE ENROLLED AT THE SCHOOL IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE. THE SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE THE STUDENTS TO THE MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY IN A RELAXED, SUMMER ATMOSPHERE. MOST SESSIONS CENTER AROUND EXCITING AND ENGAGING ACADEMIC THEMES IN SCIENCE, MUSIC, FINE ARTS, AND OTHER CURRICULUM SUBJECTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 2000.

    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.