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Harlem Childrens Zone Promise Academy Charter School

EIN 76-0756768 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OTHE MISSION OF HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE PROMISE ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL IS TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN FROM UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES ARE ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY READY TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE AND TOMORROW'S WORKPLACE. THE SCHOOL'S COMMITTED, CARING STAFF PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE - AS WELL AS TO THEIR FAMILIES - SO THEY ARE WELL EQUIPPED FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD.

Income
$28.0 million
Spending
$29.4 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
256
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$1.3 million, superintendent

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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

    3 of 5 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. $27.8 million spent. THE PROMISE ACADEMY IS UNPARALLELED IN ITS EXCELLENCE, RIGOR, AND CARE. IN ADDITION TO A HIGH-QUALITY, STANDARDS-BASED EDUCATION STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO HCZ'S COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF SUPPORTS, INCLUDING COUNSELING, BENEFITS ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES. OUR PROMISE IS TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUE, EVEN THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM, THAT CAN HINDER A CHILD'S FUTURE. OUR APPROACH IS TO ADDRESS THE WHOLE CHILD, AND TO DO SO OVER YEARS AND YEARS. THAT MEANS WE OFFER A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION, AND WE ALSO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUE EVEN THOSE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM THAT CAN HINDER A CHILD'S SUCCESS. WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF EXPERIENCED FACULTY DEDICATED TO FOSTERING OUR SCHOLARS' INTELLIGENCE, HEALTH, CHARACTER, AND CIVIC-MINDEDNESS. OUR TWO K-12 SCHOOLS HAVE LONGER SCHOOL DAYS AND YEARS THAN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO SCHOLARS HAVE THE TIME THEY NEED TO MASTER THEIR CORE SUBJECTS AND TO FULLY EXPERIENCE THE SCIENCES, THE ARTS, AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. TO THAT END, THE SCHOOL HAS AN EXTENDED SCHOOL DAY TO GIVE STUDENTS MORE TIME ON-TASK TO MASTER BASIC SUBJECTS AND HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PURSUE SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, THE ARTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION. THE STUDENTS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO A FREE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT WORKS HAND IN HAND WITH THE DAY SCHOOL AS WELL AS OFFERING STUDENTS ENRICHMENT CLASSES IN A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES SUCH AS DANCE, PHOTOGRAPHY, CHESS AND MORE. THE SCHOOL ALSO HAS A MULTI-FACETED PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS ARE READY FOR COLLEGE, WHICH INCLUDES SAT PREPARATION CLASSES, COLLEGE COUNSELING AND CAMPUS VISITS, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR THE COLLEGE APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESSES. AS A RESULT, PROMISE ACADEMY STUDENTS ACHIEVE HIGHER AGGREGATE SCORES ON THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS TEST THAN STUDENTS IN THE LOCAL DISTRICT 5, NEW YORK CITY AS A WHOLE, NEW YORK STATE AS A WHOLE, NEW YORK STATE WHITE AND BLACK STUDENTS, AND NEW YORK CITY BLACK STUDENTS. ON THE MATH EXAM, THEY OUTPERFORM THE LOCAL DISTRICT, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK STATE, NEW YORK CITY BLACKS STUDENTS, NEW YORK CITY AND NEW YORK STATE WHITE STUDENTS. HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE PROMISE ACADEMY I CONSISTS OF THE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS, ALL OF WHICH OPERATE AT A SINGLE, DEDICATED SITE LOCATED AT 245 WEST 129TH STREET IN CENTRAL HARLEM. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACADEMY'S PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES, PLEASE VISIT WWW.HCZPROMISE.ORG.

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 October 2004.

    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.