Chartwell School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 56 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Chartwell School empowers bright students with language-based learning differences, including dyslexia. We do this in grades K-12 by offering them the knowledge, creativity, and skills in self advocacy and perseverance needed to thrive in college and beyond.
- Income
- $13.3 million
- Spending
- $16.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 73%
- Employees
- 111
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $280,544, 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: 30 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 56 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 2513 of 13 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)
- $6.7 million spent. Chartwell's high school (Grades 9-12) is a college-prepatory program and is accredited by association of schools and colleges (WASC). Students engage deeply in challenging, hands-on projects tailored to their strengths and weaknesses. Building on the three foundations of skill development, content standards, and project-based learning. The program is carefully designed to empower students with the knowledge and enthusiasm they need to move on to a lifetime of successful learning. Though a typical program may focus on credit accumulation, at the high school, the goal is to ensure that students have the skills needed to thrive in higher education. Since 2012, 100% of seniors have been accepted into the college of their choice with scholarship offers.
- $6.7 million spent. Chartwell's lower and middle school (grades 1-8) is accredited by the western association of schools and colleges (WASC) and its program is approved by the California State Department of Education (NPS Designation). Chartwell provides a full academic program in a highly structured learning environment, utilizing multi-sensory teaching strategies. The course of study includes all areas of language instruction, mathematics, humanities, science, technology, art, music and physical education. Chartwell provides a unified approach to language instruction, which is essential to students' academic success. Reading, writing and communication skills are treated with equal importance whether in english, science or humanities classes.
- Chartwell's public education and community outreach services and programs develop collaborative relationships with individuals, organizations and networks of allied professionals and advances the understanding, advocacy and practical delivery of services to benefit educators, volunteers and learners of all ages in our region. Currently, we have multiple programs which educates professionals, administrators, and parents. It is estimated that in turn an additional 3,000 learners benefit in the California Central Coast region and beyond.
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 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 June 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 November 1983.
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.
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.