Achievekids
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 79 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
ACHIEVEKIDS SCHOOLS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS THAT DELIVER SPECIAL EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR STUDENTS AGES 5 TO 22 WHO HAVE COMPLEX AND OFTEN SEVERE DEVELOPMENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES. THE PRIMARY MISSION OF ACHIEVEKIDS IS TO CREATE A GREATER OPPORTUNITY IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOLS AND COLLABORATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THAT ENABLE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO THRIVE.
- Income
- $11.3 million
- Spending
- $11.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 96%
- Employees
- 112
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $209,267, executive director
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: 40 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 79 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 2517 of 17 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)
- $9.3 million spent. SPECIAL EDUCATION: ACHIEVEKIDS OPERATES TWO NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOCATED IN PALO ALTO AND EAST SAN JOSE. WE SERVE OVER 100 ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION STUDENTS FROM FOUR BAY AREA COUNTIES. ACHIEVEKIDS PROVIDES DYNAMIC AND INNOVATIVE EDUCATION SERVICES FOR STUDENTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. THROUGH A COMMUNITY OF ACCEPTANCE AND RESPECT, ACHIEVEKIDS SPECIALIZES IN CREATING LEARNING FOR STUDENTS WITH SEVERE EMOTIONAL, LEARNING, AND/OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. OUR DEDICATED TEACHERS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM, AND SPEECH THERAPISTS WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY AND INDEPENDENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS. THIS INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM BECOMES A SKILLFUL PROBLEM SOLVING GROUP THAT INSTRUCTS AND GUIDES STUDENTS TOWARD GREATER INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-RELIANCE, ENABLING A PATH TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE. WASC ACCREDITED, ACHIEVEKIDS IS A LEARNING ORGANIZATION, WHERE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY LEARNS AND GROWS. ACHIEVEKIDS IS A MEMBER OF CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO WWW.CAPSES.COM, OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE, WWW.ACHIEVEKIDS.ORG.HIGHLY INDIVIDUALIZED AND SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS: WE USE A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIVE APPROACH, BLENDING BEST PRACTICES FROM THE FIELDS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE, AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TO DEVELOP HIGHLY INDIVIDUALIZED CURRICULA AND TEACHING APPROACHES. OUR PROGRAM IS INDIVIDUALIZED TO EACH STUDENT, AND OUR APPROACHES ARE FOCUSED ON POSITIVE PRACTICES, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, ENHANCING COMMUNICATION, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION. WE ARE A DATA-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION THAT MAKES CURRICULAR AND INSTRUCTIONAL DECISIONS BASED ON DATA SYSTEMS TO HELP OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY GROW. THROUGH THIS MULTI-FACETED APPROACH, THE GOAL IS TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO RETURN TO FIND SUCCESS BEYOND OUR DOORS. THIS CAN LOOK DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT STUDENTS, AND INCLUDES RETURNING TO THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOL OR A LESS RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT, OR FINDING POST-SECONDARY OPTIONS APPROPRIATE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL. OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS, AND HELP STUDENTS FIND SUCCESS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF: BOTH SCHOOLS ARE COMPOSED OF EXPERIENCED, HIGHLY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS FROM VARYING DOMAINS. SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS, VOCATIONAL AND TRANSITION COORDINATORS, AND PROGRAM COUNSELORS MAKE UP OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND ENCOMPASS OUR COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO HELPING MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
- $581,033 spent. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: ACHIEVEKIDS IS COMMITTED TO A POSITIVE SCHOOL CLIMATE DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY LEARNING. TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, WE HAVE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT HAS PROFESSIONALS FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD (MFT'S, MSW'S, LPCC'S) AND BEHAVIOR ANALYTICS (BCBA'S AND THOSE TRAINING TOWARDS BCBA). THIS DIVERSE SET OF PROFESSIONALS AND EXPERTISE ALLOWS US TO ADAPT AND MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. USING A VARIETY OF EVIDENCED-BASED THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES, MH AND ABA THERAPISTS CONDUCT INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND FAMILY THERAPY. THERAPISTS WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH CLASSROOMS TO ENSURE A CONSISTENT APPROACH WITH MEASURED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL LEARNING. DATA DRIVEN, WE INFORM OUR INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES AND POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS WITH THE COLLECTION OF A VARIETY OF DATA POINTS, INCLUDING ACADEMIC, BEHAVIORAL, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL.
- $134,945 spent. TRANSITION: TRANSITION STARTS FROM THE DAY WE MEET A STUDENT AND FAMILY. HELPING PREPARE A STUDENT WITH THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES IS IMPORTANT FOR THEIR LIFE-LONG SUCCESS. THE ACHIEVEKIDS TEAM APPROACHES HELPING MAKE SUCCESSFUL TRANSITIONS THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEANS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALIZED ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, A FOCUS ON ENHANCING NEEDED HARD AND SOFT SKILLS, AND BY HELPING IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP TOOLS NECESSARY TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGES THE STUDENT IS EXPERIENCING. IN ADDITION, ACHIEVEKIDS HAS A WELL-DEVELOPED VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES COURSEWORK, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, JOB COACHING, JOB PLACEMENTS, AND INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR EXPERIENCE.VOCATIONAL PROGRAM: THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRAINING TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND WORK EXPERIENCE (CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - WORKABILITY 1 PROGRAM) FOR STUDENTS FROM AGES 14 TO 22, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SPECIFIC LEVEL OF CAPABILITY. AS A VITAL PART OF ACHIEVEKIDS' CURRICULUM, VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROVIDES A POSITIVE, ENCOURAGING, AND HIGHLY STRUCTURED PROGRAM AFFORDING STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN VALUABLE WORK AND LIFE SKILLS.COACHING FOR SUCCESS: STUDENTS WORK CLOSELY WITH A JOB COACH ON A JOB. THEIR JOB COACH TRAINS THE STUDENTS, COACHES AND PROVIDES FEEDBACK AT THE SITE, WORKS WITH THE JOB MANAGER AROUND WHAT SKILLS MAY NEED REFINING, AND PROVIDES FEEDBACK TO CLASSROOMS FOR INTEGRATION OF SKILLS. AS A STUDENT BEGINS TO DISPLAY MASTERY, JOB COACHES PHASE OUT TO FOSTER INDEPENDENCE IN SKILLS.SKILLS FOR SPECIFIC SOCIAL SITUATIONS: VOCATIONAL EDUCATION GIVES STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP CORE JOB SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THEM INTERACT WITH THE TYPICAL WORKFORCE; DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS; LEARN INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS AND SIMULTANEOUSLY RAISE AWARENESS OF HOW PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN THRIVE IN A WORK ENVIRONMENT.
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 March 1996.
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.