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School in the Square Public Charter School

EIN 81-0932728 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SCHOOL IN THE SQUARE ("S2") ENGAGES, EDUCATES AND EMPOWERS ADOLESCENTS TO RESPOND MINDFULLY AND CREATIVELY TO LIFE'S OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES. S2 IS A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS ARE SEEN, HEARD, AND INSPIRED AND WHERE STUDENTS BUILD THE ACADEMIC FOUNDATIONS, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS NECESSARY TO EXCEL IN THEIR FUTURES. S2 DRAWS ITS NAME FROM THE CONCEPT OF THE PUBLIC SQUARE, WHERE COMMUNITIES GATHER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND CELEBRATE SUCCESSES.

Income
$27.2 million
Spending
$28.9 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 79%
Employees
214
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$340,381, 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: 36 out of 100. Higher than 9% 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

    2 of 20

    It owes 100% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% 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

    12 of 12 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. $22.5 million spent. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IS OUR KEY FOCUS. S2 IS COMMITTED TO BEING DATA DRIVEN WHILE KEEPING STUDENTS, NOT ONLY TEST SCORES, AT THE CENTER. OUR STUDENTS COME FROM MANY PLACES WITH VARIED LEVELS OF ACADEMIC SKILLS. TO MEET STUDENTS AT THEIR LEVEL AND PACE, A CO-TEACHING MODEL ALLOWS FOR TARGETED TEACHING IN ALL CORE ACADEMIC CLASSES. STUDENTS WHO ARE PARTICULARLY STRUGGLING BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL SMALL GROUP LEARNING PERIODS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. AS WELL, STUDENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COMPUTER-BASED BLENDED-LEARNING CURRICULA IN BOTH ELA AND MATH, WHICH PROVIDE EXTRA PRACTICE FOR LOWER PERFORMERS AND MORE CHALLENGING WORK FOR HIGHER PERFORMERS. WE ARE PERSONALIZING EACH STUDENT'S EDUCATION BECAUSE THAT IS THE KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS.2. LEARNING EXTENDS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. S2 OFFERS HIGH QUALITY EXPERIENCES THAT SPARK EACH STUDENT'S PASSION FOR LEARNING AND BUILD SKILLS BEYOND CORE SUBJECTS. TEACHING ARTISTS AND STAFF FROM COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS MENTOR COHORTS OF YOUTH THROUGH INTEREST-ALIGNED PROGRAMMING. STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PEOPLE'S THEATRE PROJECT AND THE METS BASEBALL TEAM, AND ENJOY PLAYING RUGBY, MAKING MURAL ART, TAKING CLASSES IN CODING AND EXPLORING CARTOON ART. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS STUDENTS GAIN A VISION OF FUTURE POSSIBILITIES AND FORGE BONDS WITH THEIR COMMUNITY.3. BUILDING A DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITY. AT S2, WE GIVE STUDENTS VARIED AND AUTHENTIC OPPORTUNITIES TO PRACTICE DEMOCRACY AND MAKE CHOICES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. EVERY SIX DAYS, STUDENTS COME TOGETHER FOR VOICE, A TIME FOR READING TEXTS, DISCUSSING COMPLICATED ISSUES, DEVELOPING PROPOSALS AND PRESENTATIONS, AND PARTICIPATING IN DEMOCRATIC DECISION-MAKING. THROUGH VOICE, WE EMPOWER STUDENTS TO ADDRESS IMPORTANT SCHOOL, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL ISSUES WHILE LEARNING MULTICULTURAL AWARENESS PRACTICES AND PERSPECTIVE TAKING. WE FIND THAT WHEN CHILDREN BELIEVE THEIR CHOICES MATTER, THEY CRAVE THE ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL SKILLS NECESSARY TO EXERCISE THEM RESPONSIBLY.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2017.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.