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Pioneer Montessori School

EIN 82-0360653 · Ketchum, ID

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PIONEER MONTESSORI SCHOOL, FOLLOWING THE VISION OF DR. MARIA MONTESSORI, PROVIDES EDUCATION FOR LIFE BY NOURISHING EVERY CHILD'S LIFETIME LOVE OF LEARNING. OUR AGE APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTS ARE DESIGNED TO TEACH TO THE WHOLE CHILD AND EMPOWER EACH STUDENT TO REALIZE HIS OR HER OWN POTENTIAL. PIONEER MONTESSORI SCHOOL RECOGNIZES AND NURTURES THE CHILD'S INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC NEEDS WHILE FOLLOWING THE CHILD'S INNATE DESIRE TO CREATE HIS OR HERSELF. WE PROMOTE THE ACQUISITION OF SKILLS BY PROVIDING A COOPERATIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE EACH STUDENT'S WORK IS BOTH SELF-DIRECTED AND TEACHER GUIDED, THUS DEVELOPING THE CHILD'S INDEPENDENT THINKING SKILLS. AT PIONEER MONTESSORI SCHOOL WE STRIVE TO CULTIVATE COMPASSION, INSTILL CONFIDENCE AND AWAKEN CONSCIOUSNESS FOR ONESELF, OTHERS AND THE WORLD THAT SURROUNDS US.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
28
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$133,403, head of scho

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 6 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $1.6 million spent. THE VISION OF PIONEER MONTESSORI SCHOOL IS TO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPLETE HUMAN BEING ORIENTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT, ADAPTED TO HIS OR HER TIME, PLACE AND CULTURE. STUDENT POPULATION PER CLASSROOM WAS: PREPRIMARY (TODDLER AGES 18 MONTHS TO 3 YEARS) - 14 STUDENTS; PRIMARY (AGES 3 - 6 YEARS) - 46 STUDENTS; ELEMENTARY (AGES 6-12 YEARS) - 44 STUDENTS; TOTAL -104 STUDENTS.

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 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 July 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 1981.

    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.