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Montessori School of Camden

EIN 82-4480694 · Camden, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CAMDEN IS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS TO BECOME PEACEFUL CITIZENS OF THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY USING THE MONTESSORI APPROACH TO NURTURE IN THEM AN ENTHUSIASM FOR LEARNING, RESOURCEFULNESS, A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS, AND RESPECT FOR THEMSELVES, OTHERS, AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 66%
Employees
49
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$38,879, 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

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $1.2 million spent. THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CAMDEN IS A PUBLIC 5K - GRADE 8 CHARTER SCHOOL WITH A PRIVATELY FUNDED INFANT - 4K PROGRAM LOCATED BETWEEN CAMDEN AND LUGOFF, SOUTH CAROLINA. MSC'S MISSION IS TO NURTURE THE "WHOLE" CHILD TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENCE AND A LIFETIME LOVE OF LEARNING. FOUNDED BY DR. SHERYL SWEET IN 1979 AS THE MONTESSORI PRE-SCHOOL AT THE JOSEPH KERSHAW ACADEMY (JKA), THE SCHOOL NOW OCCUPIES AN ELEVEN ACRE CAMPUS AND SERVES CHILDREN 6 WEEKS TO 15 YEARS OF AGE. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM OPENED IN JULY 2019.

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 November 6, 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 March 2019.

    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 November 4, 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.