Center for Applied Science & Technology Network
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Center for Applied Science & Technology Network (CAST) is a San Antonio-based network of tuition-free public schools with a mission to reinvent schooling in order to maximize options for students while preparing them for college, career, and life. Open to all Bexar County students. The Network includes CAST Tech, CAST Teach,CAST Stem, CAST Med, CAST Lead, CAST Imagine and Advanced Learning Academy. Schools are co-created with industries and partners with area public school districts including Northside ISD,San Antonio ISD, Southwest ISD and East Central ISD. For more information, visit castschools.com.
- Income
- $4.5 million
- Spending
- $3.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $230,743, 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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 107% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 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 (1)
- $2.9 million spent. As of June 30, 2025, CAST Schools consisted of 7 schools in operation CAST Tech, CAST STEM, CAST Med, CAST Lead, CAST Teach,the Advanced Learning Academy (ALA)a pre-K through 12th-grade campus, and CAST Imagine Middle School. CAST Schools Programmatic Support (Programs): The Network provides many additional programs as part of its career-centered, experiential approach to learning, that would not otherwise be available to students, and the majority of which are funded through grants. Some examples include travel, job shadowing, internships, service programs, career-connected workshops such as speed interviewing and networking, as well as signature experiences such as the network-wide Youth Rally, and a conference organized and led entirely by students. CAST Network develops strategies and provides leadership for the non-profit organization and oversees the CAST Schools,insuring fidelity of implementation of the model.
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 August 2018.
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.