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Desert Montessori School

EIN 85-0423730 · Santa Fe, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF DESERT MONTESSORI SCHOOL (DMS) IS TO PROVIDE A PERSONALIZED, ENGAGING EDUCATION THAT INSPIRES A LIFE-LONG LOVE OF LEARNING, FOSTERS MEANINGFUL, INDEPENDENT THINKING, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SELF- CONFIDENCE. UTILIZING THE MONTESSORI APPROACH AND VALUES, ALONG WITH PROVEN BEST-PRACTICES, DMS SHINES AS AN INSPIRING, RESPECTFUL, SAFE AND CARING COMMUNITY FOR EVERY STUDENT, PARENT AND TEACHER. DMS IS A ECECD-LICENSED, TWO-STAR FACILITY. WE ENROLL STUDENTS BEGINNING AT AGE TWO (2) AND OFFER ENROLLMENT THROUGH SIXTH GRADE.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
48
Volunteers
55

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% 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 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs.

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: 77 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $879,295 spent. DESERT MONTESSORI INTEGRATES THE MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY WITH RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES. OUR STUDENTS ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS CLASSROOMS. WE HONOR INDIVIDUAL LEARNING STYLES WHILE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR FUTURE SUCCESS, AIMING TO EMPOWEROURSTUDENTS WITH AGENCY, CREATIVITY AND INTEGRITY OUR PROGRAMIS BASED UPON MONTESSORI PRINCIPLES AND VALUES. TEACHERS THOUGHTFULLY PREPARE ENGAGING ENVIRONMENTS AND GUIDE CHILDREN TO LEARN AT THEIR OWN PACE TO REACH THEIR INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL. WE USE SEQUENCES OF PROGRESSIVELY MORE CHALLENGING WORK, WHICH ALLOWS CHILDREN TO BUILD INDEPENDENCE, LEADING TO A STRONG SENSE OF JOY, AGENCY AND ACCOMPLISHMENT. THE MATERIALS AND LESSONS ARE DESIGNED TO LEAD A CHILD FROM THE SIMPLE TO THE COMPLEX, FROM CONCRETE TO ABSTRACT CONCEPTS. OUR CLASSROOMS CULTIVATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF PEACE, RESPECT AND COLLABORATION THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. FINALLY, OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE INSTILL A LOVE OF NATURE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AS CHILDREN BEGIN TO QUESTION AND INTEGRATE THEIR PURPOSE AND PLACE WITHIN THE FAMILY, SCHOOL AND BROADER COMMUNITY. WE ARE AN AWARD-WINNING SCHOOL WITH BETWEEN A 5:1 AND 8:1 TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO, A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY, AND A RICH SPECIALS PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES ART, NATURE, AND SPANISH. 98% OF OUR 6TH GRADE GRADUATES HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE, INCLUDING SANTA FE PREPARATORY SCHOOL, SANTA FE WALDORF, AND THE ACADEMY FOR THE TECHNOLOGIES AND CLASSICS. DESERT MONTESSORI INTEGRATES THE MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY WITH RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES. OUR STUDENTS ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS CLASSROOMS. WE HONOR INDIVIDUAL LEARNING STYLES WHILE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR FUTURE SUCCESS, AIMING TO EMPOWEROURSTUDENTS WITH AGENCY, CREATIVITY AND INTEGRITY OUR PROGRAMIS BASED UPON MONTESSORI PRINCIPLES AND VALUES. TEACHERS THOUGHTFULLY PREPARE ENGAGING ENVIRONMENTS AND GUIDE CHILDREN TO LEARN AT THEIR OWN PACE TO REACH THEIR INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL. WE USE SEQUENCES OF PROGRESSIVELY MORE CHALLENGING WORK, WHICH ALLOWS CHILDREN TO BUILD INDEPENDENCE, LEADING TO A STRONG SENSE OF JOY, AGENCY AND ACCOMPLISHMENT. THE MATERIALS AND LESSONS ARE DESIGNED TO LEAD A CHILD FROM THE SIMPLE TO THE COMPLEX, FROM CONCRETE TO ABSTRACT CONCEPTS. OUR CLASSROOMS CULTIVATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF PEACE, RESPECT AND COLLABORATION THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. FINALLY, OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE INSTILL A LOVE OF NATURE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AS CHILDREN BEGIN TO QUESTION AND INTEGRATE THEIR PURPOSE AND PLACE WITHIN THE FAMILY, SCHOOL AND BROADER COMMUNITY. WE ARE AN AWARD-WINNING SCHOOL WITH BETWEEN A 5:1 AND 8:1 TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO, A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY, AND A RICH SPECIALS PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES ART, NATURE, AND SPANISH. 98% OF OUR 6TH GRADE GRADUATES HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE, INCLUDING SANTA FE PREPARATORY SCHOOL, SANTA FE WALDORF, AND THE ACADEMY FOR THE TECHNOLOGIES AND CLASSICS.

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 1996.

    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.

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