Skip to the page content
Passes our checks

Reid Traditional Schools Valley Academy Inc

EIN 86-0784125 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1995, RTS VALLEY ACADEMY IS ONE OF ARIZONA'S FIRST CHARTER SCHOOLS. IT HAS BEEN NOMINATED AS A 2014 BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL, AN AWARD BESTOWED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR CONTINUOUS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. PAST AWARDS INCLUDE THE ARIZONA CHARTER SCHOOLS ASSOCIATIONS' (ACSA) 2011 CHARTER SCHOOL OF THE YEAR; ACSA 2010 BUSINESS LEADERSHIP OF THE YEAR; ACSA 2008 CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR. THE SCHOOL HAS CONSISTENTLY EARNED THE TOP POSSIBLE RATING FROM THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION EVERY YEAR OF ITS EXISTENCE. THE MISSION OF REID TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS IS TO OFFER BACK-TO-BASICS, TRADITIONAL EDUCATION BY PROVIDING A CHALLENGING, SEQUENTIAL, TEACHER- DIRECTED, STANDARDS-BASED, TEXTBOOK-DRIVEN CURRICULUM SUPPORTED BY INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND HIGH ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS.

Income
$7.0 million
Spending
$7.0 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
102
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$178,269, ceo

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 76% 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 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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. $6.1 million spent. RTS VALLEY ACADEMY IS ONE OF THE FIRST CHARTER SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED IN ARIZONA. THROUGH 29 YEARS, THE SCHOOL HAS CONSISTENTLY EARNED THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE RATING FROM THE STATE EACH AND EVERY YEAR. RTS VALLEY ACADEMY WAS NAMED A 2014 NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL, AN AWARD BESTOWED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR CONTINUOUS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. RTS VALLEY ACADEMY IS ALSO THE ARIZONA 2011 CHARTER SCHOOL OF THE YEAR. THE ARIZONA CHARTER SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION ALSO BESTOWED AWARDS TO RTS VALLEY ACADEMY STAFF OF 2010 BUSINESS LEADERSHIP OF THE YEAR AND 2008 CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR. WE ARE PROUD OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF OUR SUCCESS IN PREPARING CHILDREN FOR COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE.

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 October 13, 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 August 1995.

    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 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.