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Hermosa Montessori Charter School

EIN 86-0873390 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HERMOSA MONTESSORI IS AN AWARD WINNING, TUITION FREE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL. OUR CLASSROOMS ARE SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITIES OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO RESPECT CHILDREN AS UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS. LEARNING IS FOCUSED ON EXPERIENCE, INVESTIGATION, AND RESEARCH THROUGH ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT, NOT ROTE DRILL AND MEMORIZATION. THE SCHOOL IS A COMMUNITY OF LIFELONG LEARNERS WHICH INTEGRATES MONTESSORI EDUCATION WITH ARIZONA ACADEMIC STANDARDS TO SELF-MOTIVATED, MORAL, SOCIALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
53
Volunteers
36
Highest pay
$94,141, member

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: 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 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% 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

    5 of 25

    2 of 5 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. $2.3 million spent. HERMOSA STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN STATE MANDATED TESTING ALONG WITH ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. AS A MEASURE OF SUCCESS, HERMOSA CONSISTENTLY EXCELS IN SCORING AN 'A' RATING, THE HIGHEST RANK ARIZONA AWARDS TO SCHOOLS. THESE HIGH TEST SCORES ARE CONSISTENTLY ACHIEVED WITHOUT A "TEST DRIVEN" CURRICULUM. UNLIKE MANY OTHER SCHOOLS, OUR STUDENTS DON'T SPEND THE MAJORITY OF THEIR DAYS PRACTICING FOR THE TEST. THE SCHOOL'S EDUCATIONAL APPROACH IS DESIGNED NOT ONLY TO TEACH CHILDREN BASIC SKILLS AND INFORMATION. OUR PROGRAM FOCUSES ON "GROWING GOOD PEOPLE" THROUGH OUR STRONG VIRTUE PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM. A VARIETY OF EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS THAT RANGE FROM MUSIC, CHOIR, ART, COOKING, GARDENING, MARTIAL ARTS, DRAMA, CHESS, YOGA, FOOTBALL, AND WIFFLE BALL ENHANCE STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES AND THE COMMUNITYOUR PEER TUTORING PROGRAM FURTHER ENHANCES THE COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT WITHIN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. OLDER STUDENTS ARE PAIRED WITH YOUNGER ONES, CREATING A SUPPORTIVE NETWORK WHERE KNOWLEDGE IS SHARED AND FRIENDSHIPS ARE FORGED. THIS PROGRAM NOT ONLY STRENGTHENS ACADEMIC SKILLS BUT ALSO NURTURES A SENSE OF MENTORSHIP AND CAMARADERIE AMONG OUR STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, HERMOSA MONTESSORI SCHOOL TAKES PRIDE IN ITS COMMITMENT TO INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. RECOGNIZING THAT EACH STUDENT IS UNIQUE, OUR EDUCATORS TAILOR THEIR TEACHING METHODS TO CATER TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND LEARNING STYLES OF EACH CHILD. THIS PERSONALIZED APPROACH ENSURES THAT EVERY STUDENT RECEIVES THE ATTENTION AND GUIDANCE NECESSARY TO THRIVE ACADEMICALLY AND PERSONALLY. THESE PROGRAMS, INTEGRATED SEAMLESSLY INTO OUR MONTESSORI EDUCATION FRAMEWORK, CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STUDENTS, ALIGNING WITH OUR NON-PROFIT MISSION TO NURTURE SELF-MOTIVATED, MORAL, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS. THROUGH GARDENING, PEER TUTORING, AND INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION, HERMOSA MONTESSORI SCHOOL CONTINUES TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS, PREPARING THEM FOR A FUTURE OF LIFELONG LEARNING AND SUCCESS.

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 May 1999.

    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.