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Circle School

EIN 87-1155909 · Croton Hdsn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH A PRESCHOOL THAT FOCUSES ON CHILDREN'S ABILITY TO DEVELOP FRIENDSHIPS, COOPERATE WITH PEERS AND TEACHERS, FOLLOW DIRECTIONS, DEVELOP EMPATHY, COLLABORATE, PROBLEM SOLVE, AND APPROACH NEW EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES WITH CONFIDENCE. OUR PROGRAM PROVIDES A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN TO GROW AND DEVELOP SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND ACADEMICALLY THROUGH A BREADTH OF FUN AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES.

Income
$252,878
Spending
$265,149
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
5
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$51,421, 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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    6 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 (3)
  1. $133,714 spent. WE PROVIDE A PRESCHOOL FOR CHILDREN TWO, THREE AND FOUR YEARS OF AGE, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. STUDENTS ARE AFFORDED AMPLE FREE PLAY WITH ACCESS TO SENSORY, BUILDING, HOUSEKEEPING, DRAMATIC PLAY, MANIPULATIVES, CRAFTS AND ART SUPPLIES, FINE MOTOR MATERIALS SUCH AS PLAYDOH, SAND, CUTTING AND WRITING. EACH CLASS SPENDS TIME OUTDOORS TO AID IN GROSS MOTOR DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS CLIMBING, SWINGING, AND BALANCING, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SKILLS SUCH AS TURN TAKING AND SHARING. WE PROVIDE A NUT-FREE SNACK AND WATER DAILY. THE TWO-, THREE- AND FOUR-YEAR-OLDS ALL PARTICIPATE IN STORY TIME, SONGS AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES AND ADDITIONALLY, THE THREE- AND FOUR-YEAR-OLDS PARTICIPATE IN CIRCLE TIME WHICH INCLUDES ROUTINE ITEMS SUCH AS WEATHER AND CALENDAR REPORTS ALONG WITH ACTIVITIES THAT CORRELATE WITH THE UNIT OF STUDY (SUCH AS SEASONS, BEARS, DINOSAURS, TRANSPORTATION, HOLIDAYS, AND COLORS). WE MAINTAIN A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION AT AFFORDABLE PRICES WITH THE SUPPORT OF ENROLLED FAMILIES. FAMILY MEMBERS ASSIST IN CARING FOR THE FACILITY, DONATING SUPPLIES ETC.
  2. $24,553 spent. DISCOVERY CLUB- AFTERNOON ENRICHMENT CLASSES FOR PRESCHOOLERS SUCH AS WIGGLY WORMS GARDENING (GROWING SEEDS, DIGGING, MAKING A GARDEN BED WITH STEPPING STONES AND BIRDHOUSES), MOVEMENT (DANCE AND YOGA), SUPER SCIENCE (MULTI-SENSORY CLASS WHERE STUDENTS EXPLORE, DISCOVER AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND THEM), CREATIVE CATERPILLARS (ARTWORK AND CRAFTS), AND TERRIFIC TIGERS (SPORTS; RUNNING, KICKING, JUMPING, BALANCING AND TEAMWORK) PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH AGE APPROPRIATE EXPLORATION OF THESE VARIOUS TOPICS. DISCOVERY CLUB MEETS FOR 10 WEEKS IN THE FALL AND 10 WEEKS IN THE SPRING AND IS OPEN TO TWO- TO FIVE-YEAR-OLDS.
  3. $4,053 spent. SUMMER CAMP - LOTS OF OUTDOOR PLAY, WATER PLAY, ARTS AND CRAFTS, MUSIC, GAMES, STORY TIME AND SNACK TIME DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY MORNINGS.

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 2021.

    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.