Lakeside School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF LAKESIDE SCHOOL IS TO DEVELOP IN INTELLECTUALLY CAPABLE YOUNG PEOPLE THE CREATIVE MINDS, HEALTHY BODIES, AND ETHICAL SPIRITS NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE WISDOM, COMPASSION, AND LEADERSHIP TO A GLOBAL SOCIETY. WE PROVIDE A RIGOROUS, DYNAMIC ACADEMIC PROGRAM THROUGH WHICH EFFECTIVE EDUCATORS LEAD STUDENTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEARNING. WE ARE COMMITTED TO SUSTAINING A SCHOOL IN WHICH INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING DIVERSE CULTURES AND EXPERIENCES INSTRUCT ONE ANOTHER IN THE MEANING AND VALUE OF COMMUNITY AND IN THE JOY AND IMPORTANCE OF LIFELONG LEARNING.
- Income
- $125.3 million
- Spending
- $62.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 16.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 52%
- Employees
- 559
- Volunteers
- 220
- Highest pay
- $896,284, head of school
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 50% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 63% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 20 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (3)
- $48.6 million spent. LAKESIDE SCHOOL CONTINUES ITS FOCUS ON THE CORE ELEMENTS OF ITS MISSION THROUGH THE THREE AREAS OF ITS STRATEGIC PLAN: EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE; COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE, ENGAGEMENT, AND IMPACT; AND INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS, AND CAPACITY. THE SCHOOL'S COMPREHENSIVE MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL PROGRAM INCLUDES EXCELLENT ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS, EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION, AND VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS. THE FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM PROVIDES TUITION- AND NON-TUITION FINANCIAL AID TO APPROXIMATELY A THIRD OF THE STUDENT POPULATION. THE FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM OFFERS MEALS AND SNACKS TO ALL STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES. IN ADDITION TO THE SCHOOL-YEAR PROGRAM, THE SCHOOL OFFERS A RICH ARRAY OF SUMMER PROGRAMMING TO SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, INCLUDING ACADEMIC COURSES, INVESTIGATIVE LEARNING AND ATHLETICS CAMPS, AND THE SIGNATURE LAKESIDE EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (LEEP) WHICH SERVES SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.
- $2.7 million spent. THE DOWNTOWN SCHOOL, A SMALLER HIGH SCHOOL IN SEATTLE CENTER, OPENED IN FALL 2018. THE MODEL PRESERVES THE ESSENCE AND QUALITY OF THE LAKESIDE ACADEMIC PROGRAM AT A SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER COST.
- $286,671 spent. TO SUPPORT TOOLS FOR LEARNING, THE SCHOOL SELLS LAPTOPS, BOOKS, AND OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS TO STUDENTS' FAMILIES, INCLUDING PROVIDING FINANCIAL AID TO COVER THE COST OF THESE MATERIALS TO QUALIFYING FAMILIES.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1952.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.