Northwest Montessori School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide an individualized learning environment, based on the principles of Dr. Maria Montessori, that is designed to help students become independent, life-long learners who are academically grounded and socially confident about their place in the world.
- Income
- $3.5 million
- Spending
- $3.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 49
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $129,525, 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
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 63% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% 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: 73 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 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
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $2.9 million spent. Northwest Montessori School was founded in 1965. Currently, we have 181 students between the ages of 2 1/2 and 12 years old. Northwest Montessori School is based on the Montessori method of education and is recognized by the Association Montessori Internationale. We have three locations in the Seattle area. All of our preschool classrooms maintain a one to ten teacher ratio. Our elementary program is approved by the superintendent of public education for Washington State. At its core, the Montessori philosophy respects children as they are and creates carefully prepared classroom environments that foster the fulfillment of each child's highest potential. Montessori teachers use the dynamic educational approach to carefully observe and best meet the evolving developmental needs of each student, the three year age span in each classroom also allows children to progress at their own intellectual pace, to learn individually and together, and to grow into social and emotional maturity naturally. The average teacher longevity is ten years. All of our teachers have a diploma award from the Association of Montessori Internationale.Northwest Montessori School offers the Spanish language to all students, preschool to 6th grade.
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 April 1968.
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.