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Lick Wilmerding High School

EIN 94-1186156 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A PRIVATE SCHOOL WITH PUBLIC PURPOSE, LICK-WILMERDING HIGH SCHOOL "LWHS" DEVELOPS THE HEAD, HEART AND HANDS OF HIGHLY MOTIVATED STUDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, INSPIRING THEM TO BECOME LIFE-LONG LEARNERS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORLD WITH CONFIDENCE.

Income
$38.5 million
Spending
$38.7 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
214
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$738,454, 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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% 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 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 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 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $32.6 million spent. LWHS IS A NON-PROFIT, INDEPENDENT, COEDUCATIONAL, COLLEGE PREPARATORY DAY SCHOOL SERVING GRADES 9-12 WITH A TRADITION OF INTEGRATING DEMANDING ACADEMIC COURSES WITH SERVICE LEARNING AND TECHNICAL AND FINE ARTS. ENDOWED BY SAN FRANCISCO ENTREPRENEUR JAMES LICK, THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL ARTS OPENED ITS DOORS IN 1895. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE "LICK SCHOOL" MERGED WITH THE WILMERDING SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL ARTS AND THE LUX SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING. A PRIVATE SCHOOL WITH PUBLIC PURPOSE, LICK-WILMERDING HIGH SCHOOL DEVELOPS THE HEAD, HEART, AND HANDS OF HIGHLY MOTIVATED STUDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, INSPIRING THEM TO BECOME LIFELONG LEARNERS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORLD WITH CONFIDENCE AND (CONT. ON SCH. O) COMPASSION. LWHS' RIGOROUS HEAD, HEART, AND HANDS CURRICULUM EQUIPS STUDENTS WITH THE SKILLS, HABITS OF MIND, AND COMMITMENT TO BUILD LIVES OF EXCELLENCE AND MEANING. THE SCHOOL OFFERS CHALLENGING, COLLEGE PREPARATORY CLASSES IN NINE DISCIPLINES, WITH A UNIQUE TECHNICAL ARTS PROGRAM, PART OF ITS 129 YEAR LEGACY, AND RIGOROUS HONORS LEVEL CLASSES IN ALL FIVE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS. STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE FOUR YEAR PUBLIC PURPOSE PROGRAM, A HANDS-ON EDUCATION AND SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCE.THE 559 STUDENTS AT LWHS REFLECT THE SCHOOL'S STRONG COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY. 70% OF STUDENTS ARE SELF-IDENTIFIED AS STUDENTS OF COLOR. IN 2024, THERE WERE 940 APPLICANTS FOR 140 PLACES IN THE NINTH GRADE; 139 NINTH GRADERS ENROLLED FROM 63 MIDDLE SCHOOLS. THE FLEXIBLE TUITION PROGRAM AWARDED $7.7 MILLION TO 33% OF THE STUDENTS. OUR 73 FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND PROGRAM DIRECTORS HOLD 49 MASTER'S DEGREES AND 6 DOCTORATES. PERFORMING, TECHNICAL AND FINE ARTS TEACHERS HAVE SUPPLEMENTED THEIR FORMAL DEGREES WITH EXTENSIVE WORK AND PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE.

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 November 6, 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 October 1944.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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