Berkwood School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Berkwood Hedge School provides a hands-on developmental curriculum that promotes deep and intuitive learning. Students achieve academic excellence by becoming critical thinkers and creative problem solvers. Our teachers meet the needs of every child inspiring the joy of learning academic success intellectual excitement emotional well-being and creativity. Students leave Berkwood Hedge School prepared for success in high school and beyond. Our small cooperative community of students families and educators is committed to preserving the environment and promoting social justice within the school culture and the larger community. We are committed to strengthening diversity of all types including cultural ethnic racial learning style economic gender and family structure.
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $4.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- -1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 85%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 83
- Highest pay
- $260,491, ex-officio trustee 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: 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
2 of 20It owes 84% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 12 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
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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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)
- $3.4 million spent. Berkwood Hedge School operates a Kindergarten through eighth-grade full-time education program. Our schools constructivist approach is based on the understanding that children construct their knowledge of the world through active and collaborative exploration of their learning environment. Each day in our classrooms childrens natural curiosity motivates them to learn and grow as individuals. Our experienced teachers create child-centered environments with lively discussion collaboration social interaction and play. They understand that learning happens on a developmental continuum unique to each student and children proceed on individual timelines. The curriculum is built around themes that interest children and connect to their lives. Students are given time to question experiment and reflect deeply on the ideas they encounter as they explore literature mathematics science and the arts. Critical thinking skills develop as children actively pursue meaning independently and cooperatively. Through careful observation as well as more formal assessments teachers develop an awareness of what each child needs to help create meaning and understanding at every stage. Using this knowledge teachers provide tools experiences and purposeful instruction that challenge and engage students at just the right level helping all students learn and progress throughout the year.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1961.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.