Tri-Valley Montessori School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Valley Montessori School is a nonprofit educational institution providing Montessori-based instruction to students from preschool through eighth grade. During the 2024-2025 academic year, the School served 411 students.
- Income
- $11.1 million
- Spending
- $9.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 88%
- Employees
- 117
- Volunteers
- 52
- Highest pay
- $220,331, 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 47% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
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
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 (1)
- $7.0 million spent. The School delivers individualized, student-centered instruction designed to foster academic excellence, independence, critical thinking, and social responsibility. The academic program includes core instruction in mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies, as well as enrichment in art, music, physical education, and technology. Students participate in hands-on, experiential learning within multi-age classrooms guided by credentialed Montessori educators. The School also operates an Extended Child Care Program that provides supervised care before and after regular school hours to support working families. During the fiscal year, approximately 240 students participated in the program. The program offers structured activities and supervised homework time in a safe and nurturing environment consistent with the School's educational philosophy. In addition, the School operates a Summer Program offering academic enrichment, recreational activities, and themed learning experiences for enrolled and non-enrolled students. Approximately 358 students participated during the summer session.
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 November 6, 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 March 1997.
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 November 4, 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.