Carlthorp School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CARLTHORP SCHOOL IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT DAY SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES K-6. CARLTHORP SCHOOL PROVIDES A STRONG ACADEMIC FOUNDATION IN A DIVERSE AND NURTURING SCHOOL COMMUNITY THAT EMPHASIZES TRADITIONAL VALUES, DISCIPLINED WORK HABITS, AND EXCELLENCE IN ORDER TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL IN EDUCATION AND LIFE.CARLTHORP SCHOOL, ESTABLISHED IN 1939, IS THE OLDEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL IN SANTA MONICA. THOUGH THE BREADTH OF OUR CURRICULUM HAS RADICALLY EXPANDED IN THE LAST 86 YEARS, OUR BASIC PHILOSOPHY REMAINS THE SAME. WE FOCUS ON THE CHILD AS A WHOLE, HELPING THE CHILD TO GROW ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND ETHICALLY - ALL WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A TRADITIONALLY ACADEMIC SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL'S TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO EDUCATION, COUPLED WITH POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT IN A CARING WHOLESOME ENVIRONMENT PREPARES CHILDREN TO EXCEL IN TODAY'S COMPETITIVE SOCIETY.
- Income
- $16.6 million
- Spending
- $16.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 24.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 72%
- Employees
- 113
- Volunteers
- 110
- Highest pay
- $538,233, head of school
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 2515 of 16 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 August 31, 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)
- $13.6 million spent. CARLTHORP SCHOOL IS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AND THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. CARLTHORP SCHOOL RECEIVED THE "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND" NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON OF EXCELLENCE AWARD. 100% OF CARLTHORP SCHOOL'S 2025 GRADUATING CLASS ATTEND THE SECONDARY SCHOOL OF THEIR FIRST CHOICE.THE SCHOOL IS TRADITIONALLY AND ACADEMICALLY ORIENTED. THE CURRICULUM IS WELL-ROUNDED AND A SOLID ACADEMIC FOUNDATION IN MATH, READING, AND ENGLISH IS STRESSED. TEACHERS UTILIZE DIVERSE TEACHING MODALITIES AND STRATEGIES. WITH TWO CLASSES AT EACH GRADE LEVEL OF 20 STUDENTS IN EACH CLASS, EACH STUDENT FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE RECEIVED INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION. THOROUGHNESS, ACCURACY AND RESPONSIBILITY ARE STRESSED IN ALL SCHOOLWORK, AND SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO NECESSARY PREPARATION FOR ENTRANCE TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS. DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, THE SCHOOL SERVED APPROXIMATELY 280 STUDENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 February 1981.
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.