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Westside Neighborhood School

EIN 95-3551091 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak33 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WNS IS COMMITTED TO CREATING A DEEPLY CARING COMMUNITY OF LIFELONG LEARNERS THAT NURTURES STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, DEVELOP CULTURAL COMPETENCY, AND INSPIRE THE WORLD WITH THEIR CURIOSITY, INNOVATION, COMPASSION, AND STEWARDSHIP.

Income
$35.7 million
Spending
$37.1 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-18.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
187
Volunteers
355
Highest pay
$627,090, 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: 33 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 92% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 40 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. $29.5 million spent. WESTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL (THE SCHOOL) IS ACCREDITED BY THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. THE SCHOOL OPERATES A PRIVATE PRESCHOOL, ELEMENTARY, AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH OFFERS A WELL-ROUNDED ACADEMIC CURRICULUM, INCLUDING LANGUAGE ARTS, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, ART, MUSIC, TECHNOLOGY AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE. THE SCHOOL'S TOTAL ENROLLMENT IN FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 IS 589. THE SCHOOL EMBRACES A POSITIVE, CHILD-CENTERED APPROACH TO EDUCATION THAT STRIVES TO FULLY DEVELOP THE POTENTIAL OF EACH STUDENT, INTELLECTUALLY, SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND PHYSICALLY. OUR HIGH ACADEMIC AND ETHICAL STANDARDS ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR LEARNING AND THEIR BEHAVIOR. OUR CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN A HIGHLY DIFFERENTIATED, PROJECT-BASED, ACTIVE LEARNING CURRICULUM THAT CHALLENGES ALL STUDENTS TO GROW. WE PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EACH CHILD IS ABLE TO EXPERIENCE SUCCESS, IS CONFIDENT IN TAKING INTELLECTUAL RISKS, WHERE INDIVIDUALS FEEL VALUED IN THEIR DIFFERENCES AND VALUE THE DIFFERENCES IN OTHERS. OUR GOAL IS TO INSTILL IN OUR STUDENTS A LOVE OF LEARNING AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF OUR WORLD, AND TO PROVIDE FOR OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF AN ENVIRONMENT OF COLLEGIALITY AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH. THE SCHOOL RECOGNIZES THAT CHILDREN HAVE DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES AND LEARN AT DIFFERENT RATES. OUR PROGRAM IS BUILT FROM THE BEST PRACTICES DERIVED FROM THE PROGRESSIVE, DEVELOPMENTAL AND TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHIES, AND EMPLOYS A VARIETY OF EXPERIENTIAL AGE-APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS' NEEDS, INVITE THEIR CREATIVITY AND CHALLENGE THEIR GROWTH. WE STRIVE TO BE A COMMUNITY OF LIFELONG LEARNERS, WHERE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, CREATIVITY, SENSE OF HUMOR, INDEPENDENCE, SELF-DISCIPLINE AND HIGH MORAL STANDARDS ARE VALUED.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. 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 September 7, 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 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.