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Rolling Hills Preparatory School

EIN 95-3735164 · San Pedro, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak26 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 84 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

A FORWARD-LOOKING, ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS COLLEGE-PREP SCHOOL WITH A SOUL, ROLLING HILLS PREPARATORY SCHOOL (RHP) WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFELONG SUCCESS IN A GLOBAL 21ST CENTURY USING PROVEN TEACHING TECHNIQUES IN A STIMULATING AND SUPPORTIVE ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT. AS PART OF RHP'S ONGOING SELF-EVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENT, A GROUP OF TEACHERS, TRUSTEES AND PARENTS HAS APPROVED THE LEARNING EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS, BASED ON THE FOUR PILLARS OF DISCIPLINED MINDS, SOUND CHARACTER, HEALTHY BODIES, AND CREATIVE SPIRITS. EVERY YEAR EACH FACULTY MEMBER FOCUSES ON AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOUR PILLARS, INCORPORATING ITS PHILOSOPHY INTO THAT YEAR'S TEACHING AND EVALUATION. THESE PRINCIPLES ARE NOT JUST ON PAPER, THEY INSPIRE THE HIGH QUALITY TEACHING THAT IS A HALLMARK OF RHP.

Income
$8.2 million
Spending
$10.4 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-14.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
85
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$295,883, associate 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: 26 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 84 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
  1. $7.4 million spent. OPERATION OF A CHILDREN'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR APPROXIMATELY 150 STUDENTS, GRADE 5-12. THE SCHOOL WORKS WITH FAMILIES AND STUDENTS TO OFFER A RANGE OF ACADEMIC, ART AND ATHLETIC COURSES TO HELP PREPARE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS FOR LIFELONG SUCCESS IN A GLOBAL 21ST CENTURY USING PROVEN TEACHING TECHNIQUES IN A STIMULATING AND SUPPORTIVE ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT. STUDENTS ARE CHALLENGED BY DEMANDING ACADEMIC COURSES AND SUPPORTED WITHIN A CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY. BY EMPLOYING A STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO OF LESS THAN 15/1, THE SCHOOL IS ABLE TO ADDRESS THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT TO HELP MAXIMIZE HIS OR HER POTENTIAL.
  2. $471,492 spent. AUXILIARY PROGRAMS INCLUDE SPORTS, OUTDOOR EDUCATION, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND OTHER ACADEMIC SUPPORT. THESE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS, AND STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES OFFERED BY THE SCHOOL, WHICH INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, PLAYS, MUSICALS AND OTHER ARTISTIC PERFORMANCES; WILDERNESS EDUCATION; TRANSPORTATION; FIELD TRIPS; PHYSICAL EDUCATION; AND TEAM SPORTS.

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 January 1983.

    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.