Lowell School
Lowell School reported $20.6 million in revenue and $21.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.62 went to program services, $14.58 to management and general costs and $1.80 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 90.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $403,154 (HEAD OF SCHOOL). 12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 37% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $21MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $21MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.6% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.6% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.8% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.43 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 4.4% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 90.2% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $403,154 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.88% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 12 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 8.7 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 18 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseLowell School fosters intellectual and emotional self-reliance, with a guiding value of respect for each other. This approach provides the foundation for children to be highly motivated learners with a strong sense of self-worth and efficacy.Lowell School promotes active, collaborative learning with an emphasis on building conceptual understanding and developing strong creative, critical, and analytical thinking. Carefully designed learning experiences and curricula are integrated across subjects, draw on powerful, relevant content and student interests, and support the development of…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEAD OF SCHOOL Director/trustee, officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $346,288 | $0 | $56,866 | $403,154 |
| DIR. OF FINANCE & OPS Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $153,707 | $0 | $43,463 | $197,170 |
| DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $138,201 | $0 | $19,215 | $157,416 |
| DIRECTOR OF PRIMARY SCHOOL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $145,480 | $0 | $7,123 | $152,603 |
| DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $132,617 | $0 | $17,233 | $149,850 |
| DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $137,208 | $0 | $8,082 | $145,290 |
| ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $130,334 | $0 | $9,144 | $139,478 |
12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Lowell School (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $618K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b18 · 17 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5256
- Volunteers Part I, line 6251
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CORENIC CONSTRUCTION GROUP INC Construction services | $376,697 |
| JOFFE EMERGENCY SVCS Security services | $369,190 |
| BLACKBAUD Education admin and finance software ven | $123,494 |
| EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL ADVENTURES Field trip travel services | $112,400 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 7 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
7 private foundations reported grants to Lowell School totaling $215K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Lowell School's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Lowell School, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Lowell School spent in FY2025, $83.62 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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- Healthy Start EducationDurham, NC · revenue $21M · programs 77.8% · FY2025
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- West Oak Lane Charter SchoolPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $21M · programs 84.5% · FY2025
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All education charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Lowell School's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Lowell School reported that 83.6% of its $21.4 million in expenses went to program services, 14.6% to management and general and 1.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Lowell School pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Lowell School reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $403,154, for the role of HEAD OF SCHOOL (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Lowell School get its money?
Of $20.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 4.4% came from contributions and grants and 90.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Lowell School a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1220544 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, object 202611969349300511 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202501929349300410 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202441979349300039 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202331579349300308 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202231459349301453 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202121529349300117 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1220544: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.