The Varnett Schools
The Varnett Schools reported $18.5 million in revenue and $19.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $92.49 went to program services, $7.51 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 94.7% of the total. Government grants made up 94.7%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $204,004 (SUPERINTENDENT). 6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 1% 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 $20MFor 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 $19MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 92.5% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.5% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 94.7% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 94.7% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 2.7% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $204,004 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.03% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 13.0 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 5 of 5 | 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 expenseHighest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUPERINTENDENT Officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $198,651 | $0 | $5,353 | $204,004 |
| TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $119,769 | $0 | $5,353 | $125,122 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ACADEMICS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $117,199 | $0 | $4,921 | $122,120 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS & FINANCE Officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $116,000 | $0 | $5,353 | $121,353 |
| SPECIAL PROGRAMS COORDINATOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $106,427 | $0 | $5,353 | $111,780 |
| DIRECTOR OF EFFECTIVE PRACTICE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $102,278 | $0 | $5,353 | $107,631 |
6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Varnett Schools (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $319K (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–1b5 · 5 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 11aYes
- 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 5247
- Volunteers Part I, line 65
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MAXI REALTY CORP Operating lease | $425,901 |
| 1ST RESPONSE SECURITY Armed security | $417,513 |
| THE VILLAGE EDUCATION SOLUTIONS LLC Tutoring | $228,040 |
| SCHOLASTIC SOLUTIONS LLC Back office support | $200,480 |
| PIVOT STAFFING Staffing | $185,591 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Varnett Schools's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Varnett Schools, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Varnett Schools spent in FY2025, $92.49 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Student Alternatives ProgramSan Antonio, TX · revenue $19M · programs 61.7% · FY2025
- Lotus School for ExcellenceAurora, CO · revenue $19M · programs 89.1% · FY2025
- Atlanta Neighborhood Charter SchoolAtlanta, GA · revenue $19M · programs 75.9% · FY2025
- CASA Loma CollegeVan Nuys, CA · revenue $19M · programs 59.8% · FY2025
- Academia Antonia Alonso Charter SchoolNewark, DE · revenue $19M · programs 78.9% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of The Varnett Schools's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, The Varnett Schools reported that 92.5% of its $19.9 million in expenses went to program services, 7.5% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Varnett Schools pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Varnett Schools reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $204,004, for the role of SUPERINTENDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Varnett Schools get its money?
Of $18.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 94.7% came from contributions and grants (including 94.7% from government grants) and 2.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Varnett Schools a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 76-0297121 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 202601919349300705 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202521959349301582 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202432959349300423 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202331989349300033 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202221659349300412 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202121969349302487 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 76-0297121: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.