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POLY PREP COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 111630821 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B200 · Education · Very Large (>$50M) · polyprep.org
revenue
$88.0M
expenses
$82.4M
net assets
$112.2M
employees
554
volunteers
100
program ratio
81%
mission · from form 990

THROUGH A PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL ARTS CURRICULUM AND AN ENRICHING CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAM, THE SCHOOL EDUCATES THE WHOLE STUDENT: MIND, BODY AND, ABOVE ALL CHARACTER.

profile · synthesized from sources

Poly Prep Country Day School is an independent K-12 school in Brooklyn, New York, offering a progressive liberal arts curriculum across two campuses. It serves students from Nursery through Grade 12, with a focus on educating the whole student—mind, body, and character. The school emphasizes academic excellence, co-curricular programs, and character development.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Lower School
Serves students from Nursery through Grade 4 at the Park Slope campus, located near Prospect Park.
Middle and Upper School
Educates students in Grades 5–12 on a 25-acre campus in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, offering college preparatory academics and co-curricular programs.
Poly Summer
Summer camp program focused on performing arts, hosted at the Lower School campus.
Robotics Program
Co-curricular program for middle and upper school students, led by faculty member Kristin Guynn.
Service Learning Program
Upper School initiative integrating community service with academic coursework, directed by Elijah Sivin.
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
    • Administers academic recognition and commencement ceremonies
      Presents annual Middle School Major Awards to recognize students for hard work, service, creativity, character, and scholarship. Awards the Joseph Dana Allen Award for highest scholarship and exceptional character, and hosts an annual Commencement ceremony, such as the 169th in 2026.
  • Independent and Charter K-12 Schools 1 activity
    • Delivers progressive liberal arts education with co-curricular programs
      Provides a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum integrated with arts, athletics, and character development across all grade levels, focusing on educating the whole student. The curriculum addresses real-world issues and is supported by master teachers and coaches who mentor students to fulfill their potential.
  • Safe and Inclusive School Environment 1 activity
    • Fosters inclusive and diverse learning environment
      Operates as one of the most diverse independent day schools in the nation, emphasizing student engagement with difference and creating an inclusive environment where students discover their passions and develop abilities to contribute positively to society.
  • Student-Led Identity and Enrichment Programming 1 activity
    • Hosts community and academic engagement events
      Organizes weekly Chapel assemblies and student-led Chapel events that bring together diverse student groups for performances, guest speakers, cultural learning, and activities such as classical music, theatrical reenactments, and entrepreneurial pitches. Also hosts guest speaker sessions and student presentations in central venues.
  • Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Offers robust arts, athletics, and extracurricular programming
      Provides a wide-ranging arts program enabling creative expression across disciplines, supported by facilities including a state-of-the-art theatre, dance studio, art studio, and indoor/outdoor pools. Hosts Poly Summer, a summer camp focused on performing arts, and integrates competitive sports into the educational experience.
  • Charter School Operations 1 activity
    • Operates multi-campus school facilities serving Nursery through Grade 12
      Runs a Lower School campus in Park Slope (Nursery–Grade 4) and a 25-acre Middle and Upper School campus in Dyker Heights, including administrative offices. The Park Slope campus is housed in the first LEED-certified school building in New York City, featuring specialized academic and artistic spaces.
  • Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
    • Organizes educational excursions for Lower School students
      Plans and conducts educational trips to local landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island, Jane’s Carousel, and Prospect Park to enhance experiential learning for Lower School students.
  • Student and Camp Transportation Services 1 activity
    • Provides extensive student transportation network
      Operates over 35 bus routes to the Dyker Heights campus and eight to the Park Slope campus, serving approximately 85% of enrolled students through a network of more than 230 stops across New York City. Also runs a daily shuttle connecting the two campuses and offers two afternoon bus runs for Middle and Upper School students.
  • Public Access to Digital and Physical Library Collections 1 activity
    • Supports student learning through library and academic resources
      Operates a library with over 25,000 titles, 90 databases, 1,200 e-books, and 2,000 DVDs. Includes the Poly Writing Studio, which supports Middle and Upper School students throughout the writing process, from brainstorming to final drafts.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$88.04M
Contributions & grants$6.34M7%
Program service revenue$78.86M90%
Investment income$2.46M3%
Other revenue$372K
expenses
Total expenses$82.43M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$40.52M
Grants paid out$13.62M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$209.95M
Cash$34.71M
Investments$39.24M
Liabilities$97.71M
Net assets$112.25M
Liquid reserves10.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +9.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 14
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
AUDRIUS BARZDUKAS FORMER HEAD OF SCHOOL (THRU 06/23) 40 $1.09M
JOHN RANKIN INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL 40 $644K
LYNDA CASARELLA CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 40 $391K
MICHAL HERSHKOVITZ ASSISTANT HOS, ACADEMICS 40 $247K
CHARLES POLIZANO HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY 40 $239K
MATT STELLUTO HEAD OF OPERATIONS 40 $239K
FRANCIS YASHARIAN HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL 40 $237K
KRISTEN DENAVER CONTROLLER 40 $231K
SARAH BATES HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL 40 $231K
CAROLYN QUIGLEY DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL LEARNING 40 $209K
DAN DOUGHTY HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL 40 $196K
KEITH WIGGS SR. DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT 40 $194K
DEVON WINFIELD DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES 40 $188K
LATASHA RICHARDS DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS, ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AND 40 $166K
board members · 11
  • ANDREW FOOTE — BOARD CHAIR
  • DANIELLA VITALE-HOWELL — TRUSTEE
  • ELIZABETH SCHLESINGER — TRUSTEE
  • HANS HUMES — TRUSTEE
  • INDHIRA ARRINGTON — TRUSTEE
  • JENNIFER FELL — TRUSTEE
  • JENNIFER POWERS — BOARD SECRETARY
  • JOHN FOLEY — TRUSTEE
  • JOHN MCPHETERS — TRUSTEE
  • JONATHAN KRASNER — TRUSTEE
  • KAREEM RAYMOND — BOARD TREASURER
relationships · 3

Who they work with

  • Dr. Joseph Dana Allen Government — Namesake of the Joseph Dana Allen Award; served as Head of School from 1917–1948.
  • Susie Brandmeyer P’24, ’26, ’29 Partner — Lower School faculty member and parent of graduating student, contributing to the school community across multiple roles.
  • Woodward Park School Partner — Acquired the historic Woodward Park School site to establish Poly Prep’s Lower School campus.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Critical Thinking and Information Literacy Education
    methodology: critical_thinking_education
    By teaching students to evaluate and use information across formats, the school builds foundational research and reasoning skills because critical engagement with complex sources fosters lifelong learning and academic success in a technology-dependent world.
  • Diversity-Integrated, Values-Based Education
    methodology: diversity_integrated_education
    By embedding diversity and shared values such as empathy, service, and curiosity across academic and extracurricular experiences, students are prepared for global engagement because inclusive community practices cultivate both personal character and intercultural competence.
  • Experiential and Collaborative Learning
    methodology: experiential_and_collaborative_learning
    By integrating real-world issues through discussion, exploration, and collaboration, students develop deeper engagement and meaningful learning because context and relevance enhance intellectual ownership and critical thinking.
  • Holistic Student Development through Integrated Curriculum
    methodology: holistic_student_development
    By combining academic rigor with co-curricular experiences in arts, athletics, and moral education, the school fosters holistic growth because intellectual, physical, and ethical development are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.
  • Student-Centered Democratic Learning
    methodology: student_centered_democratic_learning
    By grounding curriculum in students' lived experiences and co-creating learning environments democratically, education becomes purpose-driven and more impactful because relevance and agency increase motivation and deep learning.