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CHINESE SCHOOL OF SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER
SCARSDALE, NY · EIN 133081881 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · csswny.org
revenue
$124K
expenses
$134K
net assets
$172K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

Founded in 1981 the Chinese School of Southern Westchester is a non-profit organization which promotes the teaching of Chinese language and arts and the understanding of Chinese culture and traditions The school is open to all students regardless of race religion or creed

profile · synthesized from sources

Chinese language and cultural education school founded in 1981, serving students from nursery through 12th grade in Scarsdale, NY. Offers Saturday classes in Mandarin proficiency using both Traditional and Simplified Chinese characters, alongside cultural programs in arts, dance, and martial arts. Open to all families regardless of background, with a flexible curriculum accommodating varying language proficiencies and heritage.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Adult Education Program
Adult-only classes in Chinese language, Tai-Chi, Yoga, and seminars on topics of interest to parents and community members
Conversation Classes
Beginner and Intermediate Conversation classes to enhance spoken Mandarin skills
Cultural Arts Classes
Offerings include Painting & Calligraphy, Origami, Kung Fu & Tai Chi, Dance, Chess, and Ping-Pong; also available for adults
Early Childhood Chinese Language Program
Nursery, Pre-K, and Kindergarten classes introducing Mandarin through speaking, listening, reading, and writing, using play-based and structured formats with the textbook "Let’s Learn Chinese"
Elementary and Middle School Language Program
Grades 1–7 using the "MeiZhou HuaYu" textbook series, focusing on Mandarin proficiency with weekly homework, quizzes, and report cards; includes culture class options
Upper School Language Program
Grades 8–12 using "Integrated Chinese" curriculum, emphasizing advanced speaking, listening, reading, and writing; students eligible for CSSW diploma upon completion
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • East Asian Language and Cultural Education 4 activities
    • Deliver structured Mandarin language instruction using standardized curricula
      Provides Mandarin Chinese language instruction focused on speaking, listening, reading, and writing, using the MeiZhou HuaYu textbook series for grades 1–7 and the Integrated Chinese series for grades 8–12. Offers instruction in both Traditional and Simplified Chinese characters, aligning with family preferences and NYS foreign language standards, with curriculum integration of cultural content.
    • Offer cultural and extracurricular classes for students and adults
      Provides weekly cultural and extracurricular classes in arts and crafts, dance, brush painting, calligraphy, chess, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Table Tennis, and conversation courses for students and adults. These classes are taught by recognized practitioners and include mixed-age participation opportunities for younger students.
    • Provide adult education programs in Chinese language and culture
      Offers adult-only courses in Mandarin Chinese language, Tai-Chi, Yoga, and other subjects, as well as seminars for parents in the CSSW community, fostering lifelong learning and cultural engagement.
    • Provide weekly Chinese language and cultural education for school-age children
      Offers weekly Saturday classes for children from Nursery through Twelfth Grade during the academic year, with 30 sessions annually divided into two semesters. Instruction includes two hours of Mandarin Chinese language and one hour of cultural activities per week, using structured curricula and issuing homework, quizzes, tests, and report cards each semester.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Administer student recognition and academic milestones
      Issues report cards twice annually and awards a Certificate of Achievement to students completing 6th grade during the Year-End Ceremonies. Students who complete the program in grade 12 receive a CSSW diploma.
    • Operate structured academic programming with defined class periods and enrollment policies
      Conducts classes in structured time blocks at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and 11:00 AM on Saturdays, requiring enrollment in a third-period culture class and participation in school-wide events such as Public Speaking and Talent Shows.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$124K
Contributions & grants$7751%
Program service revenue$112K91%
Investment income$11K9%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$134K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$172K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$172K
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue +5.9%
relationships · 8

Who they work with

  • CSSW Board of Directors Partner — Board responsible for setting annual tuition and school policies.
  • Carnegie Mellon University Partner — Sophia Shih, a board member and former student, graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and contributes to CSSW as part of its leadership.
  • Edgemont High School Partner — Hosts CSSW classes at its facilities in Scarsdale.
  • Edgemont High School Partner — Hosts CSSW on its campus for Saturday classes.
  • MeiZhou HuaYu (www.mzchinese.net) Partner — Uses the MeiZhou HuaYu textbook series for Chinese language instruction.
  • Rye Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Partner — Sponsor featured in the Sponsored Content section of the CSSW website
  • local Chinese organizations Partner — Maintains strong connections with local Chinese organizations to support community engagement and cultural programming.
  • local Chinese organizations Partner — Maintains strong connections with local Chinese organizations to support community engagement and programming.
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.

  • Culture-Integrated Language Education
    methodology: culture_integrated_language_education
    By integrating Chinese language instruction with cultural education, the school deepens students' understanding of Chinese heritage and promotes holistic learning, because cultural context enhances language retention and engagement.
  • Language-Inclusive Bilingual Instruction
    methodology: language_inclusive_instruction
    By using flexible bilingual instruction in Mandarin and English, the school accommodates diverse language backgrounds, including non-Mandarin-speaking families, because inclusive language practices lower barriers to access and support equitable learning.
  • Parent-Led Organizational Model
    methodology: parent_led_model
    By engaging parents as teachers, staff, and board members, the school fosters high parental involvement and shared leadership, because collective ownership strengthens community commitment and program sustainability.
  • Proficiency-Oriented Language Development
    methodology: proficiency_oriented_instruction
    By focusing on speaking and listening proficiency as primary goals, supported by structured reading and writing practice, the school builds practical language skills, because oral fluency forms the foundation for long-term Mandarin acquisition.
  • Values-Based Cognitive Education
    methodology: values_based_cognitive_education
    By teaching critical thinking and the Stoic "dichotomy of control," the school fosters psychological maturity and resilience, because reflective education helps students manage emotions and counteract polarization in uncertain environments.