irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $546KELEMENTARY WILL SERVE CHILDREN AGE SIX THROUGH TWELVE. STUDENTS WILL BEGIN THEIR DAY WITH A THREE-HOUR WORK PERIOD, DURING WHICH THEY WILL WORK INDEPENDENTLY OR IN SMALL GROUPS ON SUBJECTS SUCH AS MATH, GEOMETRY, GEOGRAPHY, BOTANY, ZOOLOGY, WORLD CULTURES, HISTORY, BIOLOGY, ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, FINE ARTS, HAND WORK AND CRAFTS, MUSIC, PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS, HEALTH SKILLS, HISTORY, FARMING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES. FOLLOWING THIS WORK PERIOD, STUDENTS WILL TRANSITION TO LUNCH AND OUTDOOR TIME. THE AFTERNOON WILL INCLUDE A SECOND WORK PERIOD AND SPECIALS, SUCH AS SPANISH, MUSIC, ART/HANDWORK, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND FARMING/GARDENING.
- #2 $117KTODDLER WILL SERVE CHILDREN FROM 18 MONTHS TO 3 YEARS. THIS PROGRAM IS AN INTRODUCTION TO MONTESSORI FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME EVERY DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY (LESS THAN 3 HOURS). DURING THIS TIME THEY WILL HAVE A DEDICATED WORK PERIOD, SNACK, AND OUTSIDE PLAY/EXPLORATION. ART, MUSIC, FOREIGN LANGUAGE, PRACTICAL LIFE, MATH, SENSORY, LANGUAGE, AND CULTURAL ARE ALL AREAS EXPLORED DURING THE REGULAR WORK CYCLE.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Elementary Program
Serves children ages 6 through 12 with a three-hour independent work period focused on math, science, language arts, geography, and cultural studies, followed by lunch, outdoor time, and a second work period with specials including Spanish, music, art, physical education, and gardening.
Lower Elementary Program
Serves children ages 6 through 9 with a structured Montessori curriculum including math, geometry, botany, zoology, history, language arts, and practical life skills, delivered through independent and small-group work over 180 days of instruction.
Summer and School Break Camps
Offers supplemental camp programming during school breaks for enrolled students and, during longer breaks, opens enrollment to the broader community, serving up to 45 students for short-term care and enrichment.
Toddler Program
Serves children from 18 months to 3 years with a daily program introducing Montessori principles through work cycles, snack time, outdoor exploration, and activities in art, music, language, sensory development, and practical life skills.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Montessori Education Programs 3 activities
- Operate on-campus Montessori classrooms and learning environmentsMaintains six fully equipped Montessori classrooms across a campus featuring two converted historic barns and a restored 1792 stone farmhouse, providing a prepared environment that integrates natural and historical elements to support developmental needs.
- Operate toddler-specific Montessori programsProvides a dedicated Montessori toddler program for children aged 18–36 months with half-day morning and afternoon sessions (8:45 am – 11:30 am and 1:00 pm – 3:45 pm), featuring a prepared indoor and outdoor environment, peer community, nurturing guides, and support for cloth diapering and stand-up changing.
- Provide Montessori education for children aged 18 months to 18 yearsOffers authentic Montessori programs from toddler (18 months) through 6th grade, including lower elementary and upper elementary levels, with individualized learning through uninterrupted work cycles, self-directed activities, and integrated specials. The school serves children up to age 18 through a comprehensive curriculum grounded in Montessori principles.
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Admissions Outreach and Enrollment Support 1 activity
- Conduct enrollment and student visitation programsOffers on-campus enrollment tours with classroom observations and individual parent meetings, and arranges student visits ranging from a half-day to three days based on age and guide recommendations to support enrollment decisions.
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Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Deliver afternoon and specialty programsProvides afternoon specials including Spanish, music, art/handwork, physical education, and Earth Stewards, with Spanish taught in small groups using experiential methods and music instruction including weekly group lessons and electives in chorus, ukulele, marimbas, and recorder.
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Sliding-Scale Tuition Programs 1 activity
- Implement need-based tuition assessment processUses a comprehensive financial assessment process to determine tuition contributions based on family resources, considering factors beyond gross income to ensure accessibility.
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Before and After School Childcare 1 activity
- Offer after-school and extended day programsRuns an Extended Day program for children ages 3 to 15, providing snack, outdoor play, and indoor activities such as art and games. Also offers after-school enrichment programs for kindergartners and elementary students with rotating sessions in fine arts, theatre arts, French club, ceramics, cross country, and natural building.
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 1 activity
- Operate an educational farm and outdoor stewardship programManages a 3,000 square foot greenhouse, fruit orchards, a Three Sisters Garden, a Food Forest, and animal habitats as part of an integrated educational farm. Students participate in the Earth Stewards program, engaging in planting, harvesting, trail maintenance, shelter building, fire-making, and outdoor cooking.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Run camp programs during school breaksOperates camp programs during school breaks, serving 45 students from the enrolled population and broader community with five days of care, integrating educational and recreational activities.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Implement structured daily learning cycles and routinesConducts a three-hour uninterrupted work cycle daily to support concentration, self-direction, and time management, supplemented by individualized rest times, self-served snacks, and daily outdoor play in all weather conditions to promote cognitive and physical development.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$2.02M
Contributions & grants$66K3%
Program service revenue$1.94M96%
Investment income$2K0%
Other revenue$9K
expenses
Total expenses$1.86M
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead26%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.23M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.04M
Cash$459K
Investments$0
Liabilities$707K
Net assets$3.33M
Liquid reserves3.0 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue +25.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAURAPRIYA TESTER | HEAD OF SCHOOL | 50 | $71K |
board members · 6
- CHASE JAZ — TREASURER
- KRISTINA WERTZ — TRUSTEE
- MARC SCRIVO — SECRETARY
- MCKENZIE RALEY — TRUSTEE
- SARAH HARRISON — TRUSTEE
- SARAH JAMISON — CHAIRPERSON
relationships · 7
Who they work with
- CMS-partnered guides Partner — Collaborates with external guides who co-lead after-school enrichment programs with CMS staff.
- Haudenosaunee Government — Recognizes the Haudenosaunee as ancestral stewards of the land where the school is located and commits to learning about respectful relationships and supporting Indigenous sovereignty.
- How We Montessori Partner — Links to How We Montessori for guidance on Montessori toilet learning practices.
- Lenape Government — Acknowledges the Lenape and other Algonquin peoples as ancestral stewards of the land and honors their resilience despite forced removal.
- Mahican Government — Recognizes the Mahican people as original inhabitants of the land and expresses respect and gratitude for their historical and ongoing connection to the region.
- Richard Louv Partner — References Richard Louv's book "Last Child in the Woods" as a resource supporting the school's philosophy on nature connection.
- TADS Partner — Third-party service used to process financial aid and sliding-scale tuition applications.
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.
- Cosmic Curriculum to Foster Interdependence and Motivated Learningmethodology: cosmic_curriculumBy using a cosmic curriculum grounded in stories of the universe, life, and humankind, the school helps children discover their place in an interdependent world, because this narrative framework leverages natural curiosity and social awareness to inspire intrinsic motivation, purposeful learning, and community engagement.
- Nature-Based Learning to Counteract Developmental Deficitsmethodology: nature_immersionBy integrating daily outdoor play and nature immersion in all weather conditions, the school supports cognitive, social, and emotional development, because regular contact with nature mitigates the negative effects of nature disconnection and builds resilience, curiosity, and physical health.
- Permaculture Education Integrating Ecological and Social Ethicsmethodology: permaculture-ethicsBy embedding permaculture ethics—earth care, people care, and fair share—into the curriculum, the school teaches cooperation with nature and respect for Indigenous ecological knowledge, because this integrated approach links environmental stewardship to social justice and ethical development.
- Sliding-Scale Tuition to Advance Educational Equitymethodology: proportional_financial_contribution_modelBy implementing a sliding-scale tuition model based on family financial capacity, the school increases accessibility and promotes economic diversity, because aligning cost with proportional financial responsibility counters systemic inequities and ensures broader access to Montessori education.
- Uninterrupted Work Cycles for Self-Directed Learningmethodology: uninterrupted_work_cycleBy structuring the school day around long, uninterrupted work periods, the school enables deep concentration, self-paced learning, and sustained engagement with Montessori materials, because minimizing disruptions honors individual learning rhythms and fosters independence and collaboration.