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HIGH MEADOW SCHOOL INC
STONE RIDGE, NY · EIN 141734578 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B24Z · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · highmeadowschool.org
revenue
$3.4M
expenses
$3.3M
net assets
$2.2M
employees
91
volunteers
120
program ratio
78%
mission · from form 990

TO OPERATE AS A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL FOR GRADES PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH. ITS' MISSION IS TO NURTURE EACH CHILD'S LOVE OF LEARNING BY ENGAGING THEIR INTRINSIC CURIOSITY IN NATURE, ONE ANOTHER, PLAY, AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION. TO EMPOWER EACH CHILD TO BE AN INDEPENDENT THINKER WHO HAS A PERSONAL VOICE BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO AUTHENTICALLY AND COMPASSIONATELY PARTICIPATE AS A MEMBER OF A DIVERSE, DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITY

profile · synthesized from sources

High Meadow School is a private, nonpublic school serving students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade in Stone Ridge, NY. The school emphasizes a nature-based, inquiry-driven curriculum that nurtures curiosity, creative expression, and democratic community participation. It supports a diverse student body through financial aid, scholarships, and work exchange programs.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Capstone Project
8th grade culminating project where students research real-world issues, gather data, and develop solutions through inquiry- and project-based learning
Financial Aid Grants
Need-based grants determined by family income, assets, and expenses using the FACTS Tuition Management System; awarded to maintain socioeconomic diversity
Hardship Scholarships
One-time awards for families facing extenuating circumstances such as medical or financial crises, even if they do not qualify for standard need-based aid
Hope for the Future Scholarship
Annual $5,000 scholarship for BIPOC students in grades 4–8 with high financial need, funded in partnership with the Helen’s Hope Foundation and renewable until graduation
Targeted Admissions Scholarships
One-time $1,500 awards for new students in under-enrolled grades to support balanced class sizes and enrollment goals
Work Exchange Program
Parents provide professional services such as carpentry, curriculum development, or event production in exchange for tuition credit; valued at $25–$75/hour based on market rates and project scope
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Educator Training in Equity and Inclusion 1 activity
    • Advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) initiatives
      Conducts research through teacher interviews and community surveys to inform DEIJ goals; established a DEIJ teacher committee and a three-year strategic plan to advance equity work within the school.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver outdoor and environmental education programs
      Offers field studies, science instruction, and experiential learning using campus grounds, two organic gardens, and a two-acre bird sanctuary; integrates foraging, gardening, and sustainable food sourcing into curriculum.
  • Project-Based Learning Programs 1 activity
    • Facilitate student-led inquiry and capstone projects
      Guides middle school students, especially in 8th grade, through yearlong inquiry-based learning, research, and development of community improvement projects, culminating in presentations and dissertation documents shared with the school community.
  • School and School-Community Events 1 activity
    • Host community and family engagement events
      Organizes public events such as concerts, open houses, family programs, welcome picnics, and curriculum nights; supports new family integration through Parent Ambassador program and listening conferences.
  • Comprehensive K–8 Academic Curriculum 1 activity
    • Operate independent school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade
      Provides a student-centered, arts-focused education aligned with New York State learning standards for 149 enrolled students, using inquiry-based and project-based learning across developmental stages from nursery through 8th grade.
  • Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
    • Provide financial assistance to students and staff families
      Offers need-based tuition grants, scholarships, and work exchange programs; awards $345,000 annually in financial aid supporting approximately one-third of students, and provides 70% tuition remission for children of full-time employees.
  • Volunteer Commitment Programs 1 activity
    • Require family volunteer service participation
      Requires each family to complete 25 hours of annual volunteer service in roles such as event planning, committee work, and community clean-up to support school operations and community building.
  • Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Run afterschool and summer enrichment programs
      Offers afterschool programs in music, art, dance, and sports open to external and homeschool students, and operates a summer camp program for children, generating $430K in auxiliary revenue.
  • Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs 1 activity
    • Support social-emotional and community-based learning
      Integrates daily morning and closing meetings, co-created classroom rules, cross-grade buddy programs, and community care practices to support student development in critical thinking, problem solving, and self-expression.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.35M
Contributions & grants$388K12%
Program service revenue$2.78M83%
Investment income$172K5%
Other revenue$7K
expenses
Total expenses$3.31M
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$2.41M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.88M
Cash$1.33M
Investments$507K
Liabilities$1.63M
Net assets$2.25M
Liquid reserves6.7 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -4.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MICHELLE HEALY HEAD OF SCHOOL 40 $129K
BONITA CHASE INTERIM BOARD SECRETARY 40 $82K
GORDON GARRAND STAFF REPRESENTATIVE 40 $69K
board members · 8
  • ADAM LIEBOWITZ — BOARD MEMBER
  • ALI MCKERSIE — BOARD MEMBER
  • BEN WELLINGTON — BOARD MEMBER
  • HOLLIE SABORIDO — BOARD MEMBER
  • JAY GOLDMARK — BOARD TREASURER
  • PETER MACDONALD — BOARD CHAIR
  • RACHEL LEVY — BOARD MEMBER
  • SOPHIE MCMANUS — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 7

Who they work with

  • Courtney Partner — School gardener who partners with 5th grade students to grow edible plants and mushrooms in the classroom.
  • DEIJ Teacher Committee Coalition — Internal committee composed of administrators, teachers, and parents leading DEIJ strategy and implementation at High Meadow School
  • FACTS Tuition Management Partner — Uses the FACTS Tuition Management/Grants & Aid Portal for financial aid applications and tuition payment processing.
  • Helen’s Hope Foundation Partner — Partnership to fund the Hope for the Future Scholarship for BIPOC students, providing seed money and ongoing joint evaluation of candidates.
  • Leadership + Design Partner — Partnered with High Meadow School to launch a community-wide strategic planning process aligned with long-term vision.
  • National Association of Independent Schools Government — Guides the school's Board of Trustees through its protocols.
  • PTO Partner — Collaborates with PTO members to support new family integration and community engagement.
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.

  • Long-Term Student Agency Through Capstone and Project-Based Learning
    methodology: inquiry_and_project_based_learning
    By guiding students through multi-year project-based and capstone experiences that emphasize intellectual problem-solving and community engagement, the school cultivates change agency because sustained, purposeful work builds ownership, critical thinking, and real-world impact.
  • Personalized, Observation-Based Development in a Relationship-Driven Environment
    methodology: personalized_learning_through_observation
    By using ongoing observation and documentation to tailor learning experiences, the school supports individual growth and social relationships because deep understanding of each child enables responsive, developmentally appropriate pedagogy within a nurturing community.
  • Progressive Education Rooted in Experiential and Student-Centered Learning
    methodology: progressive_education
    By grounding education in experiential, inquiry-based, and student-led learning within a relationship-driven environment, the school fosters holistic development—intellectual, emotional, and social—because active engagement driven by intrinsic curiosity produces deeper learning and democratic community skills.
  • Restorative and Equity-Centered Community Building
    methodology: restorative_justice
    By integrating restorative justice practices and anti-bias, anti-racist (ABAR) education with intentional inclusion of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ voices, the school transforms conflict and systemic inequities into opportunities for growth, because repairing harm and affirming identity are foundational to a just, democratic learning community.
  • Socioeconomic and Identity-Based Inclusion as Educational Enrichment
    methodology: socioeconomic_inclusion_in_education
    By using financial aid, scholarships, and work exchange aligned with equity-informed enrollment, the school cultivates diversity across cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines because diverse perspectives are essential to a rich, authentic learning community and central to its progressive mission.