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THE KEW-FOREST SCHOOL INC
FOREST HILLS, NY · EIN 111666834 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B240 · Education · Large ($10M-$50M) · kewforest.org
revenue
$10.1M
expenses
$14.4M
net assets
$7.5M
employees
119
volunteers
11
program ratio
76%
mission · from form 990

The Kew-Forest School is an independent,co-educational college preparatory school for students in grades Pre-K through 12. Kew Forests mission is to provide an academically challenging college-preparatory education to a culturally diverse community in a structured caring environment.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Kew-Forest School is an independent, co-educational college preparatory school serving students from Pre-K through 12th grade in Forest Hills, New York. The school provides an academically challenging education within a diverse, inclusive community, emphasizing small class sizes, personalized attention, and preparation for college and beyond. It is a candidate for International Baccalaureate authorization and offers programs designed to support students' academic, creative, and personal development.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

International Baccalaureate (IB) Candidate Program
Offers the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) as a candidate school, promoting intercultural learning, inquiry, and global citizenship
Lunch and Snack Program
Provides nutritious meals and snacks prepared by Butter Beans; available for an annual fee of $1,500 per student
Summer Camp at Kew-Forest
Summer program for children entering Kindergarten through Grade 6 featuring academic enrichment in reading, writing, and math, plus recreational activities including STEM, arts, swimming, and field trips
Tuition Assistance Program
Provides need-based financial aid to academically qualified students; awards over $3 million annually to help families afford tuition
activities · 11 groups

What they do

  • Structured Student Enrollment Process 1 activity
    • Administer admissions and enrollment process
      Manages a structured admissions process for applicants, including campus tours by division for families applying for the 2026-2027 school year and adherence to ISAAGNY guidelines for admission notification and reply dates. The school uses targeted admissions, financial aid, and scholarships to build a diverse student body.
  • Multi-Institution Scholarship Funding 1 activity
    • Award tuition assistance and financial aid
      Allocates up to $3 million annually in tuition assistance and financial aid to support access and socioeconomic diversity, with evidence confirming over $3 million awarded each year.
  • Summer Academic Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver academic and recreational summer programming
      Offers summer programs for children entering Kindergarten through Grade 6, featuring academic enrichment in reading, writing, and mathematics to reduce summer learning loss, alongside recreational activities such as arts & crafts, dance, drama, martial arts, field trips, swimming, and special events. Weekly swim classes are offered for four weeks starting the week of July 13th.
  • Alumni Community Building 1 activity
    • Facilitate alumni engagement and programming
      Organizes alumni speakers to share professional journeys with current students, supports class reunions through Reunion Ambassadors, and promotes engagement with the Kew-Forest alumni network.
  • Safe and Inclusive School Environment 1 activity
    • Maintain a diverse and inclusive school community
      Enrolls a culturally and linguistically diverse student body representing over 60 countries and 54 neighborhoods of Queens, with students speaking more than 30 languages at home. The school admits students of all races, colors, nationalities, and ethnic origins and affirms a wide range of identities including race, ethnicity, culture, religion, gender, socio-economic status, ability, family structure, and sexual orientation.
  • Charter School Operations 1 activity
    • Operate independent college preparatory school (Pre-K to Grade 12)
      Provides a full-time, co-educational college preparatory program for students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, operating an independent school in the Kew Gardens and Forest Hills communities of Queens, NY. The school building is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on school days.
  • College Access and Success Support 1 activity
    • Prepare students for college and workforce success
      Supports 100% of graduates in pursuing higher education, including at highly selective institutions, and reports a 100% college acceptance rate. The school emphasizes core values of hard work, integrity, and respect for differences to prepare students for college and career readiness.
  • Child & Youth Meal Programs 1 activity
    • Provide meals and nutrition during summer programs
      Supplies morning and afternoon snacks and a nutritious lunch during summer programming, with vegetarian and gluten-free options available upon request.
  • Admissions and Enrollment Support Services 1 activity
    • Support international students with visa and enrollment services
      Provides dedicated oversight and administrative services for international students, including issuing I-20 forms for F-1 visa applicants.
  • Student Support and Academic Services 1 activity
    • Support student-athletes in balancing academics and athletics
      Provides support for student-athletes to balance academic, extracurricular, and athletic commitments.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Pursue International Baccalaureate (IB) World School authorization
      Actively pursuing authorization as an IB World School for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP), aligning with a philosophy of high-quality, challenging, international education. The school already offers IB programs and implemented a recent tuition reset.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$10.06M
Contributions & grants$346K3%
Program service revenue$9.29M92%
Investment income$332K3%
Other revenue$97K
expenses
Total expenses$14.41M
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$7.16M
Grants paid out$4.52M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$10.19M
Cash$155K
Investments$4.18M
Liabilities$2.68M
Net assets$7.51M
Liquid reserves3.6 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +14.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 8
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Tiffany Trotter Head of School 40 $264K
Victor De Jesus Director of Facilities 40 $183K
Scott Quintero Director of Finance 40 $182K
Joan Halligan-Wang Director of Development 40 $176K
Karin Bernstein Lower School Head 40 $155K
Jade Wiederholt Dir Marketing/Communications 40 $153K
Michelle Vessio Upper School Head 40 $142K
Anell Sanchez Athletic Director 40 $110K
board members · 11
  • Christopher D'Amato — Chair
  • Ellen Honig — Vice Chair
  • Gregory Matalon — Trustee
  • Jacques Tortoroli — Trustee
  • Justine Hoffman — Trustee
  • Katie Gibson — Trustee
  • Lauren Stransky — Trustee
  • Michael Siegel — Secretary
  • Noelle Shearman — Treasurer
  • Robert Lin — Trustee
  • Shereen Beydoun — Trustee
relationships · 10

Who they work with

  • Alumni Council Partner — Partners with the Development Office to connect alumni with current students and each other.
  • Butter Beans Partner — Partner that prepares and provides lunch and snacks for students who enroll in the school's meal program.
  • Clarity Partner — Partner organization used for processing tuition assistance applications.
  • DanSwim Partner — Partners with DanSwim to provide 60-minute weekly swim classes for campers.
  • F-1 student visa program Government — Authorized to issue I-20 forms for international students applying for F-1 visas.
  • Independent School Admission Association of Greater New York Network — Member of ISAAGNY and follows its admission guidelines.
  • International Baccalaureate Network — Member of the International Baccalaureate program, offering an IB-aligned curriculum
  • International Baccalaureate Organization Partner — Pursuing authorization as an IB World School for the PYP and MYP programmes.
  • St. Paul’s School Partner — Recruited co-headmasters Louis Durant Marriott and Guy Hinman Catlin from St. Paul’s School in Garden City to lead the new school.
  • alumni of Kew-Forest School Network — Alumni maintain connection with the school and return to share experiences, reflecting the school's educational impact.
strategies · 4

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.

  • College-Preparatory Education with Individualized Support
    methodology: college-preparatory_education
    By delivering a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum within a structured, small-class environment, the school enhances student learning and development because personalized attention from expert teachers allows for tailored instruction and deeper engagement.
  • Equity Through Need-Based Access and Inclusive Policy
    methodology: equity-and-justice-in-education
    By providing need-based tuition assistance and non-discriminatory admissions, the school advances educational equity and justice because removing financial and identity-based barriers ensures all students can access resources and participate fully in school life.
  • Holistic Character and Lifelong Learning Development
    methodology: holistic_character_development
    By combining academic excellence with character development and compassion, the school cultivates lifelong learners and agents of positive change because education that addresses moral, civic, and intellectual growth produces resilient, purpose-driven individuals.
  • Intercultural Learning for Global Citizenship
    methodology: intercultural_learning
    By intentionally integrating culturally and geographically diverse perspectives into the educational experience, the school develops ethical leaders and engaged global citizens because exposure to diversity fosters collaboration, student agency, and inquiry-based learning.