Cleveland Montessori School

What it reported doing in 2024

Located in the heart of cleveland's little italy, our school is based on the principles of italian educator and physician, dr. Maria montessori. Her philosophy is best expressed in the words of a child: "help me - to do it myself."our skilled montessori-trained teachers act as guides using montessori classroom materials and our "urban classroom" as we engage in the life of the little italy neighborhood and the institutions of university circle. Our students not only plan their own visits to area museums, they also design innovative philanthropic outreach to those in need, from our elderly neighbors to school children in india.our students become independent thinkers with compassionate hearts. Those are the qualities that emerge when you combine a montessori education with global awareness. Since opening as an independent, private school in 1995, our school continues to grow and thrive. Beyond academics, our school is committed to social justice, service and spirituality. As an option available to all children, the catechesis of the good shepherd is based on maria montessori's approach to religious formation, rooted in both scripture and liturgy.students at cleveland montessori achieve excellence in math, reading, geography, social studies, writing, and science. Enrichment programs range from drama club, sports, and italian to instrumental music and art. Before and after school programs, from 7:00 a.m. To 6:00 p.m., accommodate schedules for working parents. We are the only cleveland-area montessori school recognized by the association montessori internationale (ami) founded in 1929 by dr. Maria montessori to maintain the integrity of her life's work. Cleveland montessori and alta house have come together in an educational and service-oriented partnership that will significantly and positively impact little italy and surrounding communities for generations to come. Cleveland montessori, after 20 years of successful growth, has moved into its new home at the alta house. The school's presence in little italy serves the interests of diverse families who value children's exposure to the rich educational opportunities in the neighborhood and university circle. Alta house, an anchor institution in little italy for 120 years, has grappled with challenges to maintain its aging building and to deliver on a mission that honors its distinguished heritage of service. Founded as a neighborhood center for young people to learn and socialize while their parents worked, alta house evolved as little italy's population grew older, expanding its programing to benefit seniors. Today, we celebrate completion of the first phase of our project: the building has been renovated and brought up to code electrical, hvac, plumbing and cleveland montessori's primary (pre-k and kindergarten) and lower elementary (grades 1 through 3) communities have moved into the existing, renovated space. Our final phase is raising another $1.6 million to build an addition that will house our upper elementary community (grades 4 through 6) with an architecturally harmonious front to replace the aging '70s facade while maintaining the beloved bocce courts. With your help, we can complete this project and continue our joint service to the community with a vibrant, thriving school (the last in the neighborhood) and intergenerational social outreach and programming.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 79.4%; rating input score 79
• Program expense ratio: 79.8%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $2.11 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -0.7%; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.34; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.24; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5%; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -0.3% per year; rating input score 0; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.4% per year; rating input score 100; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -5.8% per year; rating input score 0; 6th percentile among comparable filings