The Chapin School

The Chapin School is burning the cushion faster than the 3.6-year buffer suggests. Expenses are outpacing revenue 9.8% vs 4.0% per year over three years, and the latest operating margin is -8.7% on a 79% tuition-dependent revenue mix. Covering the deficit at today's rate, it would take more than a decade to exhaust reserves — the full budget, by contrast, is covered for about 3.6 years if every revenue line stopped. The board conversation here is the recovery plan for the operating model and the timeline to break-even. NACUBO Composite Financial Index: 2.8 / 10, watch.

The Chapin School holds 3.6 years of operating expense in net assets — a deeper reserve position than most independent day schools carry. Less exposed than peers to a one-year admissions shock.

The Chapin School reported $65.7M in revenue against $71.4M in expenses in fiscal year 2023, the most recent filing on record. Net assets stood at $254.8M — about 3.57x annual operating expense.

Operating margin landed at -8.7%, with 79.2% of revenue coming from tuition. Among same-size peers, that puts The Chapin School at the p3 on operating margin.