Breck School

The information on this page was last updated 2/9/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

Founded in 1886 and rooted in Episcopal values, Breck School is a preschool through twelve, college preparatory day school with more than 1,100 students. Located in Golden Valley, Minnesota, on 52 acres just minutes from downtown Minneapolis, Breck enjoys a national reputation for excellence and achievement in academics, athletics, and the arts. Upon graduation Breck students matriculate to colleges and universities across the country compatible with students' interests and talents.

As an Episcopal school, we hold an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusivity, welcoming individuals of all faiths or no faith at all. Through a partnership between reason and inquiry, we provide students the opportunity to reflect on their own beliefs and honor those traditions more fully and faithfully in their lives.


Contact information

Mailing address:
Breck School
123 Ottawa Ave N
Golden Valley, MN 55422

Website: breckschool.org

Phone: 763-381-8100

Email: [email protected]


Organization details

EIN: 410693894

CEO/President: Dr. Natalia Rico Hernandez

Chairman: Craig Loya

Board size: 26

Founder: Bishop Henry Whipple

Ruling year: 1952

Tax deductible: Yes

Fiscal year end: 06/30

Member of ECFA: No

Member of ECFA since:


Purpose

We are a community of high achieving and motivated students and teachers focused on intellectual inquiry and engagement. Utilizing the current Mind, Brain, and Education Science research, we offer a safe place where our students are known and cared for, giving them opportunities to try new things and express their ideas.


Mission statement

Our mission is to:
Prepare each student for a college whose culture is compatible with the individual's needs, interests and abilities.

Help develop each student's unique talents and potential to excel by nurturing independence and self-worth.

Instill in each student a deep sense of social responsibility.


Statement of faith

Donor confidence score

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Transparency grade

D

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: K-12 Schools/Academies

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating767 of 111441 of 50
Fund acquisition rating782 of 111540 of 50
Resource allocation rating394 of 111519 of 50
Asset utilization rating837 of 111444 of 50

According to the organization's Form 990, it received $193,894 in government grants in 2023.


Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20232022202120202019
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
11%39%37%14%14%39%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
2%2%2%2%2%2%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
12%6%6%15%16%6%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
2%2%2%2%2%2%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
88%94%94%85%84%94%
 
Operating ratiosSector median20232022202120202019
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
83%84%84%84%85%85%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
98%103%107%95%96%100%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
80%86%90%80%81%85%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
2%-3%-7%5%4%0%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
2%-1%-3%2%2%0%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
14%13%14%13%13%13%
 
Investing ratiosSector median20232022202120202019
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
0.510.340.330.300.300.30
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
3.243.944.224.714.344.06
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.921.341.391.431.321.20
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20232022202120202019
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
3.251.541.461.431.561.62
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.310.650.680.700.640.62
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
3.143.152.742.513.253.82
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20232022202120202019
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
33%22%23%21%26%24%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
9%5%6%6%11%8%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
135%229%235%259%242%256%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets20232022202120202019
Cash$27,001,011$21,227,192$24,191,297$23,736,493$21,528,929
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$12,304,749$14,334,587$9,243,851$9,821,529$13,870,095
Short-term investments$0$0$0$0$0
Other current assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total current assets$39,305,760$35,561,779$33,435,148$33,558,022$35,399,024
Long-term investments$67,972,745$66,016,568$75,207,397$61,037,685$56,513,040
Fixed assets$47,201,580$48,479,016$48,822,939$51,160,531$51,905,558
Other long-term assets$358,471$18,123$33,336$49,235$0
Total long-term assets$115,532,796$114,513,707$124,063,672$112,247,451$108,418,598
Total assets$154,838,556$150,075,486$157,498,820$145,805,473$143,817,622
 
Liabilities20232022202120202019
Payables and accrued expenses$3,095,972$2,678,942$3,143,364$3,036,977$2,867,187
Other current liabilities$22,404,293$21,639,444$20,319,763$18,535,691$18,979,917
Total current liabilities$25,500,265$24,318,386$23,463,127$21,572,668$21,847,104
Debt$7,581,106$8,614,226$9,001,123$15,694,745$11,694,656
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$1,547,766$1,207,091$1,340,648$1,310,533$1,145,106
Total long-term liabilities$9,128,872$9,821,317$10,341,771$17,005,278$12,839,762
Total liabilities$34,629,137$34,139,703$33,804,898$38,577,946$34,686,866
 
Net assets20232022202120202019
Without donor restrictions$53,998,895$53,311,938$53,293,667$49,336,289$50,964,547
With donor restrictions$66,210,524$62,623,845$70,400,255$57,891,238$58,166,209
Net assets$120,209,419$115,935,783$123,693,922$107,227,527$109,130,756
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue20232022202120202019
Total contributions$3,199,300$2,881,249$7,563,300$7,232,115$2,495,538
Program service revenue$46,431,664$43,272,389$39,665,447$37,766,949$37,561,500
Membership dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment income$1,450,046($69,066)$2,939,644$720,317$2,210,860
Other revenue$141,091$122,139$276,761$431,884$359,333
Total other revenue$48,022,801$43,325,462$42,881,852$38,919,150$40,131,693
Total revenue$51,222,101$46,206,711$50,445,152$46,151,265$42,627,231
 
Expenses20232022202120202019
Program services$44,258,829$41,438,393$40,268,011$37,478,192$36,098,812
Management and general$7,008,472$6,820,020$6,372,088$5,770,029$5,483,465
Fundraising$1,249,385$1,054,637$1,040,884$985,424$979,435
Total expenses$52,516,686$49,313,050$47,680,983$44,233,645$42,561,712
 
Change in net assets20232022202120202019
Surplus (deficit)($1,294,585)($3,106,339)$2,764,169$1,917,620$65,519
Other changes in net assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total change in net assets($1,294,585)($3,106,339)$2,764,169$1,917,620$65,519

Compensation

NameTitleCompensation
Natalia R HernandezHead of School$687,216
Ted ForbathChief Operating Officer$259,076
Stacy GlausChief Stratey and Comm. Officer$223,646
Mark GarrisonChief Information Officer$205,896
Schuyler FauverDirector of Middle School$198,724
Scott WadeDirector of Admissions$185,656
Jonathan NicholsonDirector of College Counseling$179,787
Brett BergeneAthletic Director$166,356
Wendy EngelmanController$163,792
Mary HealyDirector of Human Resources$162,652
Michael ThorsonDirector of Facilities$155,125

Compensation data as of: 6/30/2023


Response from ministry

No response has been provided by this ministry.


The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 2/9/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]


History

Breck School was named for a pioneer missionary, the Reverend James Lloyd Breck, and established in 1886.

The first Breck campus was in Wilder, Minnesota, with a goal of educating children under the auspices of the Episcopal Church, headed at the time by Bishop Henry Whipple. In its earliest years, Breck attracted students from a wide range of backgrounds, particularly children of local immigrant farmers. The single fee for tuition, room and board for an entire year was $110.

In 1916, Breck moved to St. Paul. Under the leadership of the Reverend Charles Haupt, the school opened at 2095 Commonwealth Avenue, near the University of Minnesota's agricultural campus. In 1920, the school moved to 2102 Carter Avenue, and in 1921 the first five students received diplomas. In the fall of 1922, Breck moved to a new building at the intersection of Como Avenue and Herndon, a then-undeveloped site near the St. Paul city limits.

The Rev. Haupt retired in 1938, at the age of 81. He was succeeded by Chester DesRochers, who introduced a military and riding curriculum, and Breck became an all-boys school. In the early 1940s, Breck officially adopted the Mustang as its mascot and blue and gold as its school colors. After DesRochers' departure in 1948, Breck headmasters included Morison Brigham, Warren Wadsworth, Daniel Cowling and the Reverend Canon Douglas F. Henderson, who assumed the role in 1952.

Under Canon Henderson, Breck reintroduced female students in grades one through three, strengthened the school's academics, and worked hard to attract a diverse student body. Nevertheless, the school suffered from serious economic challenges. Breck nearly faced extinction until a Twin Cities plumbing contractor, Reuben Anderson, came to its rescue.

By 1956, Breck was flourishing, and it had outgrown its Como Avenue campus. The school's trustees purchased land on the River Road in Minneapolis. Ground was broken in February, and the building was completed in time to be used in the second semester of the 1956-57 school year.

In 1959, Breck's board of trustees formally voted to eliminate the military program. In 1964, the school broke ground for the Chapel of the Holy Spirit and took its first step toward full coeducation by allowing the third grade girls to move on to fourth grade. By 1967, those girls were ready for what was then the Upper School, and the transition was complete.

When Canon Henderson retired in 1974, he was succeeded by John Littleford, the youngest headmaster in Breck's history. By 1979, Breck's enrollment was at an all-time high of 716. That same year, however, there was a devastating fire that destroyed the Chapel. School leadership began to contemplate the need for a larger facility.

In 1981, Breck moved to its present location in Golden Valley, occupying the city's former middle and high school, which had been closed due to a school district merger. Construction began on facilities, including a new Chapel of the Holy Spirit, which was dedicated on the third anniversary of the fire that devastated its River Road predecessor.

Breck celebrated its centennial in 1986 with enthusiasm. That same year, John Littleford was succeeded by interim headmaster Kathryn Harper. Samuel Salas was named headmaster in 1987 and served the school until his retirement in June 2007. Edward Kim served as Breck's Head of School for 10 years, from 2007-2017.

Breck's 16th Head of School, Natalia Rico Hernndez, began her tenure in July 2017.


Program accomplishments


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