One City Schools

Name

One City Schools

Legal name

One City Schools, Inc.

Website

https://onecityschools.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Child Care Services (62441)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic/School-Readiness Preschools (EDACABAB), Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

• Public charter schools
• Early childhood education
• Preschool programs
• K-8 education
• Family engagement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: As a public charter school, One City Schools receives per-pupil state funding. The organization has stated they receive approximately $9,620 per student, which they describe as less than half of what other public schools receive.
2. Private Donations and Grants: One City Schools receives donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners. They ran a 'We Are One 2022: Building a Model School Campaign' and accept stock donations, planned giving, and in-kind contributions.
3. Preschool Tuition: Preschool programs (for children ages 24 months to 4 years) are tuition-based. The preschool is described as an accredited, independent, 5-Star tuition-based early learning center.
4. Title I Federal Funding: One City operates a Schoolwide Title I program, which provides additional federal funding for targeted services and interventions to support scholars who are striving to reach their academic goals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

One City Schools operates a network of public charter schools in Madison, Wisconsin, providing early childhood education (preschool for ages 2–4) and K–8 education (4K through 8th grade) using the AnjiPlay and EL Education curricula on an extended day and extended year schedule. The schools are tuition-free for 4K–8 (per-pupil state funded) and tuition-based for preschool, with a Two-Generation model that wraps family services (employment assistance, housing, health care access) and the FAST parent engagement program around the child's education.

Product overview

One City Schools operates as a unified network of public charter schools offering a comprehensive birth-to-graduation educational model. The organization consists of three distinct schools: One City Preschool (OCP), a 5-Star accredited tuition-based early learning center for children ages 24 months to 4 years; One City Elementary School (OCES), a tuition-free public charter serving 4K through 7th grade; and One City Preparatory Academy (OCPA), a middle school program. The educational approach centers on two core curricula—AnjiPlay for preschool and EL Education for grades K-8—both emphasizing project-based, student-driven learning. The school provides extended day and year programming, healthy meals, and the Two-Generation School Model supporting whole-family success. Family engagement is facilitated through the FAST Program and Parent Institute. One City functions as a laboratory for educational innovation in Wisconsin, targeting educational equity and opportunity gap closure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FAST Program: Families and Schools Together - an internationally-acclaimed parent engagement program supporting family bonding for children's thriving.

Products and services

• One City Preschool (OCP) Accredited, independent, 5-Star tuition-based early learning center serving children ages 24 months to 4 years old (4-year-olds not yet age-eligible for 4K), using the play-based AnjiPlay curriculum. For families in Madison and Dane County seeking high-quality preschool and kindergarten readiness preparation.
• One City Elementary School (OCES) Tuition-free, independent public charter school serving children in 4K through seventh grade, utilizing the EL Education (Expeditionary Learning) project-based curriculum aligned with Common Core standards. Open to all Wisconsin students in eligible grades.
• One City Preparatory Academy (OCPA) Middle grades and leadership readiness program serving middle school students, offering integrated expeditions and stand-alone workshops. Currently serves grades 6-8 with capacity for 72 scholars per grade and a maximum of 24 per classroom.
• FAST Program (Families and Schools Together) Internationally-acclaimed parent engagement program supporting family bonding through evidence-based practices, involving families in eight-week cycles of shared meals, games, and mutual support. Achieves 80% family completion rate (6 of 8 sessions).
• Two-Generation School Model Comprehensive approach working alongside families to address personal, family, and professional needs, including employment assistance through Urban League partnerships, housing support, health care access via Access Community Health, and recreational opportunities. A core differentiator of the One City model.
• Before and After School Care Child care services before school (8:00 am) priced at $25 and after school (5:00 pm) priced at $50, automatically assessed for early arrivals and late pick-ups. Available to enrolled scholars.
• Kids Healthy Meals Program Daily healthy, prepared-from-scratch breakfast, snack, and lunch provided by a head chef and multiple sous chefs, supporting scholar physical, mental, and emotional health as part of the educational experience.
• One City Parent Institute Learning opportunities and educational programming for parents of enrolled scholars, supporting the Two-Generation model through parent professional development and family engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of children who completed 4K with One City began kindergarten ready to succeed (Fall 2018)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Madison College (MATC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner providing pathway programs, internships, and teacher training opportunities. One of the university/college partners supporting One City's educational mission.
• University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor university partner with multiple connections including School of Education collaboration, sporting event ticket donations for families, and COVID-19 testing partnership with Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
• University of Wisconsin-OshkoshminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner providing academic pathway and training opportunities.
• Urban League of Greater MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner helping One City parents secure employment and job training. Critical partner in the Two-Generation model supporting family economic stability.
• YWCA MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting family services and wellness programs.
• Foundation for Black Women WellnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Black women's wellness initiatives that benefit One City families.
• Access Community HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner ensuring One City families and team members have access to quality health and dental care.
• Madison Children's MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing low-cost admissions to museum activities for One City families through donations.
• Rotary Club of MadisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHas hosted special nights for One City families at Madison's Concerts on the Square since 2018.
• United Way of Dane CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor community partner supporting family services and community programs.
• Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal school district partner that has committed to working with One City to ensure smooth transitions for students and families.
• Wisconsin Department of Public InstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState education agency partner providing regulatory oversight and educational resources.
• City of MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner supporting the school's community mission.
• Dane CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner supporting community services.
• Families and Schools Together (FAST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternationally acclaimed parent engagement program partner. One City has run 11 cycles of FAST since 2016, with 80% family completion rate.
• 100 Black Men (Madison Chapter)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hosting annual golf outing that One City parents participate in.
• Overture Center for the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner providing Broadway play access for One City families.
• Edgewood CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner with nursing program connections.
• FindorffminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction/development partner for facility projects.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Aspire Public Schools: Multi-state charter network with strong college-prep orientation and equity focus, overlapping One City on demographic mission and growth-from-elementary footprint.
• IDEA Public Schools: Multi-state charter operator growing from elementary into K-12 with outcome-driven culture; comparable to One City's college-prep promise and K-12 expansion trajectory.
• Green Dot Public Schools: Charter management org operating multiple schools with a public-school turnaround focus, similar in scale and multi-site nonprofit charter structure.
• Democracy Prep Public Schools: Charter network with college-preparatory mission serving similar demographics with extended instructional time, comparable to One City on mission and student population.
• KIPP: National nonprofit charter school network serving primarily low-income students of color with a college-prep mission. Closest large-scale analog to One City's equity-focused, extended-day, multi-site charter model.
• Rocketship Public Schools: National charter network pioneering extended day/year instruction and family engagement in elementary grades, mirroring One City's longer school day and family-services layer.
• Uncommon Schools: Nonprofit charter management organization operating K-12 schools in underserved urban communities, directly comparable on equity mission and extended learning model.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: Large urban charter network focused on closing achievement gaps through extended learning time and rigorous instruction — similar college-prep, whole-child framing to One City.

Broad incumbents

• National Heritage Academies: For-profit charter management organization (broader incumbent) where One City's principal Faren D'Abell previously led a Detroit campus — directly comparable operating model and served as a precedent for her move to One City.

Regional players

• Milwaukee College Prep: Wisconsin-region public charter school network serving similar demographics with extended-day programming — comparable model operating in One City's adjacent Midwest geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/onecityschools
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCl2xiGxadWt3umQ5jMVwOvA
• Facebookfacebook.com/onecityschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/one-city-early-learning-centers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about One City Schools