Milwaukee College Prep School

What Milwaukee College Prep School does

Milwaukee College Prep (MCP) is a nonprofit network of four K4-8 public charter school campuses (36th Street, 38th Street, Lloyd Street, and Lola Rowe North) plus a K3 early childhood program (MCP3), founded in 1997 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The organization serves approximately 2,000 scholars, of whom 98% are African-American and 83% are economically disadvantaged, drawn from virtually every zip code in central Milwaukee. Its core product is tuition-free K3-8 education delivered through blind-lottery enrollment, with small class ratios (1:12 in K4-3rd grade, 1:17 in 4th-8th), a 'Declaration of Excellence' character-development curriculum, and supplemental programming in art, music, IT, and PE. Reported outcomes include a 96% on-time high-school graduation rate versus a 65% peer benchmark, and 33% college-graduation readiness versus 9% for low-income peers nationally.

The business model is funded primarily through Wisconsin per-pupil charter reimbursement of approximately $8,000 per scholar annually (versus ~$14,000 for traditional Milwaukee Public Schools), supplemented by philanthropic fundraising of roughly $1,000 per scholar per year, capital campaigns for facilities, and tuition revenue from the K3 MCP3 program priced at $250 per week (accepting Wisconsin Shares vouchers). MCP maintains a community-led go-to-market motion anchored on open-house events, school tours, word-of-mouth referrals, and a lottery-based enrollment system, with technology infrastructure limited to standard school-administration tools (Skyward for SIS, Clever for SSO, Google Classroom for instruction). The strategic plan targets a fifth K4-8 campus, and in November 2025 MCP filed for charter authorization with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, signaling a move away from MPS oversight when current contracts expire.

The organization employs 251-500 staff across campuses, with leadership including founder and Board President Ronald Sadoff, CEO Al Keith IV (appointed January 2023), four campus principals, and a Director of MCP3. MCP holds four- and five-star Wisconsin DPI report card ratings across all campuses, is a designated National School of Character, and carries a Charity Navigator four-star rating (96% Accountability & Finance). Facility expansion has historically been financed through philanthropic capital campaigns, including the $5 million Northside YMCA acquisition for the Lola Rowe North campus and a prior $9 million campaign for the 38th Street and Lloyd Street campuses.

Name

Milwaukee College Prep School

Legal name

Milwaukee College Prep

Website

https://milwaukeecollegeprep.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Milwaukee College Prep is a nonprofit network of five public charter campuses (four K4-8 schools plus a K3 program, MCP3) serving 2,000+ predominantly African-American and economically disadvantaged scholars in central Milwaukee, funded through Wisconsin per-pupil reimbursement, philanthropy, and K3 tuition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-8 Public Charter Schools

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)

Keywords

• K-8 public charter schools
• Early childhood education
• College preparatory programs
• Character education
• Urban education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: Wisconsin state reimbursement for charter school students, approximately $8,000 per student annually. MCP receives approximately 80% of this funding from MPS after they authorize the charter.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Annual fund raising of approximately $750-1,000 per scholar to supplement funding gap. Capital campaigns for facilities. Four-star rated nonprofit organization.
3. K3 Program Tuition: K3 early childhood program charged at $250 per week. Accepts Wisconsin Shares vouchers and private pay. Aftercare available at $6 per hour.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Milwaukee College Prep operates a four-campus network of free K4-8 public charter schools (36th Street, 38th Street, Lloyd Street, and Lola Rowe North) delivering rigorous academic instruction in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies alongside character development, social-emotional learning, and college preparation. The network also includes the MCP3 K3 early childhood program at the Lola Rowe North Campus, providing pre-kindergarten education for 3-year-olds at $250 per week.

Product overview

Milwaukee College Prep is a network of four K4-8th grade public charter school campuses plus one K3 early childhood program (MCP3), collectively serving approximately 2,000 scholars across five campuses in Milwaukee. The core offering consists of MCP's four K4-8th grade schools (36th Street, 38th Street, Lloyd Street, and Lola Rowe North) delivering rigorous academic instruction and character development. These schools are complemented by the MCP3 K3 program, launched in Fall 2022 at the Lola Rowe North Campus, which provides high-quality early childhood education for 3-year-old children. All campuses share a common mission of 'knowledge plus character pave the road to college and beyond,' supported by technology infrastructure including Skyward's online enrollment SIS platform, the Clever SSO portal for staff, and Google Classroom for instructional delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MCP3: Milwaukee College Prep's premier pre-kindergarten program for 3-year-olds, located at the Lola Rowe North Campus.

Products and services

• MCP K4-8 Public Charter School Network
• MCP3 K3 Early Childhood Program
• Sadoff Declaration of Excellence College Scholarship

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% high school graduation rate vs 65% of peers
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Milwaukee BuckscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBucks Scholars Program mentorship initiative piloted with Lloyd Street Campus 9th Grade Alumni. Program focuses on Mental Fitness, Career Development, Community Impact and Financial Literacy over four years of high school.
• Islands of BrillanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit partnership designed to encourage both neurotypical and neurodiverse students to find strengths together through creative programs.
• YMCA Camp MinikaniminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for summer camp programs offering 1-week, 2-week, and 4-week overnight camp experiences for MCP scholars.
• Camp for All KidsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for summer camp programs offering overnight camp opportunities for deserving MCP scholars.
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWM is the charter authorizer for MCP schools. Both MCP and Carmen Schools have applied to UWM for authorization, signaling intent to transition from MPS oversight when contracts expire. Received initial approval September 30.
• Schools That Can MilwaukeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to improve educational outcomes for all children in Milwaukee through shared best practices.
• Teach For AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to improve educational outcomes through teacher recruitment and development programs.
• Center for Urban TeachingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to diversify teaching pool and improve urban education outcomes.
• ATC (American Transmission Company)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrees for Threes program - ATC helped make Wisconsin schools greener with tree donations to MCP campuses.
• Loveland Acres FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWisconsin's only Black woman-owned farm; MCP scholars visited for educational experiences.
• Sherman Phoenix MarketplaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner providing space for MCP programs including Islands of Brillance activities.
• Carmen Schools of Science & TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnother Milwaukee charter school operator; both MCP and Carmen have applied to UWM for charter authorization, signaling joint intent to leave MPS oversight.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Green Dot Public Schools: Multi-site charter management organization operating schools in California, Tennessee, and Washington serving similar urban, predominantly low-income demographics; comparable structure, scale, and reliance on charter per-pupil funding.
• BASIS Charter Schools: Multi-site charter network emphasizing college-prep rigor and high academic outcomes; relevant peer given comparable multi-campus charter structure, focus on academic excellence metrics, and similar funding/donor dynamic.
• Rocketship Public Schools: Multi-site urban charter school network serving predominantly low-income, minority K-5 students across several U.S. cities; comparable in mission, demographic focus, lottery-based enrollment, and reliance on per-pupil public funding plus philanthropy.
• IDEA Public Schools: Large multi-state charter network with strong college-prep identity serving low-income families; comparable scale, public-charter funding model, and outcome-driven branding make it a relevant direct peer to MCP's network.
• KIPP Public Schools: One of the largest U.S. charter networks operating multi-site urban K-12 schools with a college-prep mission; directly comparable to MCP in target demographic, charter funding model, and emphasis on college persistence outcomes for low-income students.
• Uncommon Schools: Multi-site urban charter network focused on college preparation for low-income students in cities like Newark, Brooklyn, and Boston; directly comparable in mission, demographic, charter-renewal dynamics, and rigor of academic model.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: New York City-based multi-site charter network with rigorous academic model and lottery enrollment; comparable in mission, single-authorizer environment, and outcome-focused branding serving predominantly minority, low-income families.
• Carmen Schools of Science & Technology: Another Milwaukee K4-12 charter school network serving similar low-income, minority demographics; both MCP and Carmen have jointly applied to UWM for authorization, making them the closest direct peer and competitor in the same city and segment.

Broad incumbents

• Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS): Traditional K-12 public school district that currently authorizes MCP's charters; comparable in serving the same Milwaukee K-12 demographic but operates under traditional public funding (~43% higher per-pupil) and is the dominant incumbent in the same geographic market.

Others

• Teach For America: National teacher recruitment and development organization partnered with MCP; adjacent ecosystem participant supplying talent and sharing mission of educational equity for under-resourced communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MilwaukeeCollegePrep
• Instagraminstagram.com/milwaukeecollegeprep
• Xx.com/milwcollegeprep

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Milwaukee College Prep School