Madison, WI – One City Schools announced today that its Board of Directors has voted to delay the opening of One City Preparatory Academy’s high school program until at least the 2026-27 school year, and instead limit the schools grade level offerings to its current 6 to 8th grade format. The decision, made at its February 25th, 2025 board meeting comes after careful consideration of several key factors affecting the school’s ability to create a high school that would provide the high-quality, innovative education that is central to its mission.
“While we remain fully committed to our vision of a competency-based high school model that prepares students for college and career success, we believe this delay is necessary to ensure we can deliver on our promise of excellence,” said Kaleem Caire, Founder and CEO of One City Schools.” Our priority has always been to create optimal learning conditions for our Scholars, and this decision allows us to address critical factors that would impact the high school experience.”
The Board’s decision was based on three primary considerations:
- Current 8th Grade Enrollment: The current 8th grade class size is not sufficient to support a robust high school program with the diverse course offerings and experiences envisioned in the One City high school model.
- Facility Readiness: The facilities necessary to deliver comprehensive high school education and athletics programs have not yet been completed to the standards required for our innovative educational approach or for WIAA competition.
- Funding Uncertainties: Recent developments at the federal level, including potential changes to the U.S. Department of Education and various school aid programs under the current administration, have created uncertainty regarding adequate funding streams necessary for launching and sustaining the high school program.
The One City Promise: Supporting Success Beyond its Walls
One City Schools is launching a comprehensive support system to ensure its 8th grade scholars continue their path to excellence as they transition to area high schools for the 2025-26 school year:
1. Personalized Transition Support: Its team will guide families through the high school selection process, helping students find the right academic environment to continue their growth, whether at specialized programs or neighborhood schools.
2. Opportunity Pathways: Its team will connect scholars with exceptional academic programs, athletic teams, and arts offerings across Madison, ensuring they continue developing their unique talents and interests.
3. The One City Navigator Partnership: In an innovative commitment to long-term success, the organization is hiring a dedicated guidance counselor this spring who will support its 8th grade graduates throughout their entire high school journey. This four-year support system will:
· Partner with high school counselors and parents to ensure optimal academic placement and positive learning environments
· Connect students with internships, summer programs, and specialized opportunities, alongside financial aid support
· Facilitate access to study abroad programs, academic tutoring, and early college/career partnerships
· Provide personalized college application guidance, test preparation, and career pathway development
Although One City is pausing its high school program, the educational opportunities it offers helps prepare their students to excel academically while developing the necessary skills to be successful in high school. Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent (MMSD) Dr. Joe Gothard shared his support for One City’s decision and acknowledged its commitment to scholars’ continued success.
“One City has done a remarkable job preparing a class of 100% students of color for academic success,” Gothard said. “MMSD is committed to working with One City to ensure students have access to rigorous high school coursework and programs, and together, we can equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to prepare for higher education and careers. We look forward to welcoming their 8th grade graduates into our high schools to build on the strong foundation that One City has established.”
When launched, One City Preparatory Academy’s high school program will feature an innovative competency-based education model that emphasizes:
Agency and Life Readiness: The One City high school experience will emphasize student agency, life readiness skills, and community engagement through an Early College and Career Model.
- Portrait of a Graduate: One City graduates will be competent communicators, inquisitive critical thinkers, self-directed learners, collaborative community members, and prepared for future success.
- Competency-Based Approach: Moving beyond traditional grading, our model will assess learning based on competencies—the ability to act effectively in situations of complexity—focusing on developing thinking skills, agency, and autonomy.
- Interdisciplinary Learning: Our curriculum will adopt a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that acknowledges how different disciplines enrich one another, framed within the context of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
- Early College & Career Programming: Partnerships with organizations like Summit Credit Union, CEOs of Tomorrow, Madison College, and UW institutions will provide students with financial and entrepreneurial education, internship opportunities, and early college credit.
- Mastery Transcript: Through our partnership with the Mastery Transcript Consortium, students will receive a digital transcript that showcases evidence of their holistic accomplishments, with evidence of their work and narratives explaining their unique learning process.
“This delay allows us to fully realize our vision for a transformative high school experience,” added Ayodeji Ogunniyi, principal of One City Preparatory Academy. “We are using this time to further strengthen and build upon our model elementary and middle school education programs, complete the renovation and construction of our kindergarten through grade 8 Pleasant T. Rowland Leadership Campus in Monona, including an athletic facility, and establish community partnerships that will make One City Preparatory Academy’s high school program an exceptional and noteworthy option for Madison families when it opens.”
One City’s current 8th graders reside in the Madison, Monona Grove, Oregon, Sun Prairie, and Verona school district attendance areas.
For more information about One City Schools, visit www.onecityschools.org. Enrollment for grades 4K to 8 will begin March 1, 2025, and enrollment for One City Preschool, ages 2 and 3, is open year-round.
About One City Schools
Founded in 2014, One City Schools is transforming education in Madison, Wisconsin through a revolutionary approach that nurtures children from infancy through high school graduation. As a nonprofit organization operating both premier preschools and tuition-free public charter schools, we’re building pathways to success that begin at birth and continue through college preparation.
Our vision extends beyond traditional education—we’re cultivating the next generation of leaders, innovators, and compassionate citizens. One City students develop not just academic excellence, but the character, wellness practices, and adaptability needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. We empower our students to become agents of positive change through service and purpose-driven careers.
The One City family of schools includes our acclaimed 5-star preschool, the specialized Derzon Early Care Center for our youngest learners, our foundation-building Elementary School (4K-5), and our forward-thinking Preparatory Academy (grades 6-8)—all working in harmony to create a seamless educational journey that unlocks every child’s potential.
