One City Schools, Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization that operates high quality independent and public preschools and grade schools in Wisconsin dedicated to this purpose. We believe in the Village concept – that it truly takes a village to raise successful children. We are committed to bringing communities together to create and run excellent schools that successfully cultivate healthy, happy, thoughtful, and resourceful children who have the capacity, passion and commitment to thrive personally, empower others and change the world for the better.

Two-generation community impact approach

We will achieve our aims through a two-generation community impact approach. We provide affordable, accessible and high-quality preschool and community programs, and tuition-free grades schools, that partner with parents and the community to prepare young children for school and life success. We also work hand-in-hand with parents and the broader community to ensure our students have the fundamental capacity to succeed in school and life from cradle to career, and become the innovators and effective leaders we will need them to be in the future.

We work together with parents, volunteers and the broader community to ensure that our Baby Badgers show up to kindergarten eager to learn, ready to read, and ultimately prepared to succeed from one grade to the next. We also utilize a robust network of community partnerships, routinely evaluate our success, and stay current on the latest research to ensure we are doing our very best to cultivate happy, healthy and successful children during early childhood.

Ecosystem Model to Support Achievement

Our 21st Century Equity Agenda

1. Breaking the cycle of longstanding achievement and opportunity gaps that have symbiotically undermined the goals, aspirations and potential of generations of children of color and under-resourced children in Wisconsin and across the United States.

2. Creating a new system of public education that effectively prepares all children, from birth through higher education, to tackle today’s challenges, solve tomorrow’s greatest problems, and lead successful, happy and enriching lives as adults and parents in a rapidly changing and globally competitive economy.

Picture of a Family for Our 21st century equity agenda section

Two Schools

We currently operate two schools: One City Preschool (OCP) and One City Expeditionary Elementary School (OCEES).

Our Preschool is an accredited, independent, 5-Star tuition-based early learning center serving children ages 24 months to 4-years-old (4-years old who are not yet age eligible for 4K).

Our Elementary School is a tuition-free public charter school that presently serves children in four-year old (4K), five-year old (5K) kindergarten to fourth grade. We will add one new grade level every year. Elementary School will continue to grow and we will eventually serve children in middle and high school.

In February 2019, One City Schools, Inc. was approved by the University of Wisconsin System, our public charter school authorizer, to expand our public school to serve children from 4K through 6th grade. We will continue adding grade levels to our Elementary School each year until we reach 6th grade, including adding third and fourth grade for the 2021-22 school year. We will also add a secondary school in the future that will enable our students to grow with us from 7th grade through high school graduation as well.

A school like no other in Wisconsin!

Come see for yourself what makes One City unique

Learn more about One City Schools. Review and prepare for our Enrollment Process for 2023 - 2024 School Year.
Open House 2023-2024
There is no other place like One City!