One City Schools Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO SEED A NEW MODEL OF PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT ENSURES YOUNG CHILDREN ARE ON TRACK TO SUCCEED IN A COLLEGE OR CAREER PREPARATORY PROGRAM FROM BIRTH THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.
- Income
- $12.2 million
- Spending
- $13.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- -3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 54%
- Employees
- 146
- Volunteers
- 65
- Highest pay
- $220,072, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 105% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $11.2 million spent. ESTABLISHED IN 2014 IN MADISON, WISCONSIN, ONE CITY SCHOOLS, INC. ("ONE CITY") IS A NONPROFIT 501(C)(3) SCHOOL MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION WITH THE MISSION TO PIONEER A NEW MODEL OF PUBLIC EDUCATION ENSURING COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH SECONDARY SCHOOL. ONE CITY OPERATES HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOLS AND TUITION-FREE INDEPENDENT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN, DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING SCHOLARS WITH STRONG CHARACTER, WELL-BEING, AND THE SKILLS TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE WORLD.ONE CITY'S CURRENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE:ONE CITY PRESCHOOL (OCP):AN ACCREDITED, AWARD-WINNING, TUITION-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER SERVING CHILDREN AGED 3 MONTHS TO 4 YEARS THROUGH PLAY-BASED LEARNING AT TWO MADISON LOCATIONS. OCP HOLDS A 5-STAR RATING FROM THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.ONE CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (OCES):A TUITION-FREE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IN MADISON SERVING GRADES 4K-5. AUTHORIZED BY THE UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN'S OEO, OCES EMPHASIZES CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND STRONG CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A FOCUS ON CORE SUBJECTS, WELLNESS, AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES.ONE CITY PREPARATORY ACADEMY (OCPA):A TUITION-FREE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IN MADISON AUTHORIZED TO SERVE GRADES 6-12, AND CURRENTLY ENROLLING GRADES 6-8. ALSO AUTHORIZED BY THE UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN'S OEO, OCPA FOCUSES ON PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS THROUGH A CURRICULUM EMPHASIZING CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, WELLNESS, AND TEAMWORK.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.