One City Schools will delay launching its high school until at least the 2026–27 school year, citing low enrollment, inadequate facilities, and potential federal funding changes under a Trump administration, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. The decision comes two years after the school abruptly shut down an earlier high school attempt, displacing about 60 students.
Founder and CEO Kaleem Caire emphasized that the delay is necessary to ensure a strong foundation for the high school program. “Our priority has always been to create optimal learning conditions for our scholars,” he said, adding that the school remains committed to its competency-based high school model focused on college and career readiness.
One City initially planned to roll out its high school in stages starting in 2025–26, growing one grade level per year. The charter school, which began as a preschool in 2015, has since expanded to include elementary and middle school grades, focusing on serving students of color and closing achievement gaps.
To support eighth-graders, One City is launching a comprehensive transition program, including a dedicated guidance counselor to assist students with high school placement, internships, summer programs, and college applications. The majority of its eighth-graders reside in the Madison School District, with others in Monona Grove, Oregon, Sun Prairie, and Verona.
Principal Ayodeji Ogunniyi noted that the delay will allow One City to complete its Monona campus, including an athletic facility, and build community partnerships to strengthen the high school’s offerings. The school previously cited staffing shortages as a key factor in its 2023 high school closure.
