MADISON, Wis --- One City Schools and Summit Credit Union announced today that the credit union will open a student-run branch for students, families, employees, and other members of the One City Schools community at the new Pleasant T. Rowland Leadership Campus, located at 1707 W. Broadway Street in South Madison/Monona, Wisconsin.

“Summit Credit Union has been a strong supporter of One City Schools since its inception,” said Kaleem Caire, One City Schools Founder and CEO. “Partnerships like the one we have with Summit Credit Union are vital to the continued success of One City Schools. Summit will contribute $75,000 toward building a branch in the school and will work with our scholars to ensure that each and every one of them are financially literate upon graduation.” 

Each scholar will open a savings account and a stock account, Caire said, adding that students will graduate with money in those accounts.

One City Schools’ innovative approach to education is designed to close the racial achievement gap and ensure a strong foundation for our Madison area youth, said Kim Sponem, CEO and President of Summit Credit union.

“We are excited to add to One City’s impact through a student-run Summit Credit Union branch. Financial wellness is a foundational and transformational practice at Summit Credit Union, and we know it’s best to start early in life to learn it,” said Sponem. “One City with its emphasis on preparing students of color for college is the perfect place for companies in the area to support this important work and build a diverse future workforce in Dane County.”  

One City Schools offers a preschool for children ages 2 through 4K at its 2012 Fisher St. site. This fall, students in One City Elementary School (grades 5K through 5^th grade) and One City Preparatory Academy (grades 6, 9 and 10) will attend classes at the Rowland campus.

Caire said Summit’s partnership aligns with the goals of One City Preparatory Academy, which will be Wisconsin’s first early college and career preparatory school in which every student will complete college courses or professional training towards college degrees and professional certifications while they pursue their high school diplomas.

Caire said he is pleased that 96 percent of its current preschool and elementary school students plan to return for the 2022-23 school year, and that 324 of 326 available seats in its elementary school are already filled for next year.

One City Preparatory Academy will begin enrolling middle and high school students in grades 6, 9 and 10 for fall 2022 on April 4, 2022. Interested students and families can visit www.onecityschools.org to learn more and enroll online. One City will add grades 7 and 11 in 2023 and grades 8 and 12 in 2024 and will graduate its first class of high school seniors in 2025.

About One City Schools: One City Schools, Inc. a Madison, Wisconsin‐based nonprofit organization that operates three schools: a tuition‐based independent preschool that serves 2 and 3‐year‐olds, and two tuition‐free public charter schools, authorized by the University of Wisconsin System. Its 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. One City will eventually enroll children from age 2 through 12th grade. For more information, visit onecityschools.org or call 608-514-6119.

About Summit Credit Union: Established in 1935, Summit Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative. Summit is the 2nd largest credit union in Wisconsin and holds $4.8 billion in assets and has more than 225,000 members and 770 employees across 50 locations throughout south-central and southeastern Wisconsin. Kim Sponem has been CEO & President of Summit Credit Union, and its predecessor organization, CUNA Credit Union/Great Wisconsin Credit Union, since 2002. Recognized for its excellence in employee engagement, Summit was named a Top Workplace in the USA in 2021 and 2022 by Top Workplaces USA and a Top Workplace in the Madison area for 2020 and 2021 by the Wisconsin State Journal.