In Wisconsin, 39 private schools receive public voucher funding to cover tuition for every one of their students, a ProPublica investigation found.

These so-called "100% schools" collectively educated 7,923 children and took in roughly $87 million from state voucher programs during the most recent school year.

The schools operate as private institutions but depend entirely on taxpayer dollars, raising questions about oversight and transparency.

Atlas Preparatory Academy in Milwaukee exemplifies the model: it received more than $4.3 million in voucher money for 357 students in grades K-12 while posting low test scores and experiencing declining enrollment.

A Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction research paper from over a decade ago asked: "When is a private school really a public school?" That question remains unanswered as voucher programs continue to expand.

What the Left Is Saying

Democratic lawmakers and education advocates say the lack of accountability standards represents a fundamental problem with privately operated schools that rely on public funding.

They argue taxpayers deserve transparency when their dollars fund educational services.

Senator Tammy Baldwin has voiced support for conditions on federal education funding that would require greater disclosure from participating schools.

"When public money flows to any school, parents and communities have a right to know how those dollars are being spent," she said in a statement regarding school choice programs.

The Wisconsin Education Association Council pointed to Atlas Prep's state report card rating of one out of five stars as evidence that voucher schools escape consequences for poor performance.

"These schools can fail expectations year after year without the intervention or oversight that public districts face," said association president Peggy Theders.

Disability rights advocates note that unlike public schools, private voucher schools are not required to serve all children with disabilities.

The National Center for Learning Disabilities has argued this creates a two-tier system where vulnerable students may be excluded from options their tax dollars support.

What the Right Is Saying

School choice proponents argue that Wisconsin's voucher programs give low-income families access to educational opportunities they otherwise could not afford.

They say requiring identical regulations for public and private schools would undermine the flexibility that makes these alternatives valuable.

Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, has nonetheless defended school choice as an option for families in underperforming districts.

"Parents should have the ability to seek better options when their local schools aren't meeting their children's needs," his office said in a statement on voucher policy.

The American Federation for Children, which advocates for school choice initiatives nationally, called transparency requirements a false equivalence.

"Voucher schools are accountable to parents through enrollment choices. If a school underperforms, families leave. That's market accountability," spokesperson Zach Lahn said.

Conservative commentators have noted that public schools in the same neighborhoods often receive similar or lower ratings without comparable scrutiny.

Bay View High School, a Milwaukee public school, also earned one star on the state report card.

Defenders argue this illustrates that underperformance exists across both sectors and does not indicate a unique failure of voucher programs.

What the Numbers Show

The ProPublica investigation identified 39 private schools in Wisconsin where every student relies on vouchers to cover tuition costs.

These schools collectively received approximately $87 million in public funding during the most recent school year, according to an analysis of state voucher program data.

At Atlas Preparatory Academy specifically, enrollment has declined while receiving over $4.3 million annually for 357 students.

That translates to roughly $12,000 per student in public voucher money going to a private institution.

The school's board chair also served as administrator with compensation exceeding $150,000 in 2024, a dual role prohibited at traditional public schools under Wisconsin law.

The school received tens of thousands of dollars additional from an accounting firm owned by the same board chair for consulting services.

Experts consulted by ProPublica said such arrangements would raise concerns about conflict-of-interest standards at typical nonprofit organizations.

Wisconsin requires voucher students to take standardized tests, though parents can opt out.

Atlas Prep's state report card shows it received the lowest possible rating: "fails to meet expectations."

The school did not respond to multiple requests for comment on its academic performance or financial practices.

The Bottom Line

The growth of fully voucher-funded private schools has created institutions that resemble public schools in their financial dependence on taxpayer money but operate under different regulatory frameworks.

Wisconsin officials have yet to resolve the question of whether such schools should face the same accountability standards as traditional public schools.

State legislators in several states, including Wisconsin, are considering bills that would impose additional transparency requirements on voucher schools receiving public funds.

Supporters say such measures protect taxpayers; opponents argue they could undermine parental choice and school autonomy.

Parents seeking information about voucher schools face different obstacles than those investigating public schools.

While public districts must comply with open records laws and hold accessible board meetings, private voucher schools have more limited disclosure requirements despite educating children with fully publicly funded tuition.