Many Imagine charter schools are part of a portfolio owned by an entertainment and real estate corporation. Nine Imagine schools are in Ohio. They have a business plan that makes them a good investment as long as they don’t get shuttered for poor performance. Imagine buys a building, then rents the building to itself for the school. It pays a very high rent, above market rates. Imagine turns a profit on these sale-leaseback deals.
The New York Times scrutinized Imagine’s business dealings a few years ago.
St. Louis closed six Imagine charters in 2012.
Most taxpayers assume that they are paying for education, not for corporate profits. They don’t understand how for-profit charters work. ProfitsFirst.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Of course, PROFITS FIRST. This is the country that thinks $$$$$ can buy anything. Look at the not-for-profit orgs, like the NFL. YES, NFL is a NOT-FOR-PROFIT org. OY. This is the American way. Sad, but true.
When will we learn? Think: Pentagon budget.