After school care in NOVA public schools

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking of moving to NOVA for the public schools, but was curious about the after school programs for the elementary schools. In particulary, does anyone know how difficult it is to get into these programs and if any of them are any good? I noticed that some seem extremely expensive, like Falls Church City. Definitely have to factor in the cost when I finally move.

I was thinking of Fairfax County, Arlington, or Falls Church City.

[Anonymous]

I think the cost for FCPS is very reasonable ($130 a month for before school care and $290 a month for after school care). Availability is very school dependent. I started looking for work about 18 months ago and put my DD on the list then. There was no wait for before school care, but she is STILL on the wait list for after school care.

[Anonymous]

Arlington co offers guaranteed spots for all children. However, you must register by august 1 of most years to get that guarantee. regardless, i think the wait list is short. the payment is based on sliding scale, depends on your income. I pay the max $358/per month per child (no discount for second or more kids). I like the program at my kids' school. they offer a variety of activities for the kids, the staff seems very nice (and well screened), and my kids don't like it when i come too early to pick them up.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax County School Age Child Care (SACC) has a very early enrollment period. If you plan to have your child in after-school SACC in the Fall of 2011, the sign-up period starts in June 2010. (Yes, over a YEAR early!) If you get on that early enrollment list, usually you will end up with a spot or with a higher-end-of-the-wait-list number.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County School Age Child Care (SACC) has a very early enrollment period. If you plan to have your child in after-school SACC in the Fall of 2011, the sign-up period starts in June 2010. (Yes, over a YEAR early!) If you get on that early enrollment list, usually you will end up with a spot or with a higher-end-of-the-wait-list number.

We're also in a FCPS SACC program. We were very surprised to learn that we had sign up over a year in advance. I signed up the day after enrollment opened and was #54 on the wait list for aftercare and #8 on the list for beforecare. We found out the following May that we'd made both. But, it is very, very school dependent. My boss has been on the wait list for after care for over 3 years. FWIW, we love the program.