Questions on APS extended day options

[Anonymous]

Hi,
We are moving to Arlington VA (courthouse-clarendon area) and planning to enroll our daughter to the public elementary school next year. We know that the extended day program usually have limited space and is based on lottery? What are the other options if we don't get in? I saw an afterschool enrichment offered by some daycare but charges $1,700 while their full day program is only 2,200? It seems over priced for just a few hours every day, so trying to figure out other options if the extended day lottery didn't work out...

Thanks in advance!
Sophie

[Anonymous]

You’ll probably get in. None of the schools resorted to a lottery this year.

[Anonymous]

When we couldn't get into extended day because we needed a spot mid year, my kids did YMCA's after care program.
https://www.ymcadc.org/locations/ymca-arlington/program-information/school-age-program/

[Anonymous]

I expect ASFS and innovation to both have room next year.

[Anonymous]

I am surprised to see that none of the schools resorted to a lottery. Is this because of COVID? I read an article that back in 2019, the county had to change to lottery because the extended day used to be served on first-come-first-serve basis, and the school network crashes the day that registration opens. I could imagine the competitiveness of getting into such a program. I also read that all APS school had to do the lottery because they had excessive demand...

[Anonymous]

At innovation, you’ll get in. Arlington hires based on the number of interested families. There is a cap for each school but innovation is no where near that cap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised to see that none of the schools resorted to a lottery. Is this because of COVID? I read an article that back in 2019, the county had to change to lottery because the extended day used to be served on first-come-first-serve basis, and the school network crashes the day that registration opens. I could imagine the competitiveness of getting into such a program. I also read that all APS school had to do the lottery because they had excessive demand...

It’s a combination of lower enrollment from covid, people not needing aftercare because they are working from home, and having an additional elementary school open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised to see that none of the schools resorted to a lottery. Is this because of COVID? I read an article that back in 2019, the county had to change to lottery because the extended day used to be served on first-come-first-serve basis, and the school network crashes the day that registration opens. I could imagine the competitiveness of getting into such a program. I also read that all APS school had to do the lottery because they had excessive demand...

Cardinal is on a wait-list (ask me how I know) but I think it's the only school.

[Anonymous]

You'll get in. No need to stress about this.