Aftercare programs at different NW DC Public Schools

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone,

My kid is in PK-4 at one of the NW DCPS. We did not use aftercare this year. We purchased a new home and kid will go to another DCPS from August, for K.
I was comparing aftercare costs at the two schools, and was very surprised how much more it would cost at new school, like three times as much. How is this possible? Can you fill me in? Isn't aftercare (i.e. 3:15pm-6:30pm) uniformly priced in each DCPS?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Huh? Yes, that seems odd. We pay $82.50 per month for aftercare at our local DCPS elementary school in NW DC, is that what you were paying previously?

Is the after school program at the new school 'special' in some way, for example it offers bilingual learning or something?

[Anonymous]

No. At high need or title 1 schools after care is highly subsidized by the city.

At schools with a wealthier student body, aftercare may not even be provided by the city but instead by a private entity and parents who use it pay the full cost. There are usually discounts for lower income families.

[Anonymous]

At some schools the parents have rejected a cheaper DCPS after care option to go with something else. They usually wanted more enrichment and programming than the DCPs option would provide. And they were willing to pay more for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello everyone,

My kid is in PK-4 at one of the NW DCPS. We did not use aftercare this year. We purchased a new home and kid will go to another DCPS from August, for K.
I was comparing aftercare costs at the two schools, and was very surprised how much more it would cost at new school, like three times as much. How is this possible? Can you fill me in? Isn't aftercare (i.e. 3:15pm-6:30pm) uniformly priced in each DCPS?

Thanks!

Sometimes you get what you pay for. A few years ago there was a lot of talk about how Oyster had 2 programs on-site. The subsidized and the private (with many more options for the kids). It created a clear divide between the haves and the have-nots. Hearst and Lafayette also have the private (PTA coordinated) and the DC Parks and Recs option.

We have been at a few different places and I can tell you that we have had expensive at a charter that was well run, expensive at a charter that was poorly run and expensive at a DCPS that is fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello everyone,

My kid is in PK-4 at one of the NW DCPS. We did not use aftercare this year. We purchased a new home and kid will go to another DCPS from August, for K.
I was comparing aftercare costs at the two schools, and was very surprised how much more it would cost at new school, like three times as much. How is this possible? Can you fill me in? Isn't aftercare (i.e. 3:15pm-6:30pm) uniformly priced in each DCPS?

Thanks!

Sometimes you get what you pay for. A few years ago there was a lot of talk about how Oyster had 2 programs on-site. The subsidized and the private (with many more options for the kids). It created a clear divide between the haves and the have-nots. Hearst and Lafayette also have the private (PTA coordinated) and the DC Parks and Recs option.

We have been at a few different places and I can tell you that we have had expensive at a charter that was well run, expensive at a charter that was poorly run and expensive at a DCPS that is fantastic.

Stoddert has a DPR option as well.

[Anonymous]

OP, depending on the school, you might not have access to the program. Many WotP schools have waitlist for aftercare with families who are currently enrolled in the program having first dibs on re-uping for the next year.

[Anonymous]

OP, the short answer is that no, there is no uniformity to DCPS aftercare - not in start/end times, number of slots, cost, extracurricular offerings, etc. Or beforecare. Each school does its own thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh? Yes, that seems odd. We pay $82.50 per month for aftercare at our local DCPS elementary school in NW DC, is that what you were paying previously?

Is the after school program at the new school 'special' in some way, for example it offers bilingual learning or something?

$82.50 per month!! That is ridiculously cheap!! Who is providing the care for that price?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh? Yes, that seems odd. We pay $82.50 per month for aftercare at our local DCPS elementary school in NW DC, is that what you were paying previously?

Is the after school program at the new school 'special' in some way, for example it offers bilingual learning or something?

$82.50 per month!! That is ridiculously cheap!! Who is providing the care for that price?

Taxpayers are heavily subsidizing the after care. https://dcps.dc.gov/afterschool

[Anonymous]

It's only at 54 schools - see list here https://dcps.dc.gov/node/1067732

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh? Yes, that seems odd. We pay $82.50 per month for aftercare at our local DCPS elementary school in NW DC, is that what you were paying previously?

Is the after school program at the new school 'special' in some way, for example it offers bilingual learning or something?

$82.50 per month!! That is ridiculously cheap!! Who is providing the care for that price?

Seriously! That is really low. I am paying A LOT more than that at our charter school (for care that is not outsourced and care that I am VERY happy with).

[Anonymous]

At Hearst the Innis Co. costs $300/month for daily aftercare. You can also do 3 or 4 day /week options. $20 drop in fee for unregistered. No waitlist. There is also a DPR center there that is free but its a lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh? Yes, that seems odd. We pay $82.50 per month for aftercare at our local DCPS elementary school in NW DC, is that what you were paying previously?

Is the after school program at the new school 'special' in some way, for example it offers bilingual learning or something?

I'm this PP- to elaborate a little/give some perspective: We live East of the Park and this is not a charter, it is straight up DCPS and a Title 1 school. We have been through the lottery twice, with no matches to our top choices.

We would gladly pay more of a "better" aftercare program and we have tried (unsuccessfully) to get another program into the school. Hoping to try again for next year, so if any one has had luck with bringing in a new aftercare program in their child's school, I would love to hear any tips/experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh? Yes, that seems odd. We pay $82.50 per month for aftercare at our local DCPS elementary school in NW DC, is that what you were paying previously?

Is the after school program at the new school 'special' in some way, for example it offers bilingual learning or something?

I'm this PP- to elaborate a little/give some perspective: We live East of the Park and this is not a charter, it is straight up DCPS and a Title 1 school. We have been through the lottery twice, with no matches to our top choices.

We would gladly pay more of a "better" aftercare program and we have tried (unsuccessfully) to get another program into the school. Hoping to try again for next year, so if any one has had luck with bringing in a new aftercare program in their child's school, I would love to hear any tips/experiences.

The problem is that PP is the cost the private provider would have absorb which lessens their profits. I inquired about having before care at our EOTP Title 1 school and the numbers were not there to cover the rent cost alone.

Having two providers in the same school may not work as the more affordable option will do. For us it does and will as we pick up right at 4:30.