RSK’s After School Program:
Arlington, MA
Ready, Set, Kids offers a high-quality After School Program for children in grades K-3 with transportation from the following Arlington Public Schools: Hardy Elementary School and Thompson Elementary School. All for less than $13/hour!
At RSK’s afterschool, we create a space where after a long day at school, kids can come and just BE KIDS. We prioritize outdoor time- our bus drops groups off at Spy Pond field for hours of open-ended play. When kiddos come inside, they are greeted with options for engaging activities, classes, or spaces to just hang with friends.
Aftershool families get access to our play-based and fun enrichment programs with options for Spanish, science, art, piano, guitar, dance, and more - all for a discounted rate for afterschool program families! Read about our schedule, daily routine, policies, and more in the Parent Handbook linked below.
We think our afterschool program is TOP NOTCH. But don’t just take it from us. Here’s what parents have to say in our google reviews!
“I have been consistently delighted and impressed by our experience with Ready Set Kids's afterschool program. As a teacher, I have seen a wide range of quality in afterschool programming, and RSK's approach is high-quality, student-centered, and thoughtfully executed. Although many staff members are on the younger side, they are insightful about the interpersonal conflicts that arise between kids, and authentic in trying to understand and care for each child's needs. And most importantly, it's clear that everyone at RSK genuinely likes and enjoys children. My child complains when he has to be picked up early from afterschool-- the highest compliment! If you are lucky enough to land a spot at RSK, nab it! You won't regret it.” - a happy RSK family
Tuition, monthly, for the 2026-2027 school year:
5 days $740
4 days $630
3 days $523
2 days (minimum) $390
Registration info for the 2026-2027
Returning RSK Families:
Currently enrolled families may register for next year on Wednesday, April 1st at 12:30pm via the Parent Portal.
New Families:
Families can begin submissions to the lottery form on Wednesday, April 8th, and families can enter their information into the lottery at any time after that. There is no preference given for early registrants - names are drawn randomly based on availability in each age grouping and school. The first names will be pulled on Wednesday, April 15th and families are given one week to accept or decline a spot. A $55 registration fee will be required to accept a spot, but there is no fee to remain on the waitlist. Names will be pulled every Wednesday until all spaces are filled. Families remain on the waitlist/lottery unless we are notified to take you off the waitlist.
Email afterschool@ready-set-kids.com for more information.
Enrichment classes for Current Arlington
After School students (‘26-’27 School Year):
For enrolled RSK after school students, register here for these additional, optional, elective courses.
Cost is $96/month, except for outside programs, Piano Playtime and Dance Place.
Transportation is provided to/from the Dance Place (see below).
All other classes are held at RSK and students are brought to/from their afterschool groups.
Classes start September 8, 2026, are ongoing, and enrollment is always open if space allows.
Enroll now before classes fill!
Monday
Science Explorers 5-7yrs (3:00 - 4:00)
Active Gym Adventures 3-6yrs (3:15-4:15)
Science Explorers 3-5 yrs (3:15-4:15)
RSKids Business Lab 5-8yrs (4:30-5:30)
Tuesday
STEAM lab 6-9 yrs (3:00-4:30)
Lego Build & Play 3-5yrs (4:15-5:15)
Dance with Dance Place* (1:30-2:30): register directly with Dance Place
Shining Stars (Ages 5-6)
Rising Stars Ballet/Jazz Combo Class (Ages 6 - 9)
*Students board the RSK bus, get dropped off at Dance Place, and a Dance Place teacher walks them to RSK after class.
Spanish 6-10yrs (1:30-2:30)
Drama Workshop 5-7yrs (2:45-3:45)
Lego Build & Play 3-5yrs (2:45-3:45)
Art & Sensory Play 3-5yrs (4:00-5:00)
Art Lab 5-8yrs (4:00-5:00)
STEM 5-8 yrs (3:00-4:00)
RSKids in the Kitchen 3-5yrs (3:15 - 4:15)
STEM 3-5 yrs (4:15-5:15)
RSKids in the Kitchen 5-8 yrs (4:30-5:30)
Friday
Spanish 5-7 yrs (3:00 - 4:00)
Advanced Spanish 6-9 yrs (4:00-5:00)
Music enrichment: keyboard & voice (3:30, 4:00, 4:30)
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Art Lab
Children are invited to explore a variety of materials and create art. The projects in this class take a process-based approach and are designed to introduce children to lots of creative materials, sensory experiences, and visual arts.
Business Lab
RSKids Business Lab for children introduces young creators to the basics of starting and running their own small business! Children will brainstorm ideas, create crafts and products like lemonade and handmade goods, practice budgeting and marketing, and work together to plan how to sell their creations at local craft fairs, RSK events, and special end-of-session sales. Through hands-on projects, kids will build creativity, confidence, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving skills while learning that their ideas can become something amazing.
Cooking Class
Pass the pepper please! This culinary creativity class is perfect for your foodie! While we experiment with preparing and cooking our own food, we'll also work on etiquette and social skills. Each class uses a fun story to connect a kitchen skill (chopping, peeling, mixing, measuring, whisking, experimenting, etc) with an eating experience. For example, we’ll read Plátanos Are Love by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and learn all about bananas and plantains. We’ll cut, chop, and fry bananas and plantains to learn that these fruits can be eaten at all stages of growth - green, unripe, and cooked; ripe and raw; and cooked. These are called tostones and maduros! Then, just as in the story, we’ll make our own family recipe books.
Drama Workshops
Come, young thespians! In these weekly workshops we'll be storytelling, improvising, and playing all sorts of fun drama games while exploring everything from mythology to fractured fairy tales. Classes will start with a story to “set the stage” and we’ll focus on a concept in the story that makes for great improvisation! Then we’ll build characters and props and let our imaginations do all the work.
Lego Workshops
In this hands-on LEGO class, young builders will explore creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork through fun weekly building challenges and open-ended play. Children will practice important social skills while designing imaginative creations.
Keyboard & Voice
Attention budding super stars! Our music teacher and graduate student in music therapy, Miss Ellie, will use rhythm exercises, musical games and group songs to lead us in beginner keyboard and voice lessons in this small-group and hands-on introduction to making music. In voice lessons, we'll work on ear training, building vocal confidence through group sing-alongs and healthy singing habits. In keyboard lessons, we'll work on reading simple music notation and finger placement.
STEM & Science Explorers
Science Explorers classes encourage children to have fun while they are observing, hypothesizing, experimenting and reflecting about their world. We offer a variety of themes including: Engineering: Things that Fly, Chemistry: Kitchen Science, Secret Agent Science as well as Force & Motion and Electricity & Magnetism. The STEM preschool classes combines our structured science curriculum with our maker space, a place for our young engineers to design and build with the proper adult support. Many of our themes are designed around student’s interests and abilities, allowing for child-led projects and explorations. Classes are ongoing throughout the school year and enrollment is always open if space allows.
Spanish & Mandarin
Our world language programs are full-immersion language classes that run on an ongoing monthly basis. We integrate fun play-based activities, and a unique environment of learning to create a powerful and effective language experience. With the innovative Yak Academy curriculum, we introduce practical themes and design lessons that are age-appropriate, fun, and filled with games, songs, and arts & crafts. At-home papers with each theme’s target language words, songs, and activities are provided to extend the learning outside of the classroom.