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.
Registration for for fall 2025, begins March 17, 2025.
Current families will re-register through the Parent Portal on March 17th at 11am, and your days will show immediately in your child’s account. If you don’t receive all of the days you need, email afterschool@ready-set-kids.com.
New families will register for a lottery beginning March 17. Results will be drawn April 2, 2025. All families will be notified if a space is available for them, or if they will remain on the waitlist. For any spot that opens up, families will be selected by a new lottery drawing. Lottery form is below.
Tuition, monthly, for the 2025-2026 school year:
5 days $710
4 days $5993 days $499
2 days (minimum) $375
Enrichment class schedules are released during the summer months and include Spanish, Science Explorers, art, piano, dance, and martial arts (new!).
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
Email afterschool@ready-set-kids.com for more information.
New student Interest Form: 2025-2026 School Year
Some spaces remain available for the ‘25-’26 school year, depending on age and school. Interested families should fill out the form below and will be contacted by Ready, Set, Kids if a space is available.
Enrichment classes for Current Arlington
After School students (‘25-’26 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 2, 2025 and enrollment is always open if space allows.
Enroll now before classes fill!
Monday
Science Explorers 3-5yrs (4:30 - 5:30)
Science Explorers 5-7yrs (3:15 - 4:15)
Tuesday
Mandarin 5-7yrs (3:00 - 4:00)
Spanish 3-5yrs (4:00 - 5:00)
Wednesday
Spanish 6-10yrs (1:30 - 2:30)
RSKung Fu 5-7yrs (1:30 - 2:30)^
^Kung Fu with Sifu Sean of Eight Animal Martial Arts
Dance with Dance Place* (1:30 - 2:30): Shining Stars (Ages 5-6) or 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.
Keyboard with Piano Playtime (1:30-3:30)**
**30 minute, small group classes held at RSK with Piano Playtime staff.
Drama Workshops 5-8yrs (2:45 - 3:45)
Art Lab 6-10yrs (4:00 - 5:00)
Thursday
Math Club 3-5yrs (3:00 - 4:00)
Math Club 5-7yrs (4:00 - 5:00)
Friday
Spanish 4-6yrs (3:00 - 4:00)
Spanish 6-8yrs (3:00 - 4:00)
Spanish 6-10yrs (4:00 - 5:00)
Advanced Spanish 6-9yrs (4:00 - 5:00)
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.
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.
Math Club
Math Club for kids in grades K-1. Each session in our math club will be active and hands-on, including a read aloud, games and crafts. We aim to build kids' number sense, creative problem solving, logic and enthusiasm for math!
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.
Piano Playtime
Piano Playtime offers a unique music education experience using peer group motivation and a playful approach to teach children the piano. The program is based in traditional piano pedagogy while being fun, convenient, and affordable. The program reaches younger children on their level using an age-appropriate curriculum and color coded system, workbooks, songs, props and improvisation to keep them engaged. Lessons for older children include traditional studies of notation, theory, and staff music, which is easily transferable to other instruments. This approach gives students a solid foundation of musical knowledge, while balancing these concepts with a lighthearted, exciting tone to keep their attention. Group classes never have more than 3 students, which is the lowest student-teacher ratio for ancillary programs. This allows for individual attention as well as peer response.
KungFu
Children will learn self defense skills and traditional martial arts while exercising and having fun. Martial arts is about more than just punching and kicking. Our program instills confidence, teaches concentration and focusing skills, and emphasizes the importance of values such as respect, discipline, honesty, and kindness. Additionally, children will learn to have a positive attitude and healthy outlook on life and to value academics and do well in school. Health and fitness are also major components of classes. Students will increase their speed, agility, flexibility, stamina, and strength by learning how to challenge themselves during exercise. Students will also learn the importance of eating healthy, drinking water, and getting enough sleep.