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Middle School Alliance

Free afterschool programs are available at all seven Richmond Public Middle Schools Monday through Thursday:

  • Henderson Middle School
  • Boushall Middle School
  • Albert Hill Middle School
  • Lucille Brown Middle School
  • River City Middle School
  • MLK, Jr. Middle School
  • Dogwood Middle School (new!)

Programs run from 3:45 pm – 6:30 pm (varies by school). Snacks / a meal and transportation home are provided.

Graphic for the Middle School Alliance with logos from partners: Higher Achievement, The YMCA of Greater Richmond, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond, NextUp, and Richmond Public School.

The Middle School Alliance is a collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond (BGCMR), Higher Achievement Richmond, YMCA of Greater Richmond, and NextUp as the OST intermediary.

Program categories include:

  • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
  • Sports and Health
  • Leadership and Work Readiness
  • Arts and Humanities
Register at Dogwood
Register at all other schools

MSA Annual Calendar

Programs by School

Program Descriptions

Upcoming program dates

Registration opens quarterly. Parents and caregivers can register RPS Middle Schools in upcoming sessions at these times:

  • (Winter session) Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 22, 2026
  • (Spring session) Mar 2 – Apr 16, 2026

Please note: Programs do not operate when schools are closed for holidays, spring /summer / winter break, weather-related closings, educational work days, etc..

How to sign up

  1. Register and enroll your child in The Middle School Alliance through the NextUp Parent Portal. Your registration will be valid for the entire school year. You’ll provide:
    • Your contact information
    • Information about your child (like emergency contacts, their RPS student number, allergies, etc.)
    • Signatures for waivers and other forms
  2. Your child will receive a scheduling form at the beginning of each session (Fall, Winter, Spring) to select their program(s) from their YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, or Higher Achievement Site Leads at their school. Once your child selects programs and is registered through the NextUp Parent Portal, they can attend the remainder of the school year.
Register at Dogwood
Register at all other schools

About The Middle School Alliance

The Middle School Alliance is a collective impact approach to strengthen afterschool programming, resources, and services for Richmond youth and families. We partner with youth development agencies The YMCA of Greater Richmond, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond, and Higher Achievement Richmond, and embed a network of out-of-school time programs directly in Richmond Public Middle Schools at no cost to families. 

NextUp works closely with Richmond Public Schools to coordinate transportation, security, and meals during programming. The NextUp Middle School Alliance is supported by funding partners like the City of Richmond, individual donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors.

Please note, some programs only run on certain days and time blocks. Students can sign up for more than one program.

NextUp RVA is a nonprofit organization helping youth discover their talents and build positive relationships. It does this by managing a strong system of accessible out-of-school time programs delivered in schools and across the city. When youth participate in quality out-of-school time programs, they learn new skills, find out what they are good at, gain confidence and are engaged learners.

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