When parents work or have to be somewhere before school starts, they want a place they can take their child that is safe and fun and that helps start the day on a positive note. Likewise, parents want the security and peace of mind knowing their child is safe after school. When school schedules and parent schedules just don’t match, the Forest Hills Public Schools offer a fee-based, before- and after-school child care program.
Our before- and after-school care programs are housed in all of the district’s elementary school buildings, including Ada Vista Elementary School. We also offer a before- and after-school care program for our 5th and 6th grade students at Northern Trails 5/6 school. All before- and after-school care programs run from 7:00 a.m. to the time that the school starts, and from the time school ends until 6:00 p.m.
How do I enroll in the before and after-school care program?
- Before care hours will be 7:00 am until the start of school.
- After care hours will be from the end of school day until 6:00 pm.
- Families will be required to sign up for 5 days per week/per program (adjustments will be made for district observed holidays).
Fall Registration
- May 20, 2025, 9:00 AM: Registration opens to 2024-2025 enrolled families and Summer 2024 families
- May 22, 2025, 9:00 AM: Registration opens to new families not currently enrolled.
To enroll your child, you may use the online application process . If you have questions, please contact the Child Care Office at (616) 493-8787.
How much does it cost?
- $55 per week for Before School Care
- $55 per week for After School Care
- 10% sibling discount
- Adjustments will be made to your monthly invoice for District Observed Holidays.
Is child care available on days when there is no school?
District Observed Holidays
Child care is not available on district observed holidays:
- Friday before the holiday and Labor Day
- Thanksgiving holiday and the Friday following the holiday
- Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
- New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- July 4 (day before or after depending on when the holiday falls)
Child care is also not available the last two weeks of summer vacation before school starts due to staff training and resetting sites.
Scheduled Non-School Days
Child care is available on scheduled non-school days:
- Holiday Recess
- Spring Recess
- Mid-Winter Break
- Record Marking
- Day before Thanksgiving
Staffing and planning for scheduled non-school days is done well in advance to assure the safety of the children.
- Must Register in Advance.
- Registration on the child care website is required for scheduled non-school days.
- Families will receive a confirmation email when registration has been processed.
- Full day registration is required.
- Children receive breakfast, a morning and an afternoon snack.
- Parents need to provide a bagged lunch with a drink.
- Cost is $45 per day
- Families are not charged for non-school days unless they registered for care in advance.
- Child care will be held at Central Woodlands from 7:30AM-5:00PM on all non-scheduled school days.
- No registrations will be processed after the registration deadline.
- Your account must be current to register for non-scheduled school days.
Half-Day Care
- Must Register in Advance.
- Child Care is available on half days and requires a separate registration.
- A list of the half day dates are located on the district school calendar page.
- Half day care will be offered at all the sites with the exception of Central Woodlands and Northern Trails.
- Due to low enrollment, Half Day care may be canceled at some sites.
- Parents need to provide a bagged lunch with a drink.
- The cost for the care is $25 per day.
- Half day times 11:55am-6:00pm (Ada Vista 11:20am-6:00pm)
Inclement Weather Days
- Full day care is available at Northern Trails from 7:30am-5:00pm
- Children must be currently enrolled in our 2024-25 before and after school program to use Inclement weather days.
- Children receive breakfast, a morning and an afternoon snack.
- Parents need to provide a bagged lunch with a drink.
- Cost is $45 per day.
Where do I go for more information?
Please read the Child Care Parent Handbook for more information
If you have questions about the Child Care programs, before- and after-school care, and the FHPS preschool programs, please call the Child Care Office at (616) 493-8787
