The free option in Stockton is the city's After School Express, which runs school days from 2:30 to 6:00 pm for ages 5 to 12 at five community centers. Beyond that, families choose between licensed child care, club programs and enrichment like tutoring and LEGO engineering. Every pick below links to a live listing.
Free city programs
- After School Express (ages 5 to 12): homework time, games and activities led by city recreation staff, Mondays through Fridays 2:30 to 6:00 pm at the Arnold Rue, Van Buskirk, Seifert, Stribley and Ursula Meyer community centers. Free.
- Teen Programming (ages 13 to 17): free drop-in programming on weekdays from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at the same five centers.
Licensed care and clubs
- Camino al Futuro Bilingual Academy: play-based Spanish immersion care before and after school for ages 5 to 12, Mondays through Fridays 7:30 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 to 6:00 pm. It follows the district bell schedule, with school pick-up and mid-day drop-off available at neighboring schools.
- Achievers on Precissi Lane is a licensed school-age center through 8th grade, with daily Mandarin or Hindi, homework help, arts and STEAM.
- YMCA of San Joaquin County After School Program: weekday enrichment for school-age kids. Check with the YMCA for times and pricing.
- Sierra Vista Club: homework help, STEM, health and life skills, and leadership.
- Family child care homes can cover the hours after school too. Leonela Love, for example, lists before and after care for kids up to 12, open 5:00 am to 8:00 pm every day. Browse every licensed daycare in Stockton.
Enrichment after school
- Kumon math and reading for pre-K through high school, at two centers. Kumon Stockton-Morada runs math and reading Mondays through Thursdays 2:00 to 7:00 pm. Kumon Stockton-West runs math and reading Tuesdays and Fridays 2:30 to 6:30 pm.
- Bricks 4 Kidz Stockton: After School Enrichment with LEGO engineering builds, and Robotics and Coding using the BBC micro:bit.
- Chess Mentorship Program at Make Every Move Count: free for ages 5 and up, first and third Fridays 2:00 to 6:00 pm.
- Stockton Youth Chorale Treblemakers: choir for grades 3 to 5, Mondays and Thursdays 4:00 to 5:30 pm, $205 a semester.
What to ask
- Pick-up: does the program get kids from your school? Camino al Futuro lists school pick-up at neighboring schools.
- Closing time: After School Express and Camino al Futuro's afternoon block both end at 6:00 pm.
- Subsidies: many licensed daycares accept child care subsidies, and each daycare listing shows which.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there free after-school care in Stockton?
Yes. The City of Stockton's After School Express is free for ages 5 to 12, school days 2:30 to 6:00 pm, at five community centers. Teens 13 to 17 can use free Teen Programming on weekdays until 7:00 pm.
Is there bilingual after-school care in Stockton?
Camino al Futuro Bilingual Academy runs Spanish immersion care before and after school for ages 5 to 12. Achievers includes daily Mandarin or Hindi in its after-school program.
What after-school tutoring is there in Stockton?
Two Kumon centers, Stockton-Morada and Stockton-West, run math and reading from pre-K through high school, and the city's After School Express includes homework time.