Families can register for all middle school programs on the registration tab or at the link below.

Thank you for choosing Durham Public Schools Before- and After-school Programs! You have selected a program that has over 35 years of experience providing quality expanded learning opportunities for middle school students.

To Enroll:

Click Here...Online Registration for ALL Programs

Middle School ENCORE!

Operating Information

Before School Programs (6:30-8:20 a.m. Daily)

Community Education is pleased to provide quality and affordable before-school programs Monday - Friday at Rogers-Herr and School of Creative Studies, where learning is fun!

Before school programs will only operate at sites with 10 or more students enrolled.

Our programs provide families with a safe and nurturing place for their children to be actively engaged in enriching activities during the-before-school hours.

Encore! programs operate from 3:20 p.m.- 5:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday. Encore! at Shepard operates until 6:00 p.m. and transportation is not available at this site. Programs do not operate on Fridays, early release days or teacher workdays. Programs do not operate if schools are closed or dismissed early due to inclement weather. Afterschool programs at the year-round calendar schools do not operate during the three-week intersession periods.  May 22, 2025 will be the last day for ENCORE! programs.

The Encore! Afterschool program will serve:

• Brogden
• Carrington
• Githens
• Lowes Grove
• Lucas
• Neal Middle School
• Rogers-Herr
• Shepard

Encore! 2024-2025 

*Program days and start times: Monday - Thursday, 3:20 p.m. - 5:30pm

(The program at Shepard does not provide transportation and closes at 6:00 p.m.)

ENCORE! Program Components:

Basics to the Basics of After-school (B2B):    

B2B allows students to participate in a series of welcome activities such as ice breakers, cooperative, ENCORE! rules and creating social contracts.

This allows the tone to be set for students and staff from the beginning to the end of the program.

Study Zone:

*Homework assistance (Certified Teachers from school day)

Character Education:

ENCORE! utilizes Character Strong as our social, emotional curriculum with lessons related to self awareness, self- management, social awareness, relationship building, and responsible decision making.

Students engage monthly in various activites around the Six Character Traits.

STEAM Activities:

STEAM activities occur weekly. These activities are in-depth and rigorous one-day projects that facilitate learning on a particular topic. These activities are linked to learning concepts that take place during the school day.

Physical Sports in After-School:

Students will engage in various physical activities to help with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Teen Initiatives:

Students will participate in various team-building anti-bullying and leadership development activities that will prepare them for a brighter future.

Site Planned Activities:

Each site will have the opportunity to plan various activities and schedule resources. All activities must be indicated on activity schedules submitted to CE monthly. Each site should provide an updated schedule if any activites change periodically after submission of plans.

                     ENCORE! Building Brighter Futures for Our Middle School Students

FAQ'S

• Cost: Students can join after school by completing an online application. Cost is $50 per semester or $100 for the full year. See our operating information as we don't operate every day. Scholarships are available for students at every school - See below for more information.

• Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend as often as possible (preferably everyday) to gain the most for the program. Our research has shown students make the most progress academically and socially and build resiliency against risk factors when they attend regularly and for multiple years in our program. Our minimum attendance policy requires  students to attend at least two full days a week or an hour each day of the week. Due to limited space at each program, we want to maximize attendance in the program, which is based on our average daily attendance. Students may be dropped from the program to allow other students to attend.
• Student athletes / club participants are able to fully participate in ENCORE! While also playing a sport or attending a club.
• Buses:  Bus transportation is provided from each school program, excluding Shepard Middle School, as long as the students are actively participating in ENCORE,and students live within the school's attendance zone. Afterschool bus transportation is a privilege and could be denied if the student's conduct becomes an issue. Students leave campus at 5:30pm and will arrive home in under an hour. An afterschool bus stop is created for each student requesting transportation.
• Snacks:  A healthy snack and drink is provided by DPS Child Nutrition Services in the program each day and follows Federal snack guidelines. An alternative snack can be provided if a special dietary need is requested and communicated with our staff.
• Wait List:  A wait list will be formed after a school program exceeds the enrollment capacity. We staff at a 1:15 ratio and monitor average daily attendance monthly in order to maximize enrollment. A waitlist is formed on a first come first served basis and does not require payment until your child is accepted into the program. Removing students  from a waitlist is a priority for us, but at times it can be a lengthy wait process due to long lists and staffing.
• Scholarships:  Available to any student with limited means or circumstances. Scholarship forms can be found on our Forms page, which describes multiple ways for students to qualify. Scholarship students adhere to the same rules when placed on a waitlist. Exceptions are made in rare emergency situations that involve a child's immediate safety and involve social service agencies.

ENCORE! PARENT HANDBOOKS

2024 -25 ENCORE Parent Handbook English

2024 -25 ENCORE Parent Handbook Spanish

Encore! Data Consent and Program Release Statement

Encore! Transportation Request

                          Encore! Weekly Schedule