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DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery

Human Service Programs

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) offers afterschool programs designed to develop children’s social and emotional growth and build healthy relationships. Childcare Afterschool programs and Community Schools afterschool programs are open to Kindergarten through 5th graders. Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) Pre-teen / Middle School Programs are open to 4th – 8th graders. The King Open Extended Day program is available to Kindergarten through 5th graders who attend the King Open School. 

  • Families apply to all of DHSP's afterschool programs through a single application process.
  • All open seats in DHSP afterschool programs are filled through a lottery each spring for the coming school year.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be Cambridge residents.
  • Children must be entering Kindergarten through 8th grade in September 2025.
  • Re-enrollment: children currently enrolled in a DHSP afterschool program can re-enroll in the same program by submitting an applicationby the deadline. 

2025-2026 DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery

  • The deadline to apply to the 2025-2026 DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery was Sunday, May 11. Families can still apply online to the lottery, but will be automatically added to the Waiting Pool.
  • Afterschool placement notifications for the 2025-2026 school year will be sent to families by mid-June. 
    • Families who receive an offer will have two weeks from notification to accept or decline their child's seat. 

Enrollment FAQs

If your child was offered a seat at a DHSP afterschool program, you must take action within 2 weeks to accept or decline their seat.

Accept Your Child's Offer

DHSP uses an online enrollment system called TraxSolutions. You will need a Trax account to accept your child's offer and enroll in the DHSP afterschool program where they were offered a seat.

Follow the directions and Trax link included in your child’s Offer Letter to accept your seat and complete enrollment. 

Decline Your Child's Offer  

If you do not want to accept your child’s offer, you can opt to go into the Waiting Pool for another afterschool choice or withdraw from the lottery.

To decline your child’s offer, email askdhsp@cambridgema.gov or call 617-349-6200. 

DHSP Afterschool Tuition Rates

Tuition rates are aligned across all DHSP afterschool program models: Childcare Afterschool, Community Schools, King Open Extended Day, and Camridge Youth Programs (CYP).

  • Tuition is paid monthly.
  • Tuition rates are determined on sliding scales based on household size and income.
  • Tuition is free for 6-8th graders enrolled in CYP's Pre-Teen / Middle School Programs.
  • Sibling discounts: Families who pay full tuition for one child enrolled in a DHSP afterschool program will receive a 50% discount on tuition for any siblings enrolled.
    • The highest assessed tuition (i.e. a 5 day tuition) in the household would be paid at the full assessed monthly tuition for that child. Any equal or lesser assessed tuitions in the same household (i.e. 5 day, 3 day or 2 day) would be paid at 50% of their assessed monthly tuitions for those children.
    • Discount is not applicable to 6th-8th graders enrolled in CYP’s afterschool programs who receive free tuition.

View Tuition Rates (PDF)

Transportation to DHSP Afterschool Programs

Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) provides transportation between schools and some DHSP afterschool program sites. Bus transportation is drop-off only. Caregivers are responsible for picking their children up at the end of their program.

  • Whether CPS provides transportation to a DHSP afterschool program depends on the end time of your child’s school and the start time of the DHSP afterschool program. 
  • If your child chooses to attend an afterschool site and CPS does not provide transportation between your child’s school and the afterschool site, you will be responsible for transporting your child to the afterschool program.
  • Bus routes are subject to change. To find your child’s bus route or request a bus stop change, visit the CPS Transportation Office website

 

 

 

View an Interactive Map  

 

Afterschool Lottery FAQs

Page was last modified on 6/4/2025 5:22 PM
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