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Free and Cheap After-School Programs in NYC

1. The Children's Aid Society – Locations in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island

This nonprofit offers after-school classes at centers and public schools throughout the city, primarily in Staten Island, Harlem, Washington Heights, and the South Bronx. Monday through Friday, participants ages 6-18 do art projects, play sports, use technology, and learn leadership values. The programs are designed to prepare youth for academic success and careers. A Go!Chefs program teaches kids how to cook nutritious, delicious meals using fresh fruits and vegetables. Tuition varies by location: Some locations are 100% free, while others charge reasonable rates and offer financial aid. Space is limited.

2. NYPL After School – Locations in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island

Kids ages 6-12 can hit select NYPL locations after school on Mondays through Thursdays when school is in session. Students can receive free homework help from tutors, work with teen reading ambassadors, and enjoy activities and workshops in writing, STEAM, and other fields. Snacks are available, too. No registration is required for these free programs—just drop in! The Brooklyn Public Library offers similar homework assistance for grades 1-8 on Monday through Thursday afternoons.

3. HEAF – Harlem

The Harlem Educational Activities Fund (HEAF) provides a host of after-school classes in NYC, including enrichment opportunities for middle and high school students. The program features test-prep help, aid with high school and college admissions, general college prep, and more. An impressive 100 percent of HEAF students graduate from high school and are accepted into four-year colleges. Candidates must maintain a 70% or better average in major subjects and have good school attendance records. Students can enter the program in sixth or ninth grade and receive support throughout the rest of their educational journey.

4. American Museum of Natural History – Upper West Side

Each school year, AMNH hosts several after-school classes for middle school and high school students. Students from anywhere in NYC can attend science enrichment classes on topics, including mineralogy, anthropology, and biology. Some programming is free, and financial aid is available for paid programs. The museum also offers paid internships that introduce teenagers to scientific research.

5. Hit the Books – Harlem

The Harlem-based youth program offers a full-service after-school program, including MMA lessons, tutoring, mentorship, and meals. Founded in 2019, HTB offers additional educational resources to underserved communities through a sports-based development approach. Kids can engage in stimulating ventures daily, including outdoor activities, and are taught through technical instruction, self-control, and physical activity, rather than sparring or fighting.

6. The Boys' Club of New York – Harlem and Flushing, Queens

The Boys' Club welcomes all boys and young men in grades 2-12 to participate in its inclusive programs. Members can hang out in one of the three clubhouses, receive homework assistance, eat snacks, learn to swim, take music and art lessons, play sports, and more. There are more than 40 after-school programs to choose from, all designed to build character, competence, community, and confidence. Classes are held after school on weekdays and Saturdays and are completely free.

7. Good Shepherd Services – Locations in Brooklyn and the Bronx

This nonprofit has been around since 1991, providing kids with free after-school programs at community centers and public schools. Programs are developed with kids' academic, leadership, and social skills in mind, and designed to help students succeed in school and in their communities. Each after-school program is specially curated for the location to create the best learning environment for students. You can browse available programs on the website, then contact a nearby location for more information, including registration deadlines and how to apply.

8. Lower East Side Girls Club – Lower East Side

Housed in a state-of-the-art, 35,000-square-foot facility in the heart of Alphabet City, the Lower East Side Girls Club caters to middle and high school girls who live or attend school in the area. Membership and programs are free, but family involvement is a must. On-site amenities include a maker shop, biology lab, sound studio, rooftop garden, culinary kitchen, and more. Girls participate in various programs meant to build "a just and equitable future filled with Joy. Power. Possibility."

9. Whitney's Open Studio for Teens – Chelsea

The Whitney offers open studio time for teens on select Friday afternoons, which connects them with contemporary artists. Students and artists work together to learn techniques and make art inspired by the work on display at The Whitney. The museum also offers free after-school and summer classes through the Youth Insights program, which allows high schoolers to collaborate on projects with artists.

10. NIA After School – Brooklyn and Staten Island

NIA offers free after-school programming in select schools across Brooklyn. The program introduces kids to STEM topics, offers homework help, and fosters kids' creative sides with art and fitness. Programs are entirely funded by NYC's Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). You can search for and enroll in a program near you on the DYCD website. If you miss out on the free after school, NIA also offers an affordable fee-based after-school option.

11. New York Junior Tennis League – Citywide

The NYJTL offers no-cost tennis lessons throughout the year in all five boroughs. After-school classes are available at 33 locations city-wide, from 3-6pm on school days. In addition to teaching kids to play tennis, the program also provides members with academic assistance, additional enrichment activities, and instruction on healthy living. Children may join at any location at any time during the season.

12. Police Athletic League – Locations Citywide

PAL offers after-school programs for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The program gives kids a holistic education focusing on STEAM, literacy, and physical education, with a strong emphasis on self-growth and teamwork. The program has also teamed up with Cornell University Cooperative Extension (CUCE) to teach students about growing and preparing their own fresh food. Tuition varies by location; contact the location you're interested in for more information.

13. New York City Department of Parks & Recreation – Locations Citywide

These free after-school programs for ages 6-13 take place Monday through Friday at recreation centers throughout the city. Activities follow monthly themes and teach kids topics in STEAM, fitness, arts, and culture. While dates for the 2025-26 school year have yet to be released, programs typically run from mid-September through early June.

14. NYC Department of Youth & Community Development – Citywide

The NYC Department of Youth & Community Development connects students with programs to attend during non-school hours. The DYCD lets families browse a collection of programs in one central place, including COMPASS NYC, SONYC, the Learn and Earn Program, and more. There are after-school classes in NYC for all school-age children in various locations. The program has expanded for the 2025 school year, adding 40 new schools to the roster, making it more accessible than ever before.

15. CAT Youth Theatre – Midtown West

The Creative Arts Team Youth Theatre runs a free after-school program for middle and high school students from September through May. Participants partake in theater games and exercises, improvisation, scene work, and ultimately put on a show or two. No audition is required; students are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

16. Write After School – Park Slope, Brooklyn

Kids in grades 2-8 can become superheroes in reading through this after-school program, held at 826NYC. The program places a strong emphasis on self-expression and community through reading and writing, and is free for students whose families meet the income qualifications (and an affordable fee-based weekend class for those who don't). Classes meet from 3-6 on school afternoons, and special reading and writing workshops are held twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays.

17. The 81st Street Studio – Upper East Side

While it's not a formal after-school program, The Met's 81st Street Studio offers free programming for all kids under 12. Children and their caretakers are welcome to drop in after school to take advantage of free programming, recommended for kids ages 3-11. Family afternoons feature new themes every month, and center around learning, creating, and discovering the world and art. Space is limited and entry is on a first-come, first-served basis.

18. DreamYard – Morrisania, the Bronx

This free after-school program is open to middle and high school students and begins in mid-October. Programs meet after school hours on Mondays through Thursdays and feature a range of activities, including media production and illustration. DreamYard is dedicated to teaching members to grow and enhance their digital literacy, artistic abilities, academic skills, and social justice knowledge.

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Originally published in August 2011. Photos courtesy of the respective organizations