Parent and student preference for an afterschool program shifted Kids Unlimited Academy enrichment back to its traditional afternoon schedule for the 2025-26 school year.
“It was really a decision based on what families expressed worked best for the majority,” said KUA Principal Lindsay Ochs.
With KUA’s official school start time set for 8 a.m., the academic day will conclude at 3 p.m. in 2025-26 with pickup by 3:30 p.m. This schedule permits the reinstatement of KUA afterschool enrichment for 90 minutes at the end of each school day, with pickup between 4:30 and 5 p.m.
KUA students enrolled in enrichment do not have to stay the entire time, Principal Ochs said. But students who are not enrolled 
must be picked up by 3:30 p.m. each day. A $15 fee will be charged for each late pickup from school and enrichment.
Most KUA families prefer the afterschool enrichment format to a morning program because it promotes activities that are “more productive” in the late afternoon, said Lupita Varagas, KU director of educational services. Enrichment options in 2025-26 will range from arts and crafts to sports, including the perennially popular Ms. Annie’s dance and martial arts with the Roarty Brothers, said Vargas. Placements for fall trimester will be based on rankings that each KUA family selected at school registration for each enrichment option.
The monthly fee for KUA enrichment is $250, plus a $20 annual registration fee. Scholarships are available. See kuaoregon.org/after-school/
Trained school support staff lead KUA afterschool enrichment under a site manager. Enrichment activities are not tied to KUA academic standards, and attendance is optional. Morning enrichment’s pilot for the 2024-25 school year aligned with a later start to KUA’s school day that has since been moved up an hour.
Vargas emphasized that KUA families can still drop students off at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast, including on Wednesdays, when the school start time is 9 a.m., in keeping with the district-wide late start on Wednesdays. The 90 minutes before classes start each Wednesday will be used for math and reading games, mindfulness and other classroom preparedness techniques.
“A half an hour goes real fast in the morning — real fast,” said Principal Ochs, urging families to arrive at school early.
