Goodman Community Center | Elementary Programs
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Thank you for your interest in our elementary after school program! Our classrooms are FULL for the 2026/27 school year.

Out-of-school time is critically important, and at the Goodman Center, our teachers make sure kids make the most of it. Connection is at the heart of what our teachers and staff do every single day.

The Goodman Community Center offers licensed and accredited afterschool care for elementary-age students (K-5th) who attend Emerson and Lowell elementary schools. In the Goodman Center's elementary after-school program, kids become a member of a classroom family, where everyone is valued and social-emotional learning is as important as – and maybe even more important than – the academic pursuits.

Chris Talton holds the Waubesa side door to Ironworks open for the elementary after school youth as they get off the bus. Chris is giving a young white boy with brown hair wearing a great sweatshirt and pants a high five. Chris is wearing a grey cardigan and matching grey shirt with black pants and shoes. His GCC nametage is clearly visible around his neck.
A white boy with short brown hair, a brown and green tshirt, shorts and blue sandals with long grey socks excitedly plays a game in a tent set up on GCC's greenspace.
Gold House, with the guidance of their teacher Shania, makes slushies together in their classroom. A group of 7 kids are gathered around a table with bags of ice, listening to Shania give directions. 6 of the kids are immersed in their project, but one African American girl wearing a light brown hoodie at the opposite side of the table from the camera leans on her hand and smiles at the camera.
A white girl with long wavy bround hair does a back bend with her face towards the camera. In front of her is a book with a blue cover, pages spread open.

ilananatasha photography
A group of four youth are playfully huddled up with their teacher. Two Black girls lean happily into the teacher - white, short brown hair, glasses, and a loose olive green button up and dark pants - while the teacher smiles. A 3rd Black girl wearing a light floral tshirt and matching black pants, her hair in braids down to her shoulders, is doing the splits alongside an excited brown boy with short, tigh curly hair in a teal tshirt and dark athletic shorts. Everyone is happy.

ilananatasha photography
A happy black boy cheekily smiles up at a teacher (white, male, in a grey tshirt and tan shorts with a black watch on, face off camera) as the pair joke with each other. The boy is wearing a tri-tone blue and white quarter zip longsleeve shirt and matching bottoms and is leaning against a classroom table about to run off.
An elementary schooler--Black girl with long twisted braids, glasses, wearing a light blue tshirt with a white pattern and light blue jeans-- poses with her high school literacy tutor--Latina with long black hair parted down the middle and tied off in pigtails, wearing a light longsleeve shirt and blue jeans. They're smiling together comfortably, a clear bond between them. In front of them lies literacy activities and papers on a round table.
A volunteer - white middle age woman with light hair cut into a bob, wearing a pink cardigan and dark pants with a dark grey START Literacy tshirt on - does an activity with two elementary school students--a Black girl who smiles happily at the pieces in her hand, wearing a grey Nike sweatshirt and patterned pants and a white boy in a dark green jacket with yellow trim, hood up and covering most of his dark brown hair.
A diverse group of elementary schoolers practice dribbling with TEENworks leaders in GCC's gym for their SPARK activity.

In addition to being cared for by trained professionals in our fully licensed and accredited program, children participate in programs that give them skills and opportunities to make friends and have fun.

Goodman Center childcare programs (preschool, 4K and elementary after-school) are city accredited and state licensed. Our childcare programs have a 5-star Young Star rating – the highest rating possible.

Read on to learn more about our elementary after-school program and summer camp.

View our Childcare Fee Schedule
Elementary After School

The Elementary after school program is FULL for the 2026/27 school year.

For youth attending Lowell and Emerson elementary schools. Children are transported from Lowell and Emerson. Goodman's afterschool program is state-licensed and city of Madison-accredited. Children are transported from Lowell and Emerson in an MMSD school bus.

Days/times: Monday–Friday, school dismissal to 5:30 p.m. No part-time schedules are available.

Age requirements: K–5th graders

School requirement: Child must attend Emerson or Lowell elementary schools.

Fee Schedule

Elementary Summer Camp

Thank you for your interest ~ 2026 elementary summer camp is FULL!

Our elementary summer camp provides an enriching environment for children 6-12 years of age (current K-4th graders). Current 5th graders will enroll in teen programming. Children will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning throughout the program day designed to expand on their current knowledge base in reading, math and science while having FUN both at GCC and offsite! Each week offers staff-led enrichment clubs, swimming lessons, gardening, arts/crafts, recreational games, visits to favorite community locations and more. Summer signup includes all 8-weeks. There is no week-to-week enrollment option.

Ages: 6 – 12 years old

Hours: Monday thru Friday, 8am – 5pm

Dates: June 22 – Aug. 14

School Requirements: None, although priority will be given to families of students enrolled at Emerson and Lowell elementary schools.

Fee Schedule

Goodman’s summer CLC grant offers free programming to eligible participants. City and county funds accepted. Sliding scale fee and scholarships available.

Please note: summer enrollment does not roll over from previous years.

Learn more about our elementary after-school program:

For more information about Elementary After School enrollment contact:

Ashley Rounds

Childcare Enrollment Manager
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Nondiscrimination Statement for USDA Child Nutrition Programs

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cr/di... from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email: Program.Intake@usda.gov This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The Goodman Community Center's elementary programs for grades K-5 are made possible by a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, the City of Madison, United Way of Dane County and the generous support of our donors. As a Community Learning Center (CLC), GCC's afterschool programs provide youth with academic and social-emotional enrichment opportunities.

We regularly evaluate the impact of our programs. Annual program reports are made available upon request.