There are several options for after-school activities in the area. While not all of them are located in Bastrop itself, some bus in students directly from certain schools. For others, children are to be dropped off at a given time. Activities range from general after-school care--including snacks, homework help and activities such as crafts, sports and even community service--to Tae Kwon-Do, cheering, gymnastics and dance. Some of the programs are connected to various schools and the activities are held on the school's campus, meaning there's no need for either a bus ride or a parental pickup.
Academic Benefits
According to a study performed by Policy Studies Associates (PSA) and researchers at the University of California, Irvine and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, elementary and middle school students who regularly attended quality after-school programs achieved higher gains in math achievement scores than did students who were regularly unsupervised after school. Such students also had significant gains in work habits. These benefits increased even further in students who attended not only school-sponsored after-school programs, but who also participated in other sorts of after-school activities.
Social and Behavioral Benefits
The same study found that regular participation in quality after-school programs was linked to reductions in behavioral problems, including misconduct at school. Interestingly, this reduction also increased among students who participated in school-sponsored after-school programs in addition to other non-school programs. A reduction in drug and alcohol use was also reported among such students, again with a greater reduction found among children with more diverse after-school activities. For elementary school students, the study also found improved social skills and a reduction in aggression toward their peers.
Expert Opinion
The After School Alliance reports that after-school programs improve attendance and students' engagement in the learning process, leading to higher test scores and better grades. They also find that the students who are at the greatest risk are those who show the greatest gains when exposed to after-school enrichment programs. Citing many different studies, the After School Alliance also reports that, when occupied with after-school activities, children are much less likely to engage in dangerous, aggressive or criminal behaviors.
School Programs
There are two school-sponsored programs in the Bastrop area. One is the S.T.A.R.S. program which offers after-school care and enrichment to students attending Bluebonnet Elementary, Cedar Creek Elementary, Emile Elementary, Lost Pines Elementary, Mina Elementary and Red Rock Elementary. Their program begins the first day of school and parents must pay registration fees and tuition. There's also the ACE after-school program, which is free to qualifying families and offers after-school care and enrichment to students attending Bastrop High, Bastrop Middle School, Bastrop Intermediate School, Cedar Creek Middle School, Cedar Creek Intermediate School, Cedar Creek Elementary, Bluebonnet Elementary, Red Rock Elementary, Lost Pines Elementary and Mina Elementary. Students at Emile Elementary can be bused to Mina Elementary if they qualify for the program.
Non-School Programs
Non-school-sponsored programs in the Bastrop area include the Bastrop Unified Tae Kwon-Do facility, the Olympia Hills Gymnastics centers and the Star Center for gymnastic, dance and cheer. They offer a range of programs and some busing services, although the schools they service are mostly in the Austin area. The costs vary according to the specific program.
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