Learning beyond the bell
NextUp — a free program for Richmond Public Schools middle school students — provides safe, high-quality opportunities for students to explore interests, express themselves, make friends and have fun! NextUp isn’t one single program or in one specific building. Rather, it’s a coordinated network of providers that have a common commitment to ensuring middle school students have access to quality afterschool activities.
How nextup works
Teens have access to quality in-person out-of-school time programs at one of RPS’ middle schools: Albert Hill, T.C. Boushall, Lucille Brown, Thomas Henderson, Martin Luther King, and River City. Youth can participate in activities in Sports and Health, STEM, Arts and Humanities, and Leadership and Mentoring. All programs are provided by NextUp-approved program providers.
What nextup means for students
Students take part in hands-on learning and exploration of their interests, while benefitting from freedom, structure, & safety in all activities. They have the opportunity to make new friends, new role models and to make new connections, as they explore their own talents and goals.
What nextup means for families
Families see positive changes in their teens through an excitement in learning that rolls over into increased school participation.
Join in on the Fun: Classes Happening Now!
- Arts & Humanities
- Career Readiness & Work Skills
- Leadership / Mentoring
- Sports & Health
- Science, Technology, Engineering or Math
Arts & humanities
- Mic Check 1, 2, 3 – Audio Production by The Leadership and Achievement Academy
- A.C.T. (Act Think Create) by Richmond Performing Arts Alliance
- Anime Club by Andrea Bryant
- Casa Lapiz Art Program by Sacred Heart Center
- Contemporary Hip Hop by Latin Ballet of Virginia
- Cool Crafting by Jumpstarz
- Create a Fashion Brand by Your Visionary Designer
- Create a Fashion Collection by Your Visionary Designer
- Divination by Richmond Young Writers
- Down the Rabbit Hole: Writing Yourself Into Fiction by Richmond Young Writers
- Downward Dog Dance and Yoga: Lead with Love by Downward Dog Dance and Yoga
- Exploring Guitar by Legacy Band Brand LLC
- Go Behind the Camera by Richmond Performing Arts Alliance
- Great Debaters by Axiom Educators, LLC
- Hand Sewing 101 by Your Visionary Designer
- Jewelry & Accessory Making by Your Visionary Designer
- KICDRUM by Kids In Crisis
- Life’s Interpretation Videos and Beats by Life’s Interpretation
- Light The Music by Light The Music
- Live from the Studio by The Men of Barton Heights Youth Organization
- Mixed Media Fun by Vedant Holdings DBA Doodle Dynamo
- Musical Maestros (Beginning Piano Class) by Richmond Performing Arts Alliance
- Prep for Your Next Step: High School by Podium RVA
- Sculpture Savvy by ART 180
- Spin Academy by The Men of Barton Heights Youth Organization
- The Hydra: Experiments in Writing by Richmond Young Writers
- The Teen Scene by Podium RVA
Working with Wood by Jumpstarz
Arts & humanities
A.C.T. (Act Think Create) by Richmond Performing Arts Alliance
Anime Club by Anime Club (Andrea Bryant)
ART 180 – The Creativity In YOU by ART 180
Casa Lapiz Art Program by Sacred Heart Center
Contemporary Hip Hop by Latin Ballet of Virginia
Create a Fashion Brand by Your Visionary Designer
The Hydra: Experiments in Writing by Richmond Young Writers
Working with Wood by Youth Entrepreneur Startups aka Jumpstarz
Career Readiness & Work Skills
- BYOB – Become Your Own Boss by Jumpstarz
- FinLit Fiancial Literacy – Money Conscious by FinLit / The Institute for the Advancement of Young People
- Kidz N Biz by The Metropolitan Business League
- Making Money in the Stock Market by The Leadership and Achievement Academy
- Money Matters Club by M. H. West & Co., Inc.
- Scholarship Chess by Scholarship Chess Business Center
- Spark It and Business Builders by Bona Vita Inc., Founders Mark
- YEA: Young Entrepreneurship Academy by Downward Dog Dance and Yoga
Career Readiness & Work Skills
FinLit Fiancial Literacy- Money Conscious by FinLit/ The Institute for the Advancement of Young People
Kidz N Biz by The Metropolitan Business League
Making Money in the Stock Market by The Leadership and Achievement Academy
Money Matters Club by M. H. West & Co., Inc.
Leadership / Mentoring
- Anoint The Runway by Youth Impact
- Boyhood to Manhood Rites of Passage: Guiding Tomorrows Leaders by Trinity Village Center
- Braid It Up by Jumpstarz
- Girl Action Teams by Girls For A Change
- Girl Get Your Science Game On! by Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of VA
- Girls Book Club by Barbara Haas
- Inspire by Inspire RVA, LLC
- It’s a G.I.R.L.’s World! by Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of VA
- Middle School Explorers Club by Heart of VA Council Boy Scouts of America
- R.E.A.L Girlz ( Responsible, Empowered and Loved) by Flawless Imperfections, LLC
- Smart Relationships by Relationship Foundation of VA
- Virginia Outside Leadership and Adventure Program by Virginia Outside
- Work of Art (Girls Empowerment Program) by Work of Art
Leadership / Mentoring
Girl Action Teams by Girls for a Change
Girls Empowerment Program by Work of Art
Inspire by Inspire RVA, LLC
R.E.A.L Girlz ( Responsible, Empowered and Loved) by Flawless Imperfections, LLC
Sports & Health
- On the Run by Sports Backers
- Bobcats Sports League Soccer by Bobcats Sports League
- Culinary Masterpiece! by Victoria’s Kitchen, LLC
- Dance It Up! by Sports Backers
- Edible Essentials by Edible Education
- Empowered To Jump by JumpStarz LLC
- Game On, Girl! by Greater Richmond Fit4Kids
- Healthy Teens Happy Teens Cooking Program by Kidz R Cookin, LLC
- Henderson Golf Club by Henderson Golf Club
- Holiday Happenings by Edible Education
- IBY Yoga and Mindfulness by a division of Itty Bitty Yogis
- Jump Start by Richmond Volleyball Club
- Lobs & Lessons by Mary and Frances Youth Center
- Mindfulness and Storytelling by VIsArts
- Mindfulness, Movement, Motivation by Avail Outpatient Counseling
- Outdoor Adventure Club by Blue Sky Fund
- River City Community Squash by VA SQUASH
- RVA Skate Club by a partner of EnRichmond Foundation
- SALSA Workout by Latin Ballet of Virginia
- Yoga: Strength and Mindfulness on the Mat by Project Yoga Richmond
Sports & Health
Culinary Masterpiece! by Victoria’s Kitchen, LLC
Game On, Girl! by Greater Richmond Fit4Kids
Lobs & Lessons – Team Tennis by Mary and Frances Youth Center
Mindfulness and Storytelling by VIsArts
Minfulness, Movement, Motivation by Avail Outpatient Counseling
On the Run-Staying Active Indoors by Sports Backers
Yoga and Mindfulness by IBY Yoga and Mindfulness (a division of Itty Bitty Yogis)
Yoga: Strength and Mindfulness on the Mat by Project Yoga Richmond
STEM
- Chess Class by Chess RVA, LLC
- Come Outside to Teach by Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
- Computer Coding 101: Fun with Makey Makey by VA Cooperative Extension RVA 4-H
- CSI: Richmond! by VCU Dept of Forensic Science
- Dig It, Grow It, Eat it! by Greater Richmond Fit4Kids
- FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics by FIRST Chesapeake
- Makerspace by Barbara Haas
- Math Detectives by Axiom Educators, LLC
- So, You want to win the Fortnite World Cup? by Gamer Events RVA
- STEMulate Laser Tag League by Gamer Events RVA
- Strategy Board Games by Chess RVA, LLC
- TechConnect by RPS Education Foundation
- TECNOLOGIA para los niños by The Leadership and Achievement Academy
- Video Game Design with JAVA by Vedant Holdings LLC DBA Club SciKidz
Science, technology, engineering or math
Edible Schoolyard by Greater Richmond Fit4Kids
Math Detectives by Axiom Educators, LLC
Strategy Board Games by Chess RVA, LLC
TechConnect by Richmond Public Schools Edu. Foundation
TECNOLOGIA para los niños by The Leadership and Achievement Academy
Sign Up for NextUp Programs
What you can expect from nextup
Quality programs from experienced providers
Project-based and hands-on learning
Alignment between school day and afterschool learning
Contact us
Need help with online classes and registration or have any other questions? We can help.
NextUp RVA, Inc.
Barbara Couto Sipe, President & CEO
3409 Moore Street
Richmond, VA 23230
