After-school programming gives students a safe, structured way to keep learning and building skills once the school day ends. Berkeley Hall School treats this as a genuine part of student life, not an afterthought, running two distinct tracks that cover students from Nursery through 8th grade.
In This Guide
Quick Answer for Busy Parents
Berkeley Hall’s after-school program runs in two tracks: an athletics program for grades 4–8 with interscholastic teams in sports like volleyball, basketball, and soccer, and a rotating slate of enrichment classes for students from Nursery through 8th grade, covering everything from LEGO Robotics to Hip Hop Dance. Extended Day Care supervision runs until 6:00 PM on school days.
Why After-School Programming Matters
A well-run after-school program does two things at once: it gives students a structured, supervised environment once the school day ends, and it gives working families peace of mind that their child is engaged in something meaningful rather than simply waiting out the afternoon. Berkeley Hall builds both athletics and enrichment classes into that structure, rather than treating after-school hours as an afterthought.
That distinction matters more than it might seem. A program that’s just supervised free time still solves the childcare problem, but it doesn’t add much to a child’s day. Berkeley Hall’s approach, real athletic teams with actual competition and enrichment classes taught by outside specialists rather than general aftercare staff, means the after-school hours function more like a second, optional curriculum than a holding pattern until pickup.
Two Tracks: Athletics and Enrichment
Athletics for Grades 4–8
Berkeley Hall’s after-school athletics program fields co-ed interscholastic teams for students in grades 4 through 8 (select third graders may also be invited), competing in volleyball, basketball, baseball, flag football, soccer, swimming, and track & field. For a K-8 school of Berkeley Hall’s size, fielding seven full sports rather than one or two flagship programs gives more students a genuine shot at making a team, rather than concentrating athletic opportunity in a small handful of standout players.
Enrichment Classes for All Ages
Alongside athletics, Berkeley Hall offers a rotating slate of enrichment classes for students from Nursery through 8th grade, delivered through outside enrichment partners and updated each trimester. Recent offerings have included Anime, LEGO Robotics, Hip Hop Dance, Rocket Science, Chess, Tennis & Pickleball, and Kids Cooking Academy. Because the lineup changes trimester to trimester, a class that isn’t offered in the fall may return in winter or spring; it is worth checking back if a specific interest does not appear immediately.
The variety is deliberate. Rather than treating after-school time as an extension of the academic day, Berkeley Hall spreads its enrichment options across sports, arts, culinary, and technology, giving students room to try something entirely outside their usual coursework, whether that’s a first attempt at chess strategy or a semester of hip hop choreography.
| Component | Details |
| Athletics | Interscholastic teams, Grades 4-8 (select 3rd graders invited); volleyball, basketball, baseball, flag football, soccer, swim, track & field |
| Enrichment Classes | Seasonal, Nursery-8th grade; recent offerings include LEGO Robotics, Hip Hop Dance, Chess, Tennis & Pickleball, Kids Cooking Academy |
| Extended Day Care Hours | Until 5:30 PM (N-EK) or 6:00 PM (K-8, billed monthly) |
| Format | Delivered through outside enrichment partners; options vary by trimester |
Supporting Working Families
Berkeley Hall’s Extended Day Care (XDC) gives families flexibility beyond the standard school day. For Nursery and Early Kindergarten, XDC runs until 5:30 PM. For Kindergarten through 8th grade, XDC runs until 6:00 PM and is billed monthly based on use, giving families a supervised option without needing to arrange separate off-campus care.
For families further from the Mulholland Drive campus, Berkeley Hall also partners with Mirman School to offer bus service through Mission Transportation, with routes covering the Westside, Beverly Hills, South LA, and the Valley Village/Encino area. Combined with XDC, that means a family working downtown or on the Westside doesn’t need to build their schedule entirely around a 3:15 PM pickup.
Building a Well-Rounded Berkeley Hall Application?
Cardinal Education helps families think through how activities, athletics, and academics come together for a strong Berkeley Hall application.
What This Means for Families Considering Berkeley Hall
For families weighing Berkeley Hall against other Westside independent schools, the after-school program is worth factoring into the real logistics of enrollment. Between athletics, enrichment classes, Extended Day Care, and bus service, a family can often build a full afternoon schedule without leaving campus or arranging outside care, which matters as much for a dual-income household as any single academic metric.
So if you’re considering Berkeley Hall School, Cardinal Education’s consultants can help families navigate Berkeley Hall’s admissions process with more ease.
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