Manchester afterschool program grows with federal grant and eSports lab

Manchester’s afterschool program for middle and high school students has entered its third year, expanding academic support, enrichment and career exploration for grades 6–12. Backed by a five-year grant from the federal 21st Century Community Learning Center program, the initiative now serves more than 30 enrolled students, with the majority coming from Manchester Middle School.

Program activities combine traditional tutoring and homework help with hands-on enrichment and new tech-focused offerings, including an eSports lab that lets students compete in national online tournaments. The blend of academic assistance and modern extracurriculars aims to boost engagement for students who have shown strong buy-in and steady attendance, according to administrators and staff.

Staff members Caroline Grooms-Lowe, David Knauff and Britnee Inman coordinate programming and work with school transportation partners so students from across the district can attend. That districtwide access is a crucial equity feature in Adams County, where rural distances and limited transit options can otherwise restrict participation in afterschool opportunities.

The grant-funded model matters locally because this program remains the county’s only 21st Century-funded afterschool center. Federal support through a five-year award provides a multi-year runway for staffing, materials and partnerships, making the program more sustainable than short-term initiatives. For families, the program supplies a supervised environment after school that supports homework completion and social development, and it frees up parents who rely on consistent child care to maintain work schedules.

Beyond immediate benefits, the program contributes to longer-term goals for the local economy and workforce. Enrichment offerings and career exploration expose students to fields such as technology and competitive gaming, where digital literacy and teamwork are emerging workplace skills. The eSports lab in particular creates a pathway for students to develop technical, strategic and communication abilities that can translate to postsecondary opportunities.

Attendance patterns and staff reports point to positive social and academic effects for participating students, though the program’s reach remains modest at just over 30 enrollees. Sustaining and scaling such efforts will depend on continued grant funding, local partnerships and transportation capacity—areas school leaders will need to address if demand grows.

Our two cents? If you have a middle or high schooler, check with Manchester schools about enrollment and bus routes; these programs can be a practical support for families and a low-cost way for students to level up academically and digitally.