Hopkins Public Schools previews summer programs: Freedom School expands, Camp Royal and Kids & Company scale up

Hopkins Public Schools staff detailed the district’s summer education and enrichment plans at the school board’s April 22 workshop, saying programs for children from birth through high school — plus adult enrichment offerings — are expanding and registration and contract deadlines are approaching.

The update included enrollment figures, staff plans and dates for multiple programs, and highlighted the district’s continued partnership with AmeriCorps and community organizations to deliver literacy, enrichment and childcare this summer.

Why it matters: The district’s summer programs provide academic reinforcement, credit-recovery opportunities and childcare that many families rely on. With growing enrollment in some programs and limited staffing and space, district leaders urged parents to meet registration and contract-request deadlines to secure slots and priority placement.

Mary Pirie Reid, Hopkins Public Schools superintendent, opened the presentation at the April 22 workshop and framed the work as forward-looking: “it is always exciting to look ahead at all of the summer opportunities that we make available to our students.” District staff then gave program-by-program details for families and board members.

Key program details

Royal Learning Academy (elementary focus) - Serving scholars who have just completed kindergarten through fourth grade. The presenters reported 374 enrollments, staffed by 19 teachers, two paraprofessionals and 10 AmeriCorps tutors supporting a daily literacy tutoring program. - Dates: June 16–July 25 (six weeks). The academy will offer hands-on, project-based learning and will include weekly off-campus enrichment trips. - The presenter said the AmeriCorps tutoring produced pre/post reading gains last summer in letter-sound knowledge and oral reading fluency.

High school credit recovery - Scheduled at West Middle School this summer; the district said it…