Right At School vs. Cadet Care: An Honest Comparison for Parents
If you are researching before and after school care, you have probably come across Right At School. It is one of the best-known national providers, and many families use it. Cadet Care by The Recreation Academy is a regional alternative operating in St. Louis, Kansas City, Nashville, and Medford. Here is a fair, honest comparison to help you decide what fits your family and your school.
We encourage every parent to visit both providers' websites, ask questions, and compare current pricing directly. Programs and prices vary by school.
## Who they are
Right At School is a national provider that partners with schools and districts across many states. Cadet Care is run by The Recreation Academy, a youth enrichment company that also operates after school clubs, sports clinics, school break camps, and mobile field trips. Cadet Care grew out of those programs, so enrichment is built into the core of the day.
## Enrichment: included or extra?
Both providers talk about enrichment. A good question to ask any provider is whether specialty activities are included in tuition or offered as add-ons. In Cadet Care, enrichment clubs and sports clinics, such as drones, foam-tipped archery, STEM builds, and team sports, are included. Kids also choose which activities they join.
## Staffing
Staffing quality and turnover are the biggest concerns parents raise about after school care everywhere. When comparing providers, ask how staff are paid, how long they usually stay, and who leads the site. Cadet Care pays fairly, recruits people already working with youth, and prioritizes hiring teachers from the school itself to lead the site. Every staff member completes facilitation training and background checks, including FBI fingerprinting.
## Local accountability
National providers often route questions through regional or central support teams. Cadet Care sites are supported by a local Area Manager whom principals can reach directly. For many schools, having one local point of contact is a deciding factor.
## Pricing and value to the school
Ask any provider how tuition is set and whether the school receives anything in return. Cadet Care aims for fair family pricing so more families can participate, and returns a monthly revenue share to the school, currently estimated at $25 to $45 per child, per month, subject to final listed pricing. There is no cost to the school or district.
## Licensing and launch timing
State licensing for before and after school care typically takes 60 to 90 days. Cadet Care handles the full process in Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, and Oregon. Because we already run enrichment programs, we can start enrichment on-site while licensing is in progress, so families aren't left waiting.
## School breaks and days off
Ask whether a provider covers teacher work days, conference days, and winter and spring break. Cadet Care offers full-day break camps, billed separately and paid by the session, so families only pay for the coverage they need.
## Which is right for you?
If a national brand with a large footprint matters most, Right At School may be a good fit. If you want enrichment included in tuition, kids choosing their activities, local leadership, and revenue going back to your school, Cadet Care is worth a close look. Learn more at therecreationacademy.com/schoolcare.