About
For more than 50 years, Fun City Youth Academy has offered Columbia youth opportunities to learn and achieve. The Summer Academy helps students retain their academic skills over summer break, with cultural and recreational activities too. The Afterschool Academy offers fun and academic activities during the school year.
Our Mission
Engage area youth and their parents in academic, cultural and recreational programs that promote academic achievement, self-respect, and social responsibility.
Statement of Inclusivity
Fun City Youth Academy is committed to creating a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive community for children and families in Columbia and Boone County. This includes teaching curriculum which supports anti-racism and social justice work. For more than 50 years, Fun City has recognized the importance of providing a safe, inclusive, and supporting environment for Black, Brown, LGBTQ+, and other minoritized communities and we will continue to pursue inclusivity.
Eligibility Requirements
Enrollment is open to students who demonstrate readiness to participate successfully in a structured group environment. To ensure a positive and supportive experience for all children, the following criteria must be met:
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Students must have a record of positive behavior in other academic or childcare settings.
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Students must be fully potty trained.
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Guardians must agree to follow all program policies and procedures.
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Failure to follow these guidelines may prevent a student from being re-enrolled into future Fun City Youth Academy programs.​
Enrollment Process
Guardians must submit a separate application for each student, each school year, and for each program (Summer Academy and Afterschool Academy). Enrollment is not guaranteed by prior participation or by submitting an application. Accepted families will be contacted directly; all others will be placed on a waiting list and notified if space becomes available.
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Summer Academy applications follow the Columbia Public Schools timeline. Families should monitor CPS communications for release dates. Enrollment is limited to 18 students per class, and grade levels may fill at different rates.
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Afterschool Academy applications open July 31 and are capped at 30 students. Pick-up schools will be determined once applications are received, based on either total enrollment or concentration of students along our van routes. Families will be notified about pick-up eligibility at least five business days before the program begins. Drop-off services may be available on a limited, needs-based basis, and prior accommodations do not guarantee future approval.
Our Programs
Fun City Afterschool Academy
Students must currently be enrolled in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade. Students enrolled in a Columbia Public Schools (CPS) preschool are also eligible for enrollment. Students must reside in and attend a school in Boone County. Afterschool Academy is located at 310 Tiger Lane on days CPS is in session. Programming starts at 2:45pm (noon on early dismissal days) and lasts until 6:30pm. Afternoon snack and an evening meal is provided daily; lunch is optional on early dismissal days. This program is offered free of charge.
Fun City Summer Academy
Students must be enrolled in grades Kindergarten through 4th grade. Students must reside in and attend school in Boone County. Enrollment into the Summer Academy also means that students are temporarily enrolled in CPS Summer Sunsations program. The program will be held at Derby Ridge Elementary in partnership with CPS from June 2nd to July 25th from 8:20am to 4:30pm (program is not in session on June 19th or July 4th). This builds on the many years that FCYA has provided a daily 8-week program over the summer break.
Contact Fun City Youth Academy
Office: 310 Tiger Lane, Suite 101, Columbia, MO 65203
Mailing Address:Â 2101 W Broadway, Suite 103, PMB 108, Columbia, MO 65203
Phone: 573-256-1436
