How Togetherhood Helped P.S. 87 Rebuild and Become One of NYC's Most In-Demand After-School Programs
P.S. 87 William Sherman partners with Togetherhood to deliver dynamic, innovative after-school enrichment that families line up for, term after term.
At a glance
P.S. 87: A Community-Driven Public School on Manhattan’s Upper West Side
P.S. 87 is a highly regarded public elementary school in the heart of New York City’s Upper West Side. Known for its strong sense of community and deep commitment to student enrichment, P.S. 87 runs a robust after-school program that gives students rich learning opportunities far beyond the traditional school day.
When Afterschool Executive Director Geronimo Ruiz inherited the urgent job of rebuilding the program after its COVID-19 shutdown, he turned to Togetherhood. By the Fall of 2021, Togetherhood was delivering roughly 10 high-quality classes per week across a wide range of subjects, providing expert instructors and operational support that let P.S. 87 relaunch on time, fully staffed, and ready to teach from day one.
Today, that emergency partnership has matured into one of the most successful after-school collaborations in New York City, powering nearly a third of the program, consistently selling out classes, and generating waitlists in the dozens.
Rebuilding 40+ Classes a Week, From Scratch, in a Single Summer
In the spring of 2021, with the after-school program shuttered by the pandemic, Geronimo inherited a daunting mandate: stand up a complete lineup of more than 40 classes per week, in time for the fall semester. He needed three things simultaneously: a deep bench of high-quality instructors, dependable substitute coverage to absorb the unavoidable last-minute absences, and a constant pipeline of fresh, innovative offerings for a community that expects creativity each term.
Sourcing each of those independently would have taken years. Togetherhood delivered all three in a single partnership.
One Partner. Three Capabilities. Zero Operational Drag.
Turnkey class offerings
A curated catalog of vetted enrichment providers across subjects and grade levels, ready to deploy. Geronimo could fill an entire term’s schedule in days, not months.
Reliable substitute coverage
Togetherhood matches substitutes for both its own classes and non-Togetherhood classes, often within hours of a request, so classes always run.
A constant pipeline of new ideas
New providers and concepts every term, so families never see a stale catalog and re-enrollment stays high.
From Emergency Rebuild to the Backbone of P.S. 87’s After-School Program
30% of the entire program
Togetherhood now powers 15–20 classes per week, roughly one-third of the school’s full after-school lineup.
Sold-out classes, 30+ student waitlists
Demand consistently outpaces supply. Many Togetherhood classes fill instantly, with waitlists exceeding 30 students per session.
High re-enrollment, term after term
Parents come back, drawn by the caliber of instruction and the depth of student engagement.
Meaningful revenue contribution
Togetherhood’s most popular classes have become a core driver of the program’s financial health.
White-glove customer success
A dedicated team that turns feedback into action and keeps day-to-day operations running smoothly.
“The Togetherhood platform has been a wonderful addition to our after-school offerings. We offer a variety of their enrichment providers’ classes across various grade levels, and they have all been very well received. Their leadership team is responsive and attentive, and the teaching artists are amazing and very professional. I’d highly recommend this program.”
Geronimo Ruiz
Afterschool Executive Director, P.S. 87
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