Welcome to theCoderSchool — where kids learn to code and explore the AI technologies becoming part of everyday life. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Silicon Valley, we believe every child is unique — and we mentor them that way. Through personalized guidance from experienced Code Coaches, students build strong programming foundations while learning how AI works, how to use it responsibly, and how to think critically about the technology around them. We focus on creativity, problem solving, and confidence — preparing kids not just for today’s tools, but for tomorrow’s opportunities. Learn to code. Change the world®. Visit a location page to learn more about our programs.
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Coding isn't just about technology — it's a workout for critical and logical thinking. It's uniquely built around solving problem after problem to achieve a goal. This means students build skills that pay off in school, careers, and everyday life — especially in the age of AI.
Yes, AI can code — and it's made building software faster and cheaper than ever. But faster and cheaper doesn't kill demand; it explodes it. Retail, services, food, and even tech will all need much more software and therefore many more people who can build it.
AI lets everyone build software, but the best builders will understand coding. Like a surgeon who must master biology or a pilot who must understand aerodynamics, tomorrow's technologists need deep roots before they can branch out — and those roots start with code.
As a longtime partner of the Congressional App Challenge (CAC), theCoderSchool helps encourage innovation through coding all across the country. Beginning in 2025-2026, theCoderSchool is excited to collaborate with CAC to run a new national recognition program to identify a handful of the top applications from the thousands of CAC submissions from all across the country. Find out more about CAC Top Apps presented by theCoderSchool, or find some previous district-level winners from our own schools below!
Back in 2013, Hansel happened to be trying to get his own kids to learn to code. When his oldest, Maile (10 at the time), whipped through an online learning website really fast, proud Papa asked some questions. To his surprise, Maile really didn’t learn much at all! “I just clicked through to get to the end”, she said (sound familiar, parents?!). That was the lightbulb moment when Hansel realized that software can’t teach kids – PEOPLE need to teach kids. And thus the idea behind theCoderSchool and our Code Coaches® mentoring philosophy was born. Shortly after, Wayne was brought on to focus on corporate schools and franchise support while Hansel built up the company to what it is today. Wanna know more? See Who We Are.
– Siddhartha from New Jersey
– Karin from California
– Kim from Georgia
– Bejon from Connecticut
Personalized 2:1 Code Coaching, AI education, robotics, Scratch, Python, Java, and summer camps at 70+ locations nationwide—for students ages 7–18 seeking a custom learning path with an expert Code Coach.
| Program | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Code Coaching | 7–18 | Personalized learning |
| Code Camps | 7–16 | School breaks |
| AI Fundamentals | 10+ | AI literacy |
| Robotics | 8+ | Engineering |
| Scratch | 7–10 | Beginners |
| Python | 10+ | Intermediate |
We're a coding school for kids that teaches our students using a customized curriculum in a semi-private setting. We don't believe in one-size-fits-all curriculums, and we don't believe in software programs doing the teaching. Instead, our core program pairs each student with an expert coder called a Code Coach in a 2:1 lesson to guide them on a custom journey, unique to the student. As any real developer will tell you, there's no better way to learn a new language or platform than by coding something with it. That's how we teach too – learn by doing, but with expert guidance.
We recommend about 7 or 8. In general, you want them to have developed a basic ability for logic and be able to navigate a computer before getting them started. For younger children, it's still good to give them exposure, but you can do this at home for free (try apps like Kodable, Scratch Jr., or Hopscotch).
Our coaches! Think about how you would want to learn a new skill. Would you want to take a static online course? Listen to the same lecture class as hundreds of others? Or, would you rather sit down next to an expert mentor who can guide you on your own personal journey? Setting up thousands of 2:1 lessons across the country with hundreds of coaches is a challenging process and might take a liiiittle more effort than just sitting your child in front of a computer and letting them find their own way. But in our opinion, it's all worth the quality learning experience!
Yes. Learning AI comes in many flavors at theCoderSchool: using AI models in custom code (including Scratch for younger coders), understanding how AI works under the hood, refining core coding skills before going deeper, coding with AI tools for faster development, and building AI for our most advanced students. Read more in our AI and coding article, or ask about AI during a free intro session.
80% of our student body is enrolled in our core program, Code Coaching — a weekly 2:1 hourly lesson with a Code Coach, building custom projects. We also offer Code Class for a more economical classroom-style program, Code Coaching PRO for advanced students, and coding camps throughout the year. See our camps page or find your nearest location for local schedules.
Use the city or zip search on our homepage or visit our locations page to find theCoderSchool near you. Each location has its own programs, camps, and hours. Contact your nearest school for a no-commitment free trial lesson.
