Hellloo East Bay!! We’re so excited you’re checking out ways to get your kids coding. Learning to code builds critical thinking skills that aren’t just for future computer programmers—they’re for anyone who wants to thrive in tomorrow’s AI-centric world. With UC Berkeley, the best public university in the country down the street, Berkeley is where the next generation of artists, thinkers, inventors and coders are all gathering.

At The Coder School Berkeley, we teach kids to think logically, explain their ideas, and problem-solve creatively—not just rely on AI for easy answers. Our coaches help kids turn their big ideas into real tech projects, all while having a ton of fun. Interested? Book a FREE trial today and we will be in touch shortly to tell you more!

Serving Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, Oakland, Emeryville, Piedmont and other nearby areas

theCoderSchool may contact me via text

How Students Progress

Name: theCoderSchool
Address: 1385 Shattuck Ave Suite C, Berkeley, CA, 94709, US
Telephone: (510)679-2375
Price range: $$$

OUR CODER TREE

See our visualization of what kids are learning and a sampling of possibilities.

Learn About
Our Coder Tree

What's YOUR
Coder Story?

OUR CODER STORY

Find our coding roadmap that goes beyond coding custom apps to building a story for college

Camp Schedule By Week

We will be holding 1-day Coding Camps for upcoming 1-day school holidays. Our 1-day in-person camps will cost $179 per child and will run from 9 am to 3 pm each day at our sweet coding facility in North Berkeley. Have your child do something fun and productive on their day off from school. Kids bring their own lunches and water bottles and we'll take care of the rest! Register for one of our 1-Day School Holiday Camps (only $179)!

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Week	Format	Camp	Ages	Price
10/13	School Break Camp	1-Day Scratch Camp (Oct 13) We'll be using Scratch, the cool, drag n' drop block-based coding language to create some awesome games and apps! Impress family and friends with your creations! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders.Learn More Ages 7-10	Ages 7-10	$179
10/13	School Break Camp	1-Day Python Camp (Oct 13) We'll introduce kids to Python, one of the most popular coding languages today. Start slowly or code fast, this one-day camp is for coders of all skill levels – no Python experience necessary! Learn More Ages 9+	Ages 9+	$179
10/13-10/16	School Break Camp	Yu Ming Fall Break 4-Day Game Dev Camp We'll be using Scratch, the cool, drag n' drop block-based coding language to create some awesome games and apps! Impress family and friends with your creations! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Content will be different from Game Dev B. Learn More Ages 7-10	Ages 7-10	$549
10/24	School Break Camp	AIM 1-Day Scratch Camp (Oct 24) We'll be using Scratch, the cool, drag n' drop block-based coding language to create some awesome games and apps! Impress family and friends with your creations! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders.Learn More Ages 7-10	Ages 7-10	$179
11/11	School Break Camp	1-Day Scratch Camp (Nov 11) We'll be using Scratch, the cool, drag n' drop block-based coding language to create some awesome games and apps! Impress family and friends with your creations! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders.Learn More Ages 7-10	Ages 7-10	$179
11/11	School Break Camp	1-Day WebRox Camp (Nov 11) The web is foundational for so much tech these days, and that's why Web Rocks! Code with base web technologies like HTML/CSS and JavaScript, learn how the internet and file transfers work, and have your pages uploaded to servers for public viewing! Learn More Ages 9+	Ages 9+	$179

Our Upcoming Events

School Holiday Coding Camps

We will be holding 1-day Coding Camps for upcoming 1-day school holidays. Our 1-day in-person camps will cost $179 per child and will run from 9 am to 3 pm each day at our sweet coding facility in North Berkeley.

Have your child do something fun and productive on their day off from school. Kids bring their own lunches and water bottles and we'll take care of the rest!

Veterans Day (Tuesday, November 11, 2025)

1-Day Scratch Camp (Ages 7-10): We'll be using Scratch, the cool, drag n' drop block-based coding language to create some awesome games and apps! Impress family and friends with your creations!
1-Day WebRox Camp (Ages 9+): The web is foundational for so much tech these days, and that's why Web Rocks! Code with base web technologies like HTML/CSS and JavaScript, learn how the internet and file transfers work, and have your pages uploaded to servers for public viewing!

Register for one of our 1-Day School Holiday Camps (only $179)!

Fall Holiday Break Coding Camps

Are you looking for something fun and productive for your kids to do over the Fall Holiday Break?

We will be holding 3-day Fall Holiday Break Coding Camps from Monday, November 24 to Wednesday, November 26, 2024 at The Coder School Berkeley, located at 1385 Shattuck Avenue, Suite C (across the street from the CVS parking lot). Our 3-day in-person camps will cost $429 per child and will run from 9 am to 3 pm from Monday to Wednesday of Thanksgiving week. Kids bring their own lunches and water bottles and we'll take care of the rest!

Game Dev Camp (Ages 7-10): We'll be using Scratch, the cool, drag n' drop block-based coding language to create some awesome new and classic games! Impress family and friends with your creations!
Python Art Camp (Ages 9+): Did you know Python doesn't just output text and numbers, it can make visual art too? We'll deep-dive into the visual turtle library to make some gnarly, sometimes hypnotic designs and illustrations.

Sign Up Today for one of our Fall Holiday Break 3-Day Camps!

Winter Holiday Break Coding Camps

Are you looking for something fun and productive for your kids to do over the Winter Holiday Break the week of New Year's Day?

We will be holding 4-day Winter Holiday Break Coding Camps from Monday, December 29, 2025 to Friday, January 2, 2026 (no camp on Thursday, New Year's Day, January 1, 2026) at The Coder School Berkeley, located at 1385 Shattuck Avenue, Suite C (across the street from the CVS parking lot).

Our 4-day in-person camps costs $549 per child and will run from 9 am to 3 pm from Monday to Friday with a break on Thursday for New Year's Day. Kids bring their own lunches and water bottles and we'll take care of the rest!

Game Dev Camp ($549, Ages 7-10): We'll be using Scratch, the cool, drag n' drop block-based coding language to create some awesome games and apps! Impress family and friends with your creations!
Roblox Remix Camp ($549, Ages 9+): Using the Luau coding language, learn to make real games on the popular Roblox platform. Campers will use their creativity to build their own game that they can publish and allow the world to play! Designed for intermediate coders

Sign Up Today for one of our Winter Holiday Break 4-Day Camps!

FREE Hour of Code Workshops (Sun, Dec. 7)

As part of Code.org’s movement to help kids all around the world learn to code, they organize annual Hour of Code events during Computer Science Education Week, which is from December 8 through 14 this year. In support of this movement, The Coder School Berkeley is hosting two FREE In-Person Hour of Code Workshops on Sunday, 12/7/25 from 10 am to 12 pm to kick off CSED week.

Sign up for one of our two FREE In-Person Hour of Code workshops or our Online Hour of Code workshop (kids ages 7-18) led by our awesome Code Coaches. The workshops will be held at our cool coding space located at 1385 Shattuck Avenue, Suite C (across the street from the CVS parking lot). Our coaches and owners will be available to answer any questions you might have about our programs and how to keep your kids coding.

Space is limited, so please make sure to register. We hope you can make it!

Girl Scout Coding for Good Workshops

Have your Girl Scout Troop earn one of the Coding For Good badges (Coding Basics, Digital Game Design or App Development) with a coding workshop at The Coder School Berkeley!

We will host your troop at The Coder School Berkeley and our Code Coaches will introduce the girls in your troop to the world of coding using Scratch, a graphical coding language or Python, one the most popular coding languages. Additionally, our coaches will have the girls read, discuss and sign the Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge.

The Coder School Berkeley's 2-hour coding workshop for Bay Area Girl Scout Troops is designed for girls ages 6-8 (Brownie), 8-11 (Junior) or 11-14 (Cadette). The workshop costs $325 for up to 12 girls and includes one of the Girl Scout Coding For Good badges.

Have a Birthday Party at The Coder School!

Celebrate your child’s special day by taking over The Coder School!

Our amazing Code Coaches will work with the kids at your party to code a game of their own and show them some fun games to play together. Our foosball table and fun games and toys in our ultra cool Coder Lounge are available for those who want some time to be unplugged.

You can bring your own food and drinks to set up in our party room OR we can provide pizza, juice and water if you choose “The Whole Shebang” (which also gives you an extra hour of party time).

The birthday guest of honor gets a Coder School T-shirt and drawstring backpack and all guests receive coder bands and stickers. Best of all, we set up, we entertain and we clean up while the birthday child and their friends have a blast.

Party Packages

The Coolest Party Ever (6 kids) - starting at $299

2 hours of coding and gaming fun
Use of the party room for snacks, drinks and cake
Balloons, happy birthday banner and outdoor sign for the guest of honor
Paper goods and utensils provided
Coder School T-shirt and drawstring backpack for the guest of honor
Coder bands and stickers for all guests
5 guests with each additional guest $25

The Whole Shebang (6 kids) - starting at $459

Everything in The Coolest Party Ever PLUS:

1 additional hour of coding and gaming fun (3 hours total)
Pizza and juice provided for all guests (additional cost if pizza is needed for parents)
5 guests with each additional guest $30

Available Party Times: Fridays at 5 pm, Saturdays at 3 pm, Sundays at 10 am or 2 pm

Our Testimonials

"My daughter started taking group classes here, progressing to semi-private code coaching classes, and has taken two summer's worth of summer camps, with the most recent being Python Startup camp. The consistency and quality of the classes are the reasons my daughter continues to take classes here. I'm glad to have found a place where my daughter is supported in her interest of coding."
Jo C., Oakland
"We've had a great experience at the Coder School. They have gone out of their way to be helpful."
Megan S., Berkeley
"My 9 year old is not only learning a valuable skill that is useful in practically every field, but also having fun! I'm so grateful to have found a class that leaves my child wanting to go back every week. They are starting with 'Scratch', sort of a drag and drop method of coding, to help learn the basics. So far, my child has made 2 games and is always excited to share about them after the lesson."
Gillian G., Albany
"My 3rd grader did online camp during the last week (school closure with Covid-19 shelter in place). I could not be happier. The instructors did a great job of encouraging the kids to make progress on their projects. It seemed to be a supportive environment where the kids celebrated one another's projects. It was very de-isolating in this period of isolation."
Jane S., Berkeley
"My son is loving 2:1 code coaching. A great mix of fundamentals while challenging him at his level."
Patti C., Berkeley
"I love this school and my son has learned sooooooooo much! In only a month he is excited every time is going to the school and has started creating his first programs. He is so proud to show the family his projects. I highly recommend this school: the follow-up emails to parents are great!"
Daniele P., San Pablo
"I just wanted to let you know that The Coder School Spring Break camp was great. My child had a fantastic time, and I was very impressed with your ability to keep the kids engaged, give them close feedback through the use of breakout rooms, and provide balance throughout the day with breaks and encouragement to be physical."
Bill P., Berkeley
"The kids are enjoying the lesson and the follow-up emails are helpful for us so that we can discuss it with them when we all have time together."
Jocelyn S., Berkeley
"My child recently attended your Spring Break Camp and it was a smashing success! He loved it and I was so impressed by the organization, instruction, and content."
Mary B., Berkeley

Hey parents, love our school? Give us a review!

Each year, theCoderSchool partners with the Congressional App Challenge (CAC), a nationwide coding contest run by districts of the U.S. Congress. Some of our students have won this prestigious prize, met their U.S. Congressperson, and even flown to DC for the winners event.

Starting in 2025–2026, we’re leveling up with the brand new CAC Top Apps presented by theCoderSchool. These awards, created by theCoderSchool in collaboration with CAC, celebrate the top apps chosen from all the district winners nationwide. Find out who makes this even more prestigious list each April!

Let's Code!

Coding with a coach near Albany

Coding Classes near El Cerrito

Coding for kids near Oakland

Teaching Python near Emeryville

School Info

1385 Shattuck Ave Suite C
Across from CVS
(510)679-2375
berkeley@thecoderschool.com
Monday: 3:00 – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 3:00 – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 3:00 – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 3:00 – 7:00 PM
Friday: 3:00 – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

PROUD PARTNERS OF THE

Meet Our General Manager

My name is Lynna Tsou, and I'm the general manager/co-owner of theCoderSchool Berkeley. I graduated from UC Berkeley (Go Bears!) with a PhD in educational psychology and have worked for over 25 years as a school psychologist and educational consultant. I have 3 tech-savvy kids, and I'm a founding family member of Yu Ming Charter School and an adjunct professor at the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI) where I teach and mentor teachers throughout the Bay Area. I'm also proud to serve as the chair of the Berkeley Public Schools Fund board along with serving as an active volunteer in the Berkeley public schools. I’m passionate about understanding children and how to best support their social-emotional and learning needs and feel grateful to have this opportunity to bring coding and technology to all of our students in a setting that’s welcoming, stimulating, and fun.

Meet Our Code Coaches® Too!

We've got plenty of Coaches, and tons of Comp Sci experience tucked inside! Who's the best Coach for you? I guess you'll have to come on in for a free trial to find out! Roll over a pic to see if we jotted down their background!

We're always looking for great Code Coaches. Shoot us an email with resumé to see if we're a fit!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can coding help kids?

Many folks might think learning to code is so kids can actually code an app. Honestly, that's not usually the case! Coding real-life apps is tough. Despite what the media says, your kid is not writing some million dollar app by themselves in a month. Instead, coding helps kid *solve problems*. Coding is all about debugging and logically thinking through the fix. Breaking a large problem into smaller parts, logical sequencing, these are all important problem solving skills for any kid (or adult!). A second benefit is confidence and passion in technology. There's plenty of time for kids to learn the latest real tech (which changes all the time), but the time to build passion for technology (and a foundational knowledge base) is when they're young!

Do you teach Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Learning AI comes in many flavors, and we teach them all. In our view, learning AI is separated into:

Using AI - Integrate AI models into custom code, including Scratch for our younger coders.
Understanding AI - Explore how AI works under the covers structurally
Refining Coding Skills - AI is all code and data, so it's important to be a proficient coder before learning even more
Coding with AI - Our proficient coders can use AI extensions to help code much faster
Building AI - Our most advanced coders may be able to dig into the details of how AI is built

Come in and chat with us to find out whether learning AI is right for your child.

Do kids still need to code with AI on the horizon?

Emphatically YES! More than ever, AI will be the great equalizer, making everyone's skillset pretty similar. This is why instead of moving away from coding, kids should learn the critical thinking and logic skills of coding now. Using that with AI will be the powerful combination skillset that will set kids up for a successful future. Find out more reasons in an article by our CEO.

What is the best coding language to learn as a beginner?

The truth is, Scratch is amazing for a beginner at ANY AGE. If someone is truly a beginner, a platform like Scratch can allow them to create and engage much more quickly. Older kids (say 11 and up) can soon move to a language like Python or Javascript. Just remember that it takes a LOT MORE work to get Python/Javascript to do the same thing as Scratch - so the kids will need some patience. No matter what anyone tells you please DO NOT start learning with Java or C++! Those languages are too advanced to start with, and we've seen it too often - kids will give up because it's so hard! Definition of backfiring!

What is the best age to start coding?

It depends - we think the best age is the age they want to do it! Listen, there's plenty of time to *really* learn to code - there's a reason Comp Sci is a really tough college degree. The important thing in the younger years is to bring out the desire and passion to learn more - that's why at theCoderSchool we customize our projects based on the student's interests and really focus on engagement before learning.

How do I get accepted into a college computer science program?

These days, top colleges are incredibly selective. Learning to code by itself probably won't help you stand out enough. Instead, consider building a unique Coder Story. Can we help? Sure can!

What are the benefits of kids learning to code?

Children of all ages can benefit from learning coding skills, and students who get hands-on experience with computer programming go on to excel in other subjects Coding helps students gain computer proficiency and build real-world problem-solving skills. Exploring technology is essential for computer literacy. Building fundamental coding skills encourages creativity, promotes teamwork, and enhances spatial intelligence and logical thinking skills. Kids of all ages can learn computer science. For teenagers, learning how to code leads to the development of transferable skills that can be applied in future careers or workplaces. If your student is interested in data science or machine learning, a self-paced course in computer programming can help pave their path.

As you and your family consider coding programs, it helps to keep in mind:

The age of the student (we can teach kids as young as six)
Their individual interests (such as Lego, Roblox, robotics, video game design, or artificial intelligence)
Any previous hands-on experience with coding (even exposure to mobile apps or playing with Minecraft counts)
Preferred learning style (we offer both flexible and structured curricula and support self-paced learning)
Social skills (some students learn best in one-on-one lessons, while others favor teamwork)

Whether the student wants to explore Minecraft modding in Minecraft camp, is interested in HTML, or wants to learn block-based coding like CSS, our interactive classes provide a great coding experience.

Can a 6 year old do coding?

Sure! Kids this young are just developing their sense of logic. While some advanced 6 year olds are ready to dive into learning Scratch, many are better off with fun learning apps like Kodable or Scratch Jr..

How do kids learn to code?

Same way adults do! The best way to learn something is to just DO it. It's not about all the theory and fancy words, it's about just doing it over and over again. If you're a parent with a college degree, think back. How much of that theoretical curriculum did you really use in your job? Or did you really learn your job by DOING your job? It's the same with kids, we'll mentor and guide them, but most importantly, we'll get them to code something custom that they want to code!

Where is the best place to learn coding for kids?

We're a little bit biased, but we think it's theCoderSchool! There's no better way to learn anything, including coding, than just doing it with a mentor to guide you. Online or in person, our Code Coaches will give you that low-ratio full attention that every kid deserves!

Read about Private+Semi-Private Coaching, Virtual Learning, Coding Classes, Robotics, Python, Scratch, or Video Game Coding
or check out our student blogs. Confused about how AI will affect coding? See why the AI future still needs coding.

What is theCoderSchool? We are an after-school drop-off (and virtual) program for kids learning to code - a coding school! There's after-school kung fu. There's after-school music lessons, sports, art, tutoring, Chinese, you name it, it's out there. But coding classes for kids? Founded in 2013, we're the first of many, and the largest in Silicon Valley with more locations on the way around the country. The future will be ever more dependent on technology so let's get our young generation ready. Learn to Code, Change the World®.

Got a question? Email us at berkeley@thecoderschool.com!

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