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Berkeley, CA

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Welcome to theCoderSchool

Berkeley, CA

1385 Shattuck Ave Suite C, Berkeley, CA 94709
Across from CVS
Map(510)679-2375berkeley@thecoderschool.com
PROUD PARTNERS OF THECongressional App Challenge
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(or go straight to our camps)

Hellloo East Bay!!  We are so excited to bring The Coder School to Berkeley! With UC Berkeley, the best public university in the country down the street, Pixar, the leader in animation innovation around the corner and Oakland, the latest stop in the Bay Area tech boom just minutes away, Berkeley is where the next generation of artists, thinkers, inventors and coders are all gathering.  

At The Coder School Berkeley, we want to do more than just teach coding. We want aspiring coders to use their new found passion as a stepping stone to thinking outside the box, as a way to channel their ideas in a creative way and most importantly, to have fun.  Interested? Book a FREE trial today and we will be in touch shortly to tell you more!

Book a free trial now!
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Watch our video on Who We Are

Who is theCoderSchool

Code Coaching®

Code Coaching® is our core philosophy, and what our school is all about!  We believe that every student is different, and that kids should learn in the way that works best for each child. How? Our Code Coaches® - they're the magic sauce!  Unlike some coding schools, we don't just leave the kids in front of a computer, expecting the software to teach them how to code. Nor do we force all kids to go through the same curriculum or projects, regardless of their skills and interests. Instead, our Code Coaches® customize their lessons for each child, and focus on a 2 on 1 mentee-mentor relationship with our kids so our students can get the focused attention they need.

Code Coaching® works for kids of all ages and skill levels, from novice to advanced. From game development to web apps, Python to Java, or even niche technologies like AI and beyond, our Coaches can help your kids achieve their goals.

Sessions run one or two hours a week (your choice), at the same time every week on a schedule that works for both you and our assigned Coach. Check out our video for more info!

Coding Lessons for Kids in Berkeley, CA

Coding takes practice, and we believe getting kids to code consistently throughout the year is the only way they'll really learn to code. theCoderSchool has a staff of hundreds of Code Coaches all around the country, so we know a thing or two about mentoring students in computer science. That's why our after-school coding classes for kids revolve around this relationship, providing a long-term mentor in a Code Coach to teach kids to code, from someone who's an expert coder themselves.

Programs at theCoderSchool

Our coding school's flagship after-school program, Code Coaching®, combines a super-small 2:1 teaching ratio with individualized curriculum so kids are able to move at their own pace, doing things that interest them most. While Code Coaching is our premium program, we also offer a more traditional Code Class for those looking for either software-driven or static-curriculum teaching in a larger ratio. And during summer and holiday breaks, we offer Coding Camps. When available, programs are offered in both in-person and virtual formats. Contact us to find out more and get a free trial today.

theCoderSchool System

We're part of a nationwide system of passionate owners in over 60 locations around the country, teaching over 6,500 students every week with the brainpower of 1000+ expert Code Coaches®. We're proud of the impact theCoderSchool has had on communities everywhere since our brand was founded way back in August of 2014. In short, we know a thing or two about teaching kids to code - so let's get to it!

What Kids Learn

We believe that every student learns in his or her own way, not only in what they want to work on, but how fast and how much. Our Coder Tree® is a visualization of our students' learning options as they grow and a sampling of some of the topics we teach. Find more details about what kids are learning by checking out our Coder Tree®.

Tracking Progress

Our suite of proprietary tools* chart weekly progress by tracking concepts and apps, and longer term progress by identifying skills to build their individual Coder Tree®. Get an idea of our progress tools by clicking through a Sample Student's Student Portal to see for yourself.

* Used by participating locations, check your location for availability

Apps We Build

Congressional App Challenge

Each year, theCoderSchool partners with the Congressional App Challenge, a nationwide coding contest run by districts of the U.S. Congress. Take a look at some recent winners, or ask about our App Gallery to see more apps!

  • Interactive mental health website
    2022 Winner - Pleasanton CA
    Interactive mental health website
  • Scheduling software for busy high schoolers
    2022 Winner - Henderson NV
    Scheduling software for busy high schoolers
  • Website+game to educate on carbon footprint
    2022 Winner - Yorba Linda CA
    Website+game to educate on carbon footprint
  • Help health care workers with code blue
    2021 Winner - Sarasota FL
    Help health care workers with code blue
  • Chat room with built-in AI
    2021 Winner - Buffalo NY
    Chat room with built-in AI
  • Gem collection game in Python
    2021 Winner - Folsom CA
    Gem collection game in Python
  • Education resource for all communities
    2021 Winner - Syosset NY
    Education resource for all communities
  • Drone/AI social distance detection
    2020 Winner - Buffalo NY
    Drone/AI social distance detection
  • Teen job/volunteer matching
    2020 Winner - St Louis MO
    Teen job/volunteer matching
  • 3D Max Game in HTML
    2020 Winner - Folsom CA
    3D Max Game in HTML
  • Note taking for online learning
    2020 Winner - Las Vegas NV
    Note taking for online learning
  • Help make food decisions for health
    2020 Winner - Buffalo, NY
    Help make food decisions for health
  • Distribute restaurant leftovers
    2020 Winner - Syosset NY
    Distribute restaurant leftovers

2023 Summer Camps

Let's get ready for summer camps! Our camps are run in our school from 9 am to 3 pm Mon-Fri (optional after care until 6 pm available for $180/week). Kids bring their own lunches and water bottles and we'll take care of the rest! Kids code throughout the week and get an awesome (included) lunch on Friday, then demo their week's creations later that afternoon.

Additionally, ALL of our 2023 Summer Camps will include a daily hour of outdoor team-building activities (Mon-Thu) led by X-Fit Training of El Cerrito. Before lunch, we'll head over to Live Oak Park for some fun, active, cooperative games. We're happy to be partnering with X-Fit to promote an active and healthy lifestyle for all our campers.

Camp registration may be cancelled up to 30 days prior to the first day of the start of camp for a full refund. Cancellations made up to 14 days prior are eligible for a 50% refund.

(Looking for more details? You can also read more about our main camps.)

Filter Camps By Month:
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Scroll table to see all 20 camps
Week Format Camp Ages Price
6/5-6/9 In Person Game Dev A We'll be using the cool drag n' drop coding language Scratch to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Content will be different from Game Dev B. Learn More Ages 7-10 Ages 7-10 $649
(Add to Wait List)
6/5-6/9 In Person WebRox Everything's about the web these days, and that's why Web Rocks! Code with all the base web technologies like HTML/CSS and Javascript, learn how the internet and file transfers work, and get your pages uploaded to our servers for public viewing! Novice or intermediate coders. Learn More Ages 9+ Ages 9+ $649
(Add to Wait List)
6/12-6/16 In Person Control Freak Controlling stuff can be serious fun! Get an introduction to micro-controllers and learn to code LED lights, sensors, buttons, motors and more! Each camper will receive a micro-controller kit that will work with any computer and will include a bunch of cool accessories. For beginners and intermediate coders alike. Ages 8-10 Ages 8-10 $749
(Add to Wait List)
6/12-6/16 In Person Python Startup We don't have a pet snake for our schools, so we'll settle for introducing you to Python, one of the most popular coding languages today. Start slowly or code fast, this camp is for our intermediate coders – no Python experience necessary! Learn More Ages 10+ Ages 10+ $649
(Add to Wait List)
6/20-6/23 In Person 4-Day Python Art Did you know Python doesn't just output text and numbers, it can make visual art too? In Python Art Camp, we'll deep-dive into the visual turtle library to make some gnarly, sometimes hypnotic designs and illustrations. In this camp, we will see how Python code can also be beautiful. For beginners and intermediate coders alike. (4 days, off Mon, 6/19/23) Ages 9+ Ages 9+ $549
(Add to Wait List)
6/20-6/23 In Person 4-Day Game Dev B We'll be using the cool drag n' drop coding language Scratch to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Content will be different from Game Dev A. Learn More (4 days, off Mon, 6/19/23) Ages 7-10 Ages 7-10 $549
(Add to Wait List)
6/26-6/30 In Person Pi Jam Jam to the coolest credit card sized gadget, the Raspberry Pi4. Explore cool stuff you can do with a tiny computer, which (depending on the instructor) may include controlling physical stuff like light sensors, Python with Minecraft or other fun stuff! Each student will receive a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B that they can keep. Intermediate coders only, please. Learn More Ages 10+ Ages 10+ $749
(Only 1 spot left!)
6/26-6/30 In Person Roblox Remix Using the Lua 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. Learn More Ages 9+ Ages 9+ $649
(Add to Wait List)
7/3-7/7 In Person 4-Day Game Dev A We'll be using the cool drag n' drop coding language Scratch to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Content will be different from Game Dev A. Learn More (4 days, off Tue, 7/4/23) Ages 7-10 Ages 7-10 $549
(Add to Wait List)
7/3-7/7 In Person 4-Day WebRox Everything's about the web these days, and that's why Web Rocks! Code with all the base web technologies like HTML/CSS and Javascript, learn how the internet and file transfers work, and get your pages uploaded to our servers for public viewing! Novice or intermediate coders. Learn More (4 days, off Tue, 7/4/23) Ages 9+ Ages 9+ $549
(Add to Wait List)
7/10-7/14 In Person Girls Are Awesome Getting girls involved in tech at an early age is needed to close the gender gap in tech so this camp if for girls only. Girls will use Scratch to build games, art and animation to explore coding in a fun, supportive & friendly environment. Aimed at newbie and novice coders. Ages 7-10 Ages 7-10 $649
(Only 3 spots left!)
7/10-7/14 In Person Mobile Madness From the day Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone in 2007, smart phones have been slowly taking over all of our worlds. Our Mobile Madness camp gets our intermediate coders introduced to the world of mobile app development by coding mobile apps loaded on an Android-based mobile phone. Each student will receive a basic Android phone that they can keep. Intermediate coders only, please. Learn More Ages 10+ Ages 10+ $749
(Only 2 spots left!)
7/17-7/21 In Person Python Startup We don't have a pet snake for our schools, so we'll settle for introducing you to Python, one of the most popular coding languages today. Start slowly or code fast, this camp is for our intermediate coders – no Python experience necessary! Learn More Ages 10+ Ages 10+ $649
(Add to Wait List)
7/17-7/21 In Person Rise of the Machines Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the hottest buzzwords today, and we're ready to help you tackle it. What is AI? Why is it taking over the world? When will the Terminator come back and take down John Connor?? We'll talk about AI use cases, dive into some fundamental algorithms and create some basic AI apps. Intermediate coders only, please. Learn More Ages 10+ Ages 10+ $649
(Add to Wait List)
7/24-7/28 In Person Game Dev B We'll be using the cool drag n' drop coding language Scratch to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Content will be different from Game Dev A. Learn More Ages 7-10 Ages 7-10 $649
(Add to Wait List)
7/24-7/28 In Person Roblox Remix Using the Lua 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. Learn More Ages 9+ Ages 9+ $649
(Add to Wait List)
7/31-8/4 In Person Python Startup We don't have a pet snake for our schools, so we'll settle for introducing you to Python, one of the most popular coding languages today. Start slowly or code fast, this camp is for our intermediate coders – no Python experience necessary! Learn More Ages 10+ Ages 10+ $649
(Add to Wait List)
7/31-8/4 In Person Java Camp Ready to take on an AP level course? Our Java camp is a little different than our other camps in that it’s focused on following a curriculum to help students get a head start on the AP Computer Science “A” course. This camp is aimed at those who are about to start AP CS A, or just want to get a head start with some curriculum-based Java learning! Learn More Ages 13+ Ages 13+ $649
8/7-8/11 In Person Game Dev A We'll be using the cool drag n' drop coding language Scratch to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Content will be different from Game Dev B. Learn More Ages 7-10 Ages 7-10 $649
(Add to Wait List)
8/7-8/11 In Person Roblox Remix Using the Lua 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. Learn More Ages 9+ Ages 9+ $649

Our Testimonials

  • "We've had a great experience at the Coder School. They have gone out of their way to be helpful."
    Megan S., 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
  • "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
  • "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
  • "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
  • "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
  • "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!
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Our Upcoming Events

Girl Scout Coding for Good Online Workshops

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

We will host a Zoom session 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 (Brownies), 8-11 (Juniors) or 11-14 (Cadette). The workshop costs $275 for up to 12 girls and includes one of the Girl Scout Coding For Good badges (can be picked up or mailed).



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


School Info

theCoderSchool Logo
1385 Shattuck Ave Suite C, Berkeley, CA 94709
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
Or Choose a Nearby Location
  • Palo Alto, CA
  • San Mateo, CA
  • Fremont, CA
  • San Ramon, CA
  • San Francisco - Richmond, CA
  • San Francisco - West Portal, CA
  • Redwood City, CA
  • Pleasanton, CA
  • Walnut Creek, CA
  • Milpitas, CA
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Our Schools

Meet Our General Manager

Lynna Tsou

My name is Lynna Tsou and I'm the general manager/co-owner of theCoderSchool Berkeley. I remember my parents giving me my first Apple IIe computer when I was 10, learning BASIC from my dad, and hating to see the words ‘syntax error’ appear on my screen. Today, I’m learning to code alongside my three kids and trying not to let them get too far ahead of me in technology. I graduated from Cal (Go Bears!) with a PhD in educational psychology and have worked for over 15 years as a school psychologist and educational consultant. As a founding family member of Yu Ming Charter School and an adjunct professor at the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI), I teach and mentor teachers throughout the Bay Area. I’m passionate about understanding children and how to best support their social-emotional and learning needs, and I feel so grateful to have this opportunity to bring coding and technology to ALL families and children in a setting that’s both educational 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!
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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!

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.

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!

    Does coding require reading?

    It definitely requires a little bit of reading and comprehension. Even coding with blocks requires some reading, albeit not as much. More importantly when kids move on to typed languages like Python or Javascript - they have to know how to type! If they can't type, coding typed languages is more than frustrating, often causing kids to quit.

    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!
  • Private+Semi-Private Coaching

    Virtual Learning

    Coding Classes

    Robotics

    Python

    Scratch

    Video Game 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 for kids? We're among 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!

    copyright 2014-2022, the Coder School San Francisco, LLC. All Rights, Alright? Don't forget our privacy policy. Find out who we are or like us on facebook.