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Irvine, CA

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Welcome to theCoderSchool
14200 Culver Dr #200,
Heritage Plaza Shopping Center, above Jax Bicycle Center

(949)655-0388 • irvine@thecoderschool.com

Year-Round Coding Classes for Kids (ages 7-18) available either IN-PERSON at our school or REMOTELY over the Internet.

The #1 after-school coding program in Silicon Valley is now in Irvine. Whether your coder is brand new to Scratch or already building distributed Python programs, we can help him/her get to the next level. Unlike other programs, our coaches are trained to tailor the lessons to your kid’s interests. This unique approach fosters a lifelong passion for technology. Our program will equip your student with critical skills (logic, breaking complex problems into manageable chunks, working with others towards an end goal and problem-solving techniques).

We can even help with High School AP Computer Science courses and Adult Learners.

The best way to learn about our programs is to attend a FREE Sample Lesson, either IN-PERSON or REMOTELY. You can see our facility, meet our staff, get your questions answered, and see if your student likes our teaching methods. Use the blue form to the right to register for the Sample Lesson, without any cost or obligation.

Our private or semi-private lessons are available: Mondays through Fridays from 2:30pm to 7:30pm, or Saturdays from 9:00am to 4:00pm. The group classes are only available at specific days and times.

Looking for something in South Orange County? Check out our location in Mission Viejo.

Book a free trial now!
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Our Philosophy

Looking for coding lessons for kids in Irvine, CA? We're here to help. We believe every kid is different, so we teach them accordingly. Our expert coders teach our students in a super-small two to one ratio, allowing our Code Coaches to personalize projects built to suit each student. Kids are able to move at their own pace and engage in things that interest them most.

Our Programs

Our coding school's flagship after-school program, Code Coaching, combines a super-small 2:1 teaching ratio with individualized curriculum. Although Code Coaching works from novice to advanced coders, we also offer entry-level classes for those looking for a more traditional class in a larger ratio, as well as @school classes and our ever popular coding camps.

Our System

We're part of a nationwide system of over 65 locations around the country, teaching over 7,000 students every week with the brainpower of 1000+ expert Code Coaches®. Headquartered and founded in Silicon Valley since 2014, we're proud of the impact theCoderSchool has had on communities everywhere. Find out more about Who We Are in our brand video .

How Students Progress

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

Our Coding Camps

From AI to bots, web development to games, we got it all. Our camps stick to a low ratio of around 6:1 and are taught by our expert Code Coaches.

Our Upcoming Events

EXPERIENCE THE CODER SCHOOL AT YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL!

Our @School program offers our introductory Code Class at your school campus to provide more coding opportunities for students who can't make it to our in-house Code Class at our facility in Irvine.

These classes vary in duration, based on the specific school. Unless otherwise specified, all classes use "Scratch", which is a graphical drag-and-drop programming environment that was developed by MIT. We use that tool to teach the basic fundamentals of all computer programming languages. This includes functions, looping, conditional processing, variables, Cartesian coordinates and basic arithmetic operations, without needing to worry about the detailed syntax of a typed programming language.

For older students, we can prepare a multi-week course that teaches the "Python" coding language.

Please contact us at (949) 655-0388 or irvine@thecoderschool.com to learn how to establish an on-site coding program at your school.

Click on the green button below for your specific school to register your student.



SOLD OUT!!

Now Hiring Code Coaches

Do you enjoy teaching? Do you love working with kids? Are you a creative Coder or Game Developer? Our social and immersive method is a great way to get our next generation ready while being able to have fun with technology yourself.

theCoderSchool Irvine is hiring personable, fun-loving solid coders who are good with kids for year-round IN-PERSON positions. We can offer you flexible, part-time hours to fit any schedule. If you want to give back to the community, earn some pocket-money and enjoy your work, apply today! Extra bonus points if you are familiar with coding in MineCraft, Roblox or LUA.

Interested? Send your resume and cover letter to: irvine@thecoderschool.com

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOPS FOR GIRL SCOUTS

Have your Troop earn their "Coding For Good" Badges by attending an IN-PERSON Computer Technology Workshop at our school.

Our 90-minute coding workshops are designed to help Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes or Seniors earn each of the new "CODING FOR GOOD" badges. Each workshop can accommodate up to 16 girls, at a very affordable cost of only $25 per girl.

Our Code Coaches® will introduce the girls in your troop to the world of coding using a variety of on-line tools, such as Scratch, a graphical, drag-and-drop coding language that was developed by MIT (for younger girls) or Python and HTML (for older girls). Additionally, we will have the girls read, discuss and sign the Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge.

The workshop price also includes an iron-on Coder School "FUN PATCH" for each girl who participates.

Contact our school office for pricing information and schedule availability for this unique educational opportunity for your troop.

Our Testimonials

  • "My daughter who is in 7th grade really enjoys her experience at The Coder School. She is building some advanced games that work on desktop and mobile devices. The staff is very friendly and supportive and her teacher has a great attitude and technical skills. It's sort of like an after school camp so it's fun for her to go. Since there are only two students per teacher, she can make a lot of progress quickly."
    Steven N., Irvine, CA
  • "My kids are learning a lot from their coding lessons at the Coder School, and they look forward to going every week. We really appreciate how supportive and professional the entire staff is to work with. They make it so easy to do business with them."
    Sandra A., Newport Coast, CA
  • "We love having Bryce as Ken's coach. He is knowledgeable and we appreciate his patience and keeping Ken focused."
    Marion W., Tustin, CA
  • "My 13yo son and 11yo daughter have been taking coding classes with the Irvine Coder School for the last 4 years. They have had a variety of instructors, and they have all been very good. Each instructor has different styles and strengths, but all have been able to teach my kids different coding languages starting with Scratch and now HTML, CSS, SQL, and Python. Even after 4 years, they look forward to their weekly lessons, and we love that in addition to learning code, they are also learning to develop their skills to organize their thoughts and build in steps and logical order. I know that their coding lessons are really effective because my son was able to help his 30-year old Aunt with her Python homework!"
    Marian W., Tustin, CA
  • "Our experience with The Coder School has been amazing. My son has received one to one instruction for the past few months with Coach Daniel and Coach Justin and has gained a wealth of knowledge. They have been patient and kind, finding varying approaches if the first one didn't work for him. They even send a message after each session, outlining what my son learned that day. Mark, the manager, has bent over backwards to make sure our experience was a good one. If your child has an affinity or interest in coding, this is the place to be."
    Tori R., Newport Beach, CA
  • "My daughter loves your program and instructors. She can't wait for her next lesson."
    Sarah C., Irvine, CA
  • "The Coder School has been an amazing experience for my son. He started in November 2017 and in a few short months he has learned to code his own games through Python and Unity. As a 15 year old, he has taken many classes in his life, but this is the first time he has ever told me that he wished he could stay longer.. he has even taken it upon himself to work on projects at home! The coaching is one coach per two students and all of the coaches are great. Management does a wonderful job of pairing the student with the appropriate coach.. taking skill level, interests and personality into consideration. Most of the coaches are students at UCI and have an extensive knowledge of coding and are great about working together to further increase their skills. I also love that his coach sends an email after each session to summarize their focus and progress. The Coder School also offers week-long camps during the summer. I've seen both girls and boys of all ages taking classes... coding is an essential skill that can be used in nearly every profession, so I feel like I am giving my son a gift he will carry for the rest of his life. We are fortunate to have The Coder School in Irvine!"
    Marti K., Laguna Niguel, CA
  • "My son thoroughly enjoys his time spent at this school. The type of instruction they provide to students is very personal (only 1 or 2 students per teacher) and teaching is very instructive and encouraging. In the beginning, the school offered my son multiple teachers to choose one to see which teacher he would be most conformable learning under. After each class, the teacher provides feedback to me on my son's performance and what he is learning. In addition to that, class scheduling is very flexible and built for parents to have a stress-free experience when choosing classes for their children. It is easy to make up for missed classes and your children will always be in an age-appropriate class with other students their own age. Overall, I would say that my son has thoroughly enjoyed his learning experience with The Coder School; definitely a 5-Star rating!"
    Bonnie C., Irvine, CA
  • "My son has been going to theCoderSchool since Sept 2018, and all I can say is that out of all the activities I've ever enrolled him in (countless number), this is absolutely his favorite class and he looks forward to every class every week. The staff was extremely supportive when there was a scuffle in class and they handled it like Rockstars!!! They handle everything like Rockstars!!!! We like them all so, so much."
    Massiel B., Irvine, CA
  • "My daughter has been attending The Coder School for about a year. The coaches are either Comp Sci majors (in college) or people that do this for a living. I was a computer scientist for 20+ years and know how the process of code development should be done. This is a good environment that encourages learning and taking chances with your code. Kids come away excited, yes excited ! not like the typical classes they (are often forced by parents to) go to. Lesson plans are well developed and the coaches for the most part have excellent communications skills. Note that this is not an IPSF class. It is MUCH BETTER than the IPSF classes."
    Steve H., Irvine, CA
  • "My 11 year old son has been taking coding classes and camps at the Coder School since it opened in 2017. The staff are very knowledgeable, professional and great with the kids! My son has learned different coding languages and software. It is a safe, small learning environment."
    Anahita D., Irvine, CA
  • "I really enjoy that it isn't a giant classroom with only one instructor and that you get better training with coding. I also like the way the coaches teach because it makes it fun and a better way to learn instead of them boring you to death. And also that if they see an error, they don't just fix it for you. Instead, they give you a few hints on how to fix it yourself."
    Irvine Student, Irvine, CA

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Apps We Build

Each year, theCoderSchool partners with the Congressional App Challenge, 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. Take a look at some recent CAC winners from theCoderSchool, or browse through our Live App Gallery to see custom apps our students are building!

School Info

theCoderSchool Logo
14200 Culver Dr #200
Heritage Plaza Shopping Center, above Jax Bicycle Center
(949)655-0388
irvine@thecoderschool.com
Monday: 2:30 – 7:30 PM
Tuesday: 2:30 – 7:30 PM
Wednesday: 2:30 – 7:30 PM
Thursday: 2:30 – 7:30 PM
Friday: 2:30 – 7:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

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Meet Our General Manager

Mark Freedkin

Hello everyone! My name is Mark Freedkin and I am the General Manager of the Coder School Irvine. I started coding BASIC and FORTRAN in high school in the 1970's (yes, I had to keypunch my own cards). After earning a Bachelors in Industrial Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Illinois, I have worked as a Technical Program Manager for nearly 40 years at small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.

Since 1991, I have lived in Irvine where my daughter went through the Irvine Unified School District. I really enjoy working with young students and watching them get excited about technology. Learning to code helps young students develop logical thought processes and problem solving skills, which can help them in all other academic areas. I wish something like theCoderSchool was available when my daughter was younger and I'm excited to share this with our community!

If you have any questions, please contact me at mark@thecoderschool.com.

Meet Our District Manager

Dede Leonard

Hi! I’m Dede Leonard and I’m the District Manager of Tri-Valley CS with schools in Pleasanton, Irvine, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Mission Viejo and now South Bay! As a homeschooler and avid equestrian, I enjoyed advocating for passion driven opportunities for youth to realize their potential and explore their interests.

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.

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 general blog or our student blogs

    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 irvine@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.