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 San Francisco - West Portal, 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 over 700 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. Located near top schools like Lowell High and Clarendon Elementary, theCoderSchool San Francisco in West Portal sits on the southwest side of San Francisco in the heart of West Portal. Looking for a location north of Golden Gate Park? Be sure to check out our other San Francisco location in the Richmond District.

Programs at theCoderSchool

Code Coaching

Our core program for all levels.
Find out more here.

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. We 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.

Summer Enrichment Camps

The Coder School San Francisco's popular summer camps are all about coding, fun, and making new friends. Our campers learn how to create games, compose music, design websites, and code all kinds of projects based on their personal interest.

Online Camps 2021. This summer, we will be bringing back an exciting range of online camps allowing your technologists to code safely from home. They will learn new technologies while still interacting with other technologists. We'll build in screen-free breaks and a lot of interactivity to keep everyone engaged. These camps will use Zoom and will run from 9:30am-2:30pm with a 1 hour lunch break from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

In-Person Camps 2021. We also expect to offer a limited number of in-person camps according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health safety guidelines. These in-person camps will run from 9am-3pm Mon-Fri and will be limited to a ratio of 6 campers to one coach per camp. As usual, we will include offline breaks with active games like charades or “tech Pictionary,” outdoor lunch, and playtime with safer distanced activities like soccer. Please email Allen for more information on how to register.

We understand the need for flexibility in summer planning. All online and in-person camps are fully refundable. All online camps can be switched to in-person camps and vice versa, depending on capacity. If you need to withdraw from a camp, please let us at least 3 days before the start of your camp.

Want to receive timely updates on our re-opening situation? Subscribe to our newsletter at sf.thecoderschool.com

We're offering our discount of $100 off for all Online Camps for a limited time only. Just use the code CAMPSROCK at checkout! Sign up now!

(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 27 camps

Week	Format	Camp	Ages	Price
6/7-6/11	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	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+	~~$499~~ $399
6/14-6/18	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	Games Are Awesome We'll be using Scratch, a cool drag n' drop languages to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Learn More Ages 8+	Ages 8+	~~$499~~ $399
6/21-6/25	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	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 10+	Ages 10+	~~$499~~ $399
6/21-6/25	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	Minecraft Microsoft MakeCode Challenge your imagination and learn to program in a Minecraft world! Your technologist will learn real programming concepts while creating and completing awesome challenges. We will be using MakeCode’s drag-and-drop interface, so no typing is required! Your technologist will need a Windows operating system to participate. They also get to keep their own copy of Minecraft for Windows when camp ends so they can continue coding in their Minecraft world. Learn More Ages 8+	Ages 8+	~~$529~~ $429
6/28-7/2	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	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+	~~$499~~ $399
6/28-7/2	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	Games Are Awesome We'll be using Scratch, a cool drag n' drop languages to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Learn More Ages 8+	Ages 8+	~~$499~~ $399
7/5-7/9	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	Minecraft Microsoft MakeCode Challenge your imagination and learn to program in a Minecraft world! Your technologist will learn real programming concepts while creating and completing awesome challenges. We will be using MakeCode’s drag-and-drop interface, so no typing is required! Your technologist will need a Windows operating system to participate. They also get to keep their own copy of Minecraft for Windows when camp ends so they can continue coding in their Minecraft world. Learn More Ages 8+	Ages 8+	~~$529~~ $429
7/5-7/9	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	PICO-8 Game Development Learn to make real 8-bit games on PICO-8 using Lua coding language. PICO-8 is a fantasy console for making, sharing, and playing tiny games and other computer programs. Technologists will use their creativity to build their own 8-bit games while learning basic programming concepts. Your technologist will need either a Windows computer or a Mac to participate. They also get to keep their own copy of PICO-8 console software when camp ends so they can continue projects. This camp is designed for intermediate coders. Learn More Ages 10+	Ages 10+	~~$529~~ $429
7/12-7/16	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	Games Are Awesome We'll be using Scratch, a cool drag n' drop languages to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Learn More Ages 8+	Ages 8+	~~$499~~ $399
7/12-7/16	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	Unity Game Design This Game Design Camp is reserved for our most advanced coders. We will be using Unity, a cross platform game engine to develop games using various design techniques. Ages 13+	Ages 13+	~~$529~~ $429
7/19-7/23	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	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+	~~$499~~ $399
7/19-7/23	InPerson 9:00am-3:00pm	Python Start Up InPerson We'll be using Scratch, a cool drag n' drop languages to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Learn More Ages 10+	Ages 10+	$650
7/19-7/23	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	Minecraft Microsoft MakeCode Challenge your imagination and learn to program in a Minecraft world! Your technologist will learn real programming concepts while creating and completing awesome challenges. We will be using MakeCode’s drag-and-drop interface, so no typing is required! Your technologist will need a Windows operating system to participate. They also get to keep their own copy of Minecraft for Windows when camp ends so they can continue coding in their Minecraft world. Learn More Ages 8+	Ages 8+	~~$529~~ $429
7/26-7/30	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	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 10+	Ages 10+	~~$499~~ $399
7/26-7/30	InPerson 9:00am-3:00pm	Python Startup InPerson 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+	$650
7/26-7/30	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	Games Are Awesome We'll be using Scratch, a cool drag n' drop languages to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Learn More Ages 8+	Ages 8+	~~$499~~ $399
8/2-8/6	InPerson 9:00am-3:00pm	Games Are Awesome InPerson We'll be using Scratch, a cool drag n' drop languages to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Learn More Ages 8+	Ages 8+	$650
8/2-8/6	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	AP Computer Science Prep Want to get a head start on JAVA for AP Computer Science? We've got you covered! Learn the essentials of JAVA and get enough practice to be ready to feel more confident in the class and upcoming AP test! Learn More Ages 13+	Ages 13+	~~$529~~ $429
8/2-8/6	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	Minecraft Microsoft MakeCode Challenge your imagination and learn to program in a Minecraft world! Your technologist will learn real programming concepts while creating and completing awesome challenges. We will be using MakeCode’s drag-and-drop interface, so no typing is required! Your technologist will need a Windows operating system to participate. They also get to keep their own copy of Minecraft for Windows when camp ends so they can continue coding in their Minecraft world. Learn More Ages 8+	Ages 8+	~~$529~~ $429
8/9-8/13	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	PICO-8 Game Development Learn to make real 8-bit games on PICO-8 using Lua coding language. PICO-8 is a fantasy console for making, sharing, and playing tiny games and other computer programs. Technologists will use their creativity to build their own 8-bit games while learning basic programming concepts. Your technologist will need either a Windows computer or a Mac to participate. They also get to keep their own copy of PICO-8 console software when camp ends so they can continue projects. This camp is designed for intermediate coders. Learn More Ages 10+	Ages 10+	~~$529~~ $429
8/9-8/13	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	Minecraft Microsoft MakeCode Challenge your imagination and learn to program in a Minecraft world! Your technologist will learn real programming concepts while creating and completing awesome challenges. We will be using MakeCode’s drag-and-drop interface, so no typing is required! Your technologist will need a Windows operating system to participate. They also get to keep their own copy of Minecraft for Windows when camp ends so they can continue coding in their Minecraft world. Learn More Ages 8+	Ages 8+	~~$529~~ $429
8/9-8/13	InPerson 9:00am-3:00pm	WebRox InPerson 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 10+	Ages 10+	$650
8/16-8/20	InPerson 9:00am-3:00pm	Game Are Awesome InPerson We'll be using Scratch, a cool drag n' drop languages to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Learn More Ages 8+	Ages 8+	$650 (1 spot left!)
8/16-8/20	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	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+	~~$499~~ $399
8/16-8/20	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	Games Are Awesome We'll be using Scratch, a cool drag n' drop languages to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Learn More Ages 8+	Ages 8+	~~$499~~ $399
8/23-8/27	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	Minecraft Microsoft MakeCode Challenge your imagination and learn to program in a Minecraft world! Your technologist will learn real programming concepts while creating and completing awesome challenges. We will be using MakeCode’s drag-and-drop interface, so no typing is required! Your technologist will need a Windows operating system to participate. They also get to keep their own copy of Minecraft for Windows when camp ends so they can continue coding in their Minecraft world. Learn More Ages 8+	Ages 8+	~~$529~~ $429
8/23-8/27	Online 9:30am-2:30pm	Unity Game Design This Game Design Camp is reserved for our most advanced coders. We will be using Unity, a cross platform game engine to develop games using various design techniques. Ages 13+	Ages 13+	~~$529~~ $429

Our Testimonials

"The coaches at The Coder School have captured the attention and focus of each of my 3 kids, even though none of my kids are naturally drawn to coding. Doesn't matter what day, or what coach, or what kid - The Coder School hires great coaches and does an excellent job matching students to teachers, so that every child loves their time there. The flexible curriculum has really allowed our kids to explore what interests them, and cover more languages than they would be exposed to if bound my a more prescribed curriculum. The manager, Allen, is always super responsive and easy to communicate with for any scheduling needs. Top notch customer service."
Laura S, San Francisco
"The Coder school is a great place to learn to code. Kids learn at their own pace but are always encouraged to push their boundaries and learn more. The 2 kids to 1 instructor sessions means that kids really get time to explore with a lot of hands on guidance. Coding is my son's favorite after school activity!"
Helene K, San Francisco
"Since my son plays so many games and uses so many apps, I figured it makes sense for him to learn the building blocks of how those digital products are made. While, at times, he has felt overwhelmed, I think he has finally found his comfort zone. In a nutshell, The Coder School ensures that your child will learn as much as they want, but more importantly provides a sense of community for kids of all ages, interest levels and skillsets."
Art D, San Francisco
"Our 10-year-old son Kyle has been attending coaching sessions at The Coder School for over two years. He has really loved working with Allen and the team in West Portal, and he has learned so much. We also appreciate how accommodating and flexible Allen and the rest of the crew is. Thanks so much for supporting and coaching Kyle. This kiddo loves coding!"
Amy S, San Francisco
"You've taught me logic as way of thinking and being patient. You're complicated and intricate especially Python 3. However I love making you work and I love all the challenges that you throw at me. If you think about where everything is going, coding is the future in terms of AI and everyday technology."
Bradley C, San Francisco
"My 8-year-old son just finished a week of camp there, and I think he'd move in if he could! He had a great experience there, and seems to have a learned a lot. The staff was excellent - they really seemed to connect with kids, and were enthusiastic about introducing coding concepts to them. They were always available to answer questions and talk a bit about what my son had worked on during the day. We'll definitely be back next summer, or may check out their after school programs this fall."
Michelle S, San Francisco
"My 5th and 7th graders having been coming to the Coder School for over a year. Both of them like their teachers, Jacky and Caroline, so much that I'm making the trip here twice a week so that they can each stay with their respective teacher. The low student teacher ratio allows the teacher to really understand their level and teach at their pace. They've learned Python, HTML, amongst other languages, to create games and websites that they're proud to show me after class. Bonus, the manager, Allen, is awesome and super easy to communicate with. Highly recommend!"
Jen J, San Francisco
"My son has been taking lessons at the coder school for several years. He's become proficient in a variety of coding languages and concepts, and is now creating full image games in Unity and system tools in Python. The coaches he has had over several years have all been incredibly supportive, but also challenging in a good way. And of course its all about that he has fun and is getting challenged appropriately. But there's also the parent side of things too. Allen and his team are incredibly patient with adjusting to the ever changing after school schedule and ensuring that my son has the right coach for the right time in his learning. When he was younger, getting coaches who were energetic and supportive in lighter languages was the most important thing. As a high schooler now, its more important that the coaches become more heavyweight both in terms of the concepts being taught, but also in expectations. The team at coder school have been excellent in putting in the right resources at the right time, and working right with our schedule. Couldn't recommend the coder school more!"
Jay M, San Francisco
"My son loves the coder school - their camps and their after school classes - the teachers and the owners are awesome. We will be long time clients."
Kate L, San Francisco
"Kids (and adults!) play way too many video games nowadays. We were happy when we saw that The Coder School had opened up in West Portal. We were thinking about attending another program on the other side of the City. We wanted our kid to spend some time on the other side building these things, and he was definitely interested in trying. We've been happy with the place. Allen is always welcoming, and makes you and your kid feel at home. My kid has been working with Carolyn, who knows her stuff and gets along well with my kid. As a self-confessed (sometimes!) helicopter parent, I am usually there when my kid has class trying to get some work done. I can hear other lessons going on, and can tell that the coaches are knowledgeable, and able to work well with the kids. We have never taken group lessons, so my experience is with the private / semi-private lessons. We recommend them."
Jamie F, San Francisco
"Owners, manager Allen, and instructors (Max) in SF West Portal are involved and very encouraging to our two boys. Both loved summer camps and weekly group instruction tailored to their interests and abilities."
Jeff L, San Francisco

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

Our Upcoming Events

FREE Online Coding Workshops

All workshops start at 6pm and end at 7pm. Please select registration links below for age recommendations and descriptions. New workshop themes are being introduced. If you have an idea for a new workshop theme, please let us know!

SOLD OUT!!

Online Coding Programs

These are unprecedented times. We hope that you and your kids are adjusting the new school year. Distance learning has become a new norm for us all. We know that schools, parents, and educators at all levels are doing their best to make things work.

At The Coder School San Francisco, we are grateful that our students are thriving with our shift to Remote Code Coaching. They are practicing math, logic, and analytical thinking, while designing fun games from the safety and comfort of their own homes. We remain committed to our students' education and will adapt whether online, in-person (when permitted), or a hybrid approach. We'll be flexible depending on what works best for you.

Keep calm and Code on.

NOW HIRING!

Do you enjoy teaching and watching kids' eyes light up? Are you a decent competent coder? Our social and immersive method is a great way to get our next generation ready while being able to have fun with technology yourself. Apply today!

Please send an email with your resume to Allen

Congrats to our amazing coaches

for winning several awards in the inaugural Repl.it Game Jam Game Design Contest.

Best Individual Game: CryptoStory: Isekai, Action Adventure game using Phaser CE by Coach Jason Huang

Best Team Game: Zanderian Prince Simulator 2020 by Coaches Jacky Chen, Dakota Madden-Fong, Nicolas Graves, Michael Tran

Be sure to read Repl.it’s Developer Spotlight interview with Nico, Dakota, Michael, and Jackie! "We're a small group of co-workers at the Coder School San Francisco, we're instructors and teach programming to kids and use repl.it all the time for lessons and instruction with students.”

Learn more about games that our coaches built below:

Community Services

We were pleased to kick off 2019 by co-hosting a conversation with parents and kids on electronic gaming at SFPD's Taraval Station community room. We talked about balancing gaming time with other activities and setting clear rules and expectations for kids. We also discussed how coding and game design can be potential careers for kids who love games and want to engage that passion. This is a hot topic that we enjoyed talking about! If you are interested in having us host a similar discussion with your school or parent community, please email lee@thecoderschool.com.

Toys help kids dive into augmented reality

The Coder School San Francisco was featured on the ABC7 6pm Evening News. 7 On Your Side Michael Finney finds out if Augmented Reality could really educate our children in the Toys Help Kids dive into Augmented Reality news segment.

Check out on ABC7 News web site here

Thank You 2018 MIT Artificial Intelligence Conference - Kids Day!

We had a great time at the 2018 MIT Artificial Intelligence Conference - Kids Day! This event brought conference attendees and SF Bay area families together for a day of hands-on, experiential learning in the AI field. We hope that you had as much fun as we did!

Shout out to The Coder School San Mateo, The Coder School Berkeley, The Coder School Fremont who all joined us for the day!

See you next year.

FREE Girl Power Workshops

The Coder School San Francisco is excited to offer a free Girl Power Workshop in April! Students will get an intro to coding from our fabulous female coaches and learn about women like Ada Lovelace and Grace Hopper who were amazing pioneers in computer science.

When: Saturday, Jun 2, 2pm-3:30pm
Where: the Coder School San Francisco, 231 West Portal Ave
- Intro to Scratch (Ages 7-11)
- Intro to Web Design (Ages 12-14)
- FREE. Space is limited.

Sign up a by emailing allen@thecoderschool.com with child's name, child's age and grade, parent's name, and preferred phone number.

Check out a column about the Coder School San Francisco written by columnist Joel Engardio from the SF Examiner here

Meet Our Owner and GM

Hi there! My name is Allen and I’m the Owner and General Manager of the Coder School San Francisco. I am excited to bring the Coder School to the San Francisco bay area when I was born and raised. My Bachelor’s degree is in Finance and I am a proud alum of San Francisco State University. I remember my first experience with a computer: arguing with my older brother over who could play the original Starcraft game first. It took a week to finally get a chance to play, but I was instantly obsessed with gaming, computers, and technology. Making technology more accessible to children is the biggest reason why we’re opening the Coder School San Francisco. I can’t wait to meet all of you and to help shape the future of your little technologist.

And the Other Owner!

Hi all! My name is Lee Hsu. I’m a co-owner at the Coder School San Francisco. As an EdTech consultant and teacher, I’ve designed technology curricula and taught computer skills, digital citizenship, and coding to over 1,000 students in San Francisco schools. I've seen firsthand through my work and teaching that high-quality coding instruction is critical for jobs of the future. And, I know from my time studying at the University of Texas and at Stanford University that education must keep pace with modern trends to prepare kids to be future technologists, creative professionals, and leaders in every industry. We have a wonderful team here at the Coder School San Francisco. I look forward to being part of your child's learning and coding journey.

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!

Ready to be a Code Coach?

Are you passionate about working with kids? Good with coding languages like Python, Javascript, Java or similar? Willing to learn the amazing world of drag 'n drop languages like Scratch? Then you might be a great fit for us! At theCoderSchool, our coaches are our product. It's your experience with coding, and more importantly your mentorship through teaching that drives our program. Ready to see what the buzz is all about? Fill out our short form below and let's go!

We're always looking for great Code Coaches. Find out more about how to apply today.

San Francisco - West Portal, CA

San Francisco - West Portal, CA

Watch our video on Who We Are

Code Coaching®

Coding Lessons for Kids in San Francisco - West Portal, CA

Programs at theCoderSchool

Code Coaching

What Kids Learn

Find Out What
Kids Learn

Tracking Progress

See Sample
Student Portal

Apps We Build

Summer Enrichment Camps

Our Testimonials

Our Upcoming Events

FREE Online Coding Workshops

Online Coding Programs

NOW HIRING!

Congrats to our amazing coaches

Community Services

Toys help kids dive into augmented reality

Thank You 2018 MIT Artificial Intelligence Conference - Kids Day!

FREE Girl Power Workshops

Contact Us

Our Schools

Meet Our Owner and GM

And the Other Owner!

Meet Our Code Coaches® Too!

Ready to be a Code Coach?

San Francisco - West Portal, CA

San Francisco - West Portal, CA

Watch our video on Who We Are

Code Coaching®

Coding Lessons for Kids in San Francisco - West Portal, CA

Programs at theCoderSchool

Code Coaching

What Kids Learn

Find Out WhatKids Learn

Tracking Progress

See SampleStudent Portal

Apps We Build

Summer Enrichment Camps

Our Testimonials

Our Upcoming Events

FREE Online Coding Workshops

Online Coding Programs

NOW HIRING!

Congrats to our amazing coaches

Community Services

Toys help kids dive into augmented reality

Thank You 2018 MIT Artificial Intelligence Conference - Kids Day!

FREE Girl Power Workshops

Contact Us

Our Schools

Meet Our Owner and GM

And the Other Owner!

Meet Our Code Coaches® Too!

Ready to be a Code Coach?

Find Out What
Kids Learn

See Sample
Student Portal