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 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. 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. 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 55 locations around the country, teaching over 6,000 students every week with the brainpower of 800+ expert Code Coaches®. We're proud of the impact theCoderSchool has had on communities everywhere since our brand was founded 7 and a half years ago, 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!

Our Testimonials

"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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 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
"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
"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 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

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

Our Upcoming Events

In-Person Summer Coding Camp

Priority Summer Camp enrollment for active members available now! To access, log in directly with your Pike13 account, then select the Summer Coding Camps tab to list all the available camps. Please use SUMMER23 coupon code during checkout to receive an early registration discount for $100 OFF. General enrollment will be available on January 30, 2023 on our website.

Code Class Series

Scratch Game Design Code Class Series

This beginner group class teaches coding through game design and fun-filled projects on MIT's popular "Scratch" platform. Scratch uses drag 'n drop blocks that allow students to assemble code quickly and create as far as their imagination takes them. In addition to learning computer science fundamentals like loops, coordinates, and variables, students apply and develop core math skills including coordinate geometry, negative numbers, angles, and boolean logics.

Ages: 8-10 years old.
Class Structure: One hour per week.
Location: San Francisco West Portal, 231 West Portal Ave

Junior Code Class Series

We designed a junior code class for our youngest technologists. This code class will mainly focus on keyboarding skills and basic computer science fundamentals using drag 'n drop logical concepts. Your younger technologist will stay engaged with interactive online tools and entertained through games and stories. Space in the Junior Code Classes are limited, so reserve your spot today!

Ages: 5-7 years old.
Class Structure: One hour per week.
Location: San Francisco West Portal, 231 West Portal Ave

Please send an email to Allen to sign up.

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

Meet Coach Nic!

Coach Nic fondly remembers his dad bringing home a “Frankenstein PC” with Windows 97 and then playing a Toy Story 3D game on his dad’s lap. Not only was this fun for Nic, it got him interested in technology and learning about the integration of art and music into video games. And so began his technology journey into coding.

Coach Nic particularly enjoyed his computer science classes at SF State that emphasized building from the ground up. Nic’s Java classes where they built the compiler first, then the games from scratch were some of his favorites. One of Coach Nic’s favorite things about his coding journey is the empowerment of solo creation and community he found with like-minded developers and creative artists. He recalls learning about independent developers like Lucas Pope who made Papers, Please all by himself. Another favorite, Stardew Valley, was also created by a solo developer who did all the art, programming, and music. They inspired him in how they created so many interesting experiences, all on their own. In Coach Nic’s words, "Something else I really like about programming is it’s an avenue to create this nexus for all of my interests to meet and mingle - cool thing about games that they’re multifaceted. For someone like me who’s tangentially interested in different things, it’s a nice way to bring everything together in one package."

Meet Coach Nic! 2

Music is a passion for Coach Nic. He laughs about how he has a “bunch of pianos” in his room and speaks glowingly about the fellow musicians he enjoys playing with. “I really like jazz and I play a lot of music and make games, too. And play them too.” Coach Nic has especially enjoyed the community he’s found through coding, gaming, and music. He's been working on a rhythm game for a couple of months with a team of 4 friends who have particular skills and interests – 3D modeling, design, concept art. Stay tuned for what emerges. Think of how fun it could be to play a hip hop rhythm game kind of like Guitar Hero!

Exemplifying the best of us, Coach Nic has further found joy in sharing his knowledge and creating community for the next generation. He talks enthusiastically about how teaching keeps him learning, and how learning makes it even more fun to teach. “I realized the value of having a community of people around you if you’re interested in something, and how important and impactful that can be. So I’ve always really loved sharing things I know with other people and learning from them as well.” For Coach Nic, it’s fun to be able to tap into that beginner’s mindset where everything is new and fun. "The excitement rubs off on you -- fun to share my enthusiasm and have some of those older fires reignited."

Creative coding is at the heart of our teaching approach at The Coder School San Francisco, and Coach Nic is the epitome of what we’re all about. We are so fortunate to have Coach Nic as part of our team. He is one of our Coaching rockstars responsible for guiding and mentoring the next generation of creative coders. We look forward to many more years of working with Coach Nic!

Meet Coach Ivy!

At the Coder School San Francisco, we love teaching coding. We also love celebrating our students, coaches, and staff who are such an important part of our community.

Coach Ivy is both a student and Code Coach. Ivy joined us for our first summer camp in 2017 after finishing 6th grade at Denman. She took all of Allen’s whiteboards to organize and plan her text based adventure game. (Allen laughs when remembering how he looked everywhere for the missing whiteboards.)

“That game was one of the first projects that really stuck with me – didn’t feel like an assignment, more like a piece of art.” -- Coach Ivy

After summer camp, Ivy joined our Code Coaching program as a student. Her first teacher was Coach Natalie, who taught her the importance of collaboration. While Ivy was at first a bit nervous about our pairs approach, where we have two students with one Code Coach, she became good friends with her pairs partner Ethan. Ivy and Ethan are still friends, which is part of what makes us happy about our community – having more students get to know others with similar interests and stay in touch. She also credits Natalie and Ethan for teaching her about the joys of teamwork, mentorship, and of course, readable code.

Ivy joined us as a summer camp counselor for 2017 and part of 2018. With all her experience as a student and enthusiasm and leadership as a counselor, we were thrilled that Ivy joined us as a teacher last fall after shadowing Coach Jason over the summer.

Coach Ivy enjoys teaching Scratch in particular and has observed that among the benefits of learning coding as a kid, beyond active coding itself, is that you learn to do math and you learn to spell. Fundamentals in a fun way.

Coach Ivy is now a junior in high school who leads her robotics club. She still enjoys learning advanced coding while teaching the next generation how to code text adventures.

Meet Coach Ivy! (continue)

What’s next for Coach Ivy?
“I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea that making video games is a viable career. In my heart, it seems like too much of a pipe dream.

I definitely think I’m going to keep coding forever. It’s one of the best outlets for me to be creative. Even if I’m not in a field using it professionally, I will still make stuff for me for fun regardless of whether there are financial benefits.”

Our hunch is that Coach Ivy will realize her dream and do many great things in addition to her teaching and creating. We’ll be behind her all the way!

“I think people should see code as more of an art than they do.” -- Coach Ivy

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

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.

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!

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®

theCoderSchool System

What Kids Learn

Find Out What
Kids Learn

Tracking Progress

See Sample
Student Portal

Apps We Build

Coding Camps

Our Testimonials

Our Upcoming Events

In-Person Summer Coding Camp

Code Class Series

NOW HIRING!

Meet Coach Nic!

Meet Coach Nic! 2

Meet Coach Ivy!

Meet Coach Ivy! (continue)

Congrats to our amazing coaches

Community Services

Toys help kids dive into augmented reality

School Info

Our Schools

Meet Our Owner and GM

And the Other Owner!

Meet Our Code Coaches® Too!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can coding help kids?

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

What is the best age to start coding?

Can a 6 year old do coding?

How do kids learn to code?

Does coding require reading?

Where is the best place to learn coding for kids?

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®

theCoderSchool System

What Kids Learn

Find Out WhatKids Learn

Tracking Progress

See SampleStudent Portal

Apps We Build

Coding Camps

Our Testimonials

Our Upcoming Events

In-Person Summer Coding Camp

Code Class Series

NOW HIRING!

Meet Coach Nic!

Meet Coach Nic! 2

Meet Coach Ivy!

Meet Coach Ivy! (continue)

Congrats to our amazing coaches

Community Services

Toys help kids dive into augmented reality

School Info

Our Schools

Meet Our Owner and GM

And the Other Owner!

Meet Our Code Coaches® Too!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can coding help kids?

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

What is the best age to start coding?

Can a 6 year old do coding?

How do kids learn to code?

Does coding require reading?

Where is the best place to learn coding for kids?

Find Out What
Kids Learn

See Sample
Student Portal