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Tempe, AZ

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Welcome to theCoderSchool
7650 S McClintock Dr, Ste 102,
Corner of Elliot and McClintock

(602)419-4950 • tempe@thecoderschool.com
Hey Parents! We’re so excited you’re checking out ways to get your kids coding. Learning to code builds critical thinking skills that aren’t just for future computer programmers—they’re for anyone who wants to thrive in tomorrow's AI-centric world. That’s why we’re bringing Silicon Valley’s first nationwide kids coding program right here to your neighborhood.

At theCoderSchool, we teach kids to think logically, explain their ideas, and problem-solve creatively—not just rely on AI for easy answers. Our Code Coaches help kids turn their big ideas into real tech projects, all while having a ton of fun.

Curious? Fill out the form and we’ll be in touch soon. Don’t let your child miss out on skills that could spark their future!

Book a free trial now!
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Our Philosophy

Looking for coding or AI lessons for kids in Tempe, AZ? We're here to help. We believe every kid is different, so we teach them accordingly with custom projects built to suit each student. We believe coding isn't just about building the project, but about consistent problem solving and understanding technology fundamentals, from how the internet works to what makes up Artificial Intelligence.

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 for 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 70 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 .

Why Code When There's AI?

At theCoderSchool, we love AI. It's transforming the future of software — and it's exactly why we believe every kid should learn to code, now more than ever. Read more or download our AI One-Pager to see how we think about Artificial Intelligence.
Coding and logical thinking

Coding is Logical Thinking

Coding isn't just about technology — it's a workout for critical and logical thinking. It's uniquely built around solving problem after problem to achieve a goal. This means students build skills that pay off in school, careers, and everyday life — especially in the age of AI.

Software jobs and AI

Software Jobs Will Grow

Yes, AI can code — and it's made building software faster and cheaper than ever. But faster and cheaper doesn't kill demand; it explodes it. Retail, services, food, and even tech will all need much more software and therefore many more people who can build it.

Coding as a technology foundation

The Roots of Technology

AI lets everyone build software, but the best builders will understand coding. Like a surgeon who must master biology or a pilot who must understand aerodynamics, tomorrow's technologists need deep roots before they can branch out — and those roots start with code.

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.

Upcoming Events and Programs

GAME NIGHT

Game Night at theCoderSchool Tempe! Need an evening to yourself? We’ve got you covered! Drop the kids off on Saturday, Jul 18 from 5–7 PM for an exciting night filled with games, robots, Minecraft, and more. Kids will enjoy a mix of on-screen and off-screen fun — from Minecraft and Scratch coding to Connect Four and UNO tournaments, plus hands-on time with LEGO Robots. There’s something for every interest! We’ll also have pizza, snacks, and plenty of supervised fun to keep everyone happy. Cost: $20 per child at the door or online HERE --> Bring a friend for just $5 more! It’s the perfect way for parents to enjoy a night out while kids have a blast learning, playing, and making new friends.


Our Testimonials

  • "My son absolutely loves this coding school! The coaches are fabulous!"
    Lisa A.
  • "Staff is great. They have managed to turn my son's technology obsession into a creative (instead of just observing you tube videos) outlet. Now instead of just watching videos or playing games...he is creating his games."
    Russell H.
  • "What you have brought [here] is simply amazing! Your coaches are fantastic and I couldn't ask for a better learning environment for my son to do his thing and expand his knowledge!"
    Bonnie D.
  • "I was unsure at first but every time my daughter finishes a class she is excited and happy and looks forward to it every week! Nothing better than incorporating fun with education!"
    Sabari P.
  • "My daughter has been going to The Coder School for over five years and absolutely loves it!"
    Nathan W.
  • "My son loves to go here. He looks forward to it all week. They have great communication and make sure the kids are really engaged ."
    Kaylon P.
  • "Excellent staff, reasonable prices, and most important they make it fun for kids to learn coding. My son is always excited to go back and work on his game."
    Mathew J.
  • "We love theCoderSchool! My 9 year old son started 1:1 lessons there 6 months ago (he is shy, so I thought 1:1 would be good for him to start with that). He LOVES it!"
    Allison D.

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

Each year, theCoderSchool partners with the Congressional App Challenge (CAC), a nationwide coding contest run by districts of the U.S. Congress. Some of our students have won this prestigious prize, met their U.S. Congressperson, and even flown to DC for the winners event. We also run CAC Top Apps, a program that, in partnership with CAC, awards the best submissions at the National level out of the congressional district level winners.

School Info

theCoderSchool Logo
7650 S McClintock Dr, Ste 102
Corner of Elliot and McClintock
(602)419-4950
tempe@thecoderschool.com
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 4:00 – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 4:00 – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 4:00 – 7:00 PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

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Meet Our Owner

Rob and Emily Thornock and family

Hi, I’m Emily Thornock, owner of theCoderSchool Tempe and theCoderSchool Gilbert. As a busy East Valley mom of four, I understand how precious those after-school hours are. We all want our kids to discover their passions, build confidence, and connect with peers who share their interests. For some kids, that’s sports or music — but for others, it’s gaming, technology, and the digital world. That’s where we come in.

At theCoderSchool, our mission is simple: turn screen time into learning time. We help kids explore programming in a fun, engaging way that feels more like creating games and apps with friends than sitting in a class.

Before opening our schools, I spent years working in New York at a major public relations firm supporting technology clients. That experience gave me a front-row seat to how crucial coding skills are in today’s world — from AI and cybersecurity to graphic design and app development. The need for coders isn’t going away anytime soon.

Like many parents, I saw how plugged in my kids were — laptops at school, iPads at home, YouTube, TikTok, and video games everywhere. When my 9-year-old son once told me he wanted to be a YouTuber, I knew it was time to help him reshape his relationship with technology. Learning to code gave him (and so many other kids) the tools to create technology, not just consume it.

I’m passionate about helping kids in our community unlock their potential through coding. I’m thrilled to bring this opportunity to Tempe — and I hope to see your child in one of our programs soon!

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How can coding help kids?

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

Do you teach Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Learning AI comes in many flavors, and we teach them all. In our view, learning AI is separated into:
  1. Using AI - Integrate AI models into custom code, including Scratch for our younger coders.
  2. Understanding AI - Explore how AI works under the covers structurally
  3. Refining Coding Skills - AI is all code and data, so it's important to be a proficient coder before learning even more
  4. Coding with AI - Our proficient coders can use AI extensions to help code much faster
  5. Building AI - Our most advanced coders may be able to dig into the details of how AI is built
Come in and chat with us to find out whether learning AI is right for your child.

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

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

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

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

What is the best age to start coding?

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

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

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

What are the benefits of kids learning to code?

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

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

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

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

Can a 6 year old do coding?

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

How do kids learn to code?

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

Where is the best place to learn coding for kids?

We're a little bit biased, but we think it's theCoderSchool! There's no better way to learn anything, including coding, than just doing it with a mentor to guide you. Online or in person, our Code Coaches will give you that low-ratio full attention that every kid deserves!
Read about Private+Semi-Private Coaching, Virtual Learning, Coding Classes, Robotics, Python, Scratch, or Video Game Coding
or check out our student blogs. Confused about how AI will affect coding? See why the AI future still needs coding.

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

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

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