The Coder School

About theCoderSchool Palo Alto

theCoderSchool is a coding school for kids and teens with a Palo Alto location at 299 South California Avenue, Suite 115. The school describes the spot as "On Birch next to Downtown Cal Ave," which puts it a short walk from the California Avenue shopping street and Caltrain station. The website writes the address as 299 California Ave #115.

The Palo Alto school is one of more than 70 theCoderSchool locations around the country. The company says it serves more than 7,000 students each week and is headquartered in Silicon Valley. Its website gives its founding year as 2014 in one place and 2013 in another. Neil Rustagi is the regional manager for the Palo Alto and San Mateo locations. The Palo Alto page also introduces several of its Code Coaches by name and specialty, such as Daryle for Python and data science and Luis for C++, Python and SQL.

Programs

• 2:1 Code Coaching. The flagship after-school program, with two students to each coach, meeting once a week.
• 1:1 Code Coaching. Private weekly sessions with a coach.
• Entry-level classes. A more traditional class format with a larger student ratio.
• @school classes. Programs run with schools. Ask the Palo Alto team for details.
• Code camps. For ages 7 to 16 during school breaks, with a ratio of around six students per coach. Themes rotate across AI, robotics, game design and more.
• Robotics. Students work with VEX IQ and LEGO SPIKE Prime, starting with block coding and moving up to Python.

What students learn

The school says it builds custom projects around each student, on the view that every kid is different. Languages and tools on the Palo Alto page include Scratch, Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML and CSS, Roblox Studio with Lua, Minecraft modding, app and web development, robotics programming and AI Fundamentals. Age guides by subject:

• Scratch: ages 7 to 10
• Roblox and robotics: from 8
• Python and AI Fundamentals: from 10
• Java: from 12

On which language to start with, the school's answer is Scratch for beginners of any age. It suggests moving to Python or JavaScript at around 11 or older and advises against starting with Java or C++. It teaches AI at several levels, from using AI tools to building AI models. It argues that the logic and problem solving of coding still matter alongside AI skills.

How to get started

The Palo Alto page invites families to book a free trial through the form on the page. You can also call 650-433-1908 or email paloalto@thecoderschool.com. Current families manage schedules through a client login. Camp schedules and program prices are posted on the school's website. Code Coaching is billed monthly.

Who it suits

The small-ratio format suits children who learn best with an adult beside them rather than in a big class. It also suits kids with a specific interest, such as building a Roblox game or modding Minecraft, since projects are shaped around the student. Teens who want to learn a language used in industry, such as Python or Java, can do that in weekly sessions. Families who only want a short burst of coding during a school break can try a camp before committing to a weekly program.

Tips for families

Ask during the trial which program fits your child's age and experience. A beginner may do best in a 2:1 session, while an older student with a specific goal, such as a robotics competition or a personal app, may want one-on-one time. Before a school break, check the camp schedule early, since camps keep a low ratio of students to coaches. Also ask about age requirements for a given camp theme.

The school is open from mid-afternoon on weekdays and through the day on Saturday, which fits after-school schedules. The California Avenue district has plenty of places for a parent to wait. Our California Avenue guide covers cafes and shops nearby. For a family outing with a tech theme, our famous tech addresses page lists Palo Alto sites tied to Silicon Valley history. Our schools guide covers the city's public and private schools.

Location and getting there

The Coder School is at 299 South California Avenue, Suite 115, Palo Alto, CA 94306, in the California Avenue area of Palo Alto. Our California Avenue guide covers what else is around.

The California Avenue Caltrain station is less than a quarter mile away, a walk of a few minutes.

Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).

Hours

Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.

What is nearby

• Bar Underdog, bar, under 0.1 mi
• Cafe Pro Bono, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
• Silicon Valley Fit, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
• Pure Barre, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
• NITO Boxing, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
• Bowden Park, 0.2 mi
• Peers Park, 0.3 mi
• College Terrace Library, 0.4 mi

Other classes, tutoring and learning nearby: AJ Tutoring (0.1 mi); Best in Class Education Center (0.2 mi); New Mozart (0.3 mi); Learnika Language and Tutoring Center (0.3 mi). Browse the full classes, tutoring and learning list.

Before you go

• Ask about trial classes, schedules and age requirements before you enroll.
• Many programs fill early for summer and fall terms. Sign up well ahead if timing matters.
• Check the refund and makeup class policy when you register.

About this listing

Checked October 29, 2026 against theCoderSchool Palo Alto page. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently asked questions