Q & A

How old does my child need to be to enroll in <HelloWorld/> ?

  • <HelloWorld/> is meant for kids ages 11-14 (at the time of Year 1 enrollment) because we believe those are the best ages to begin learning to code.
  • We will consider accepting older teens on a case-by-case basis.
  • If you have a specific question about your child, please get in touch with us.

Who's teaching the coding classes?

  • All classes are taught by Ilya Basin. Ilya is a veteran software developer and has been running <HelloWorld/> since 2015. You can find out more about Ilya here.
  • We also have two teaching assistants (both of whom are graduates of <HelloWorld/>'s three-year computer coding program!). Get to know our TAs here.

Are there any prerequisites?

  • The only prerequisite for enrolling in Year 1 is to be excited to learn to code!
  • Prerequisites for Years 2 and 3 are (of course) completion of Years 1 and 2, respectively. (Continued excitement for coding is also a must!) If you feel that your child already has the skills taught in Years 1 or 2 and you would like to enroll them in a higher level class, please give us a call to discuss.
  • Kids must bring their own laptops to class (see laptop requirements below).
  • All development tools used in the class are free and/or open source. We will help the kids set up the needed tools on their laptops during class.

How much does <HelloWorld/> cost?

  • Our pricing model is simple: we charge per class, based on the table below. Payment for the semester is due by the first class of each semester (in October for the fall semester and in January for the spring semester). A monthly payment option is available for a small additional fee. Monthly payments are due by the first class of each month.
    Cost per 2-hr class
    (if paying by semester)     		Cost per 2-hr class
    (if paying monthly)
    Year 1 $55 $60
    Year 2 $65 $70
    Year 3 $75 $80
  • A $50 fee will be assessed for payments that are more than 7 days late.
  • Please contact us with any payment questions.

Why do you charge more for Years 2 and 3 than you do for Year 1? Don't you guys spend the same amount of time teaching the class?

Class sizes for Years 2 and 3 are typically smaller than for Year 1 because completion of Year 1 is a prerequisite for enrolling in Year 2 and completion of Year 2 is a prerequisite for enrolling in Year 3. The smaller class sizes enable us to provide more individual attention to each student as we teach more advanced topics. To continue to provide this service to our more advanced students, we need to charge slightly higher rates.

When and where do classes meet?

  • Please see our schedule here.
  • <HelloWorld/> meets at 2565 Pennington Place, Vienna, VA 22181. Please see location on map here.

Does my child need to bring his or her own laptop to class?

  • Yes, each child will need to bring a laptop to class with the following minimum specifications (we know from experience that children get frustrated and fall behind when they use a slow and/or outdated computer):
       o Windows 10 or Windows 11
       o Minimum 1.8 GHz 64-bit processor (quad-core or better recommended)
       o Minimum 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended)
       o Minimum 256GB hard-drive (SSD strongly recommended)
       o A powerful Mac laptop running a VM with Windows 10 in Parallels is an option
       o For Year 3 only: a laptop with a dedicated GPU is recommended for creating 3D games
  • All development tools used in class are free and/or open source.
  • If you are purchasing a laptop for your child and need advice, feel free to contact us.
  • We will help the kids set up all needed software on their laptops during class.

How can kids get through all the material described on your “Curriculum” tab in a part-time class?

  • We have an ambitious curriculum, but our current students have no trouble keeping up. The “secret sauce” for getting through this much advanced material relatively quickly is not to do busy work and to focus on learning what matters. We know from experience that this works.
  • Regular attendance is very important so kids don’t fall behind and can keep pace with their classmates. If a student misses class due to illness (or for another exceptional reason), the student will be asked to watch a video recording of the missed lecture. The student will also be expected to take a short oral quiz on the missed material. This is done to ensure that no one is left behind and that the class can timely complete the curriculum. As always, the instructor is available for additional help as needed.

How do I enroll my child?

  • <HelloWorld/> coding classes are held on Saturdays and run October-May of each academic year. Enrollment for the following academic year opens in late May and ends the first week of October. Enrollment is now open for Fall 2024.
  • Students are accepted into the program on a first-come, first-served basis. Class sizes are limited.
  • To enroll, please click the button below and fill out the short form. We will be in touch with all the details.
    ENROLL