CFS After School

CFS After School focuses on chess instruction, chess play, and chess tournaments. Participants also spend time creating their own club shirts and receive a chess set and board to keep.

• Ages: 5–14 years old
• Schedule: Meets twice a week after school for one hour, typically from October to March
• Price: Kids who join the program can play in chess tournaments for free, and in many cases there is no cost for families to participate.

All CFS After School clubs are led by trained coaches, who may be teachers, school staff, or community members, using a special chess curriculum that includes elements from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). The program uses chess as a tool to build community, connection, and confidence, and focuses on helping kids develop skills for a successful life through equitable and supportive programming. CFS chess clubs are available at schools and community centers across Oregon, Southwest Washington, and Hawaii, including 95 different sites in 23 school districts, serving nearly 2,500 students. CFS clubs welcome kids of all skill levels, including those who are new to chess and those who are former state champions, and offer a safe and inclusive community for students. Since 1996, Chess for Success has supported students in Title 1, Community Eligibility Provision, and rural schools throughout Oregon, Southwest Washington, and Hawaii.

A parent of a CFS participant shared that Chess for Success has built confidence in their neurodivergent child who experiences social and emotional anxieties, and that the program has given their child an outlet to show strengths in mathematical and strategic thinking.

Last updated April 5, 2026.