CFS After School
Chess for Success, 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #271, #271, Portland, OR 97206
About
CFS After School focuses on chess instruction and play, including time for students to learn and practice chess. The program also includes chess tournaments and gives students a chance to create their own club shirts. Students get a chess set and board to keep.
• Ages: 5–13 years old
• Schedule: Chess clubs meet twice a week after school for one hour, typically from October to March, for a total of about two hours each week.
• 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 clubs are led by trained coaches, who may be teachers, school staff, or community members, and who use 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 support for students in Title 1, Community Eligibility Provision, and rural schools, and serve nearly 2,500 students in 95 schools in 23 school districts in these areas. Research cited by the program states that when kids play chess regularly, they get better at thinking, solving problems, and paying attention, and in a 2006 study, CFS students performed better than the state average in both math and reading test scores, with 91.7% of CFS students meeting or exceeding standards in reading compared to 86.7% in the state, and 93% meeting or exceeding standards in math compared to 88.3% in the state.
The program offers 25 regional tournaments, one state tournament, and other tournaments every year, all free for program students to compete in. CFS clubs offer a safe and inclusive community for students, and students help create their own club shirts as part of the program. Chess for Success has operated from 1996 to 2026.
“Chess for Success has built such a confidence in my son who is neurodivergent, dealing with social and emotional anxieties. It has provided an outlet for him to shine, an activity which is quiet and not a sensory overstimulation. He is able to show his strengths and skills of thinking mathematically and strategically. I couldn't be more proud of him. Chess for Success has really allowed him to thrive.” - CFS Participant Parent
Last updated July 4, 2026.
• Ages: 5–13 years old
• Schedule: Chess clubs meet twice a week after school for one hour, typically from October to March, for a total of about two hours each week.
• 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 clubs are led by trained coaches, who may be teachers, school staff, or community members, and who use 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 support for students in Title 1, Community Eligibility Provision, and rural schools, and serve nearly 2,500 students in 95 schools in 23 school districts in these areas. Research cited by the program states that when kids play chess regularly, they get better at thinking, solving problems, and paying attention, and in a 2006 study, CFS students performed better than the state average in both math and reading test scores, with 91.7% of CFS students meeting or exceeding standards in reading compared to 86.7% in the state, and 93% meeting or exceeding standards in math compared to 88.3% in the state.
The program offers 25 regional tournaments, one state tournament, and other tournaments every year, all free for program students to compete in. CFS clubs offer a safe and inclusive community for students, and students help create their own club shirts as part of the program. Chess for Success has operated from 1996 to 2026.
“Chess for Success has built such a confidence in my son who is neurodivergent, dealing with social and emotional anxieties. It has provided an outlet for him to shine, an activity which is quiet and not a sensory overstimulation. He is able to show his strengths and skills of thinking mathematically and strategically. I couldn't be more proud of him. Chess for Success has really allowed him to thrive.” - CFS Participant Parent
Last updated July 4, 2026.
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