Thunkable has completed a West Virginia pilot program that taught high school students to build mobile apps with AI and no-code tools, reaching roughly 120 students across three counties who produced an estimated 80 final applications. The initiative, supported by The Rockefeller Foundation and run in collaboration with the state, targeted students in grades 9-12 in Monongalia, Kanawha, and Berkeley counties.
The program launched against a difficult backdrop. Research suggests AI could replace up to 11.7 percent of U.S. jobs, with 50 to 55 percent of workers seeing their roles reshaped. Entry-level positions are particularly exposed. West Virginia adds another layer: the state ranks among the least-connected in the nation, with roughly one-third of residents lacking internet that meets federal broadband standards.
That gap showed up in the classroom. About half of participating students said at the start they had no familiarity or very limited familiarity with AI concepts such as machine learning, prompt engineering, algorithms, and coding.
From no code to working apps
The curriculum emphasized creation over consumption. Students identified real-world problems, explored entrepreneurial ideas, and built functional mobile applications using Thunkable's visual development platform. Teachers received professional development before implementation, allowing them to bring the curriculum into classes including Entrepreneurship, Coding Game and App Design, and Informational Design and Coding.
"It was incredibly inspiring to see these students go from 'I have never written a line of code' to 'I have built an iPhone, Android, and web app that helps my community,'" said Arun Saigalat, Co-founder and CEO of Thunkable.
Standout projects included The School App, built by Spring Mills High School students to help peers with disabilities navigate schedules, track grades, and access learning resources. A Nitro High School student created GlowUp Challenge, a teen wellness app focused on daily challenges and progress tracking. Nebula CMH, a client management platform, aimed to help small businesses improve record keeping and client workflows.
Measured outcomes
The pilot produced shifts in student confidence and interest. By the end, 44 percent of students reported more interest in starting their own businesses. Students repeatedly cited building applications, creating original ideas, collaborative problem-solving, and coding with AI assistance as their favorite parts of the course.
Andrew Sweet, Vice President of Innovation at The Rockefeller Foundation, said the foundation has committed more than $33 million over five years to grantees using AI to support vulnerable communities. "This pilot shows that hands-on AI for Education can work in communities that don't always get first access to new technology - and that's where this kind of investment matters most," Sweet said.
Thunkable is now exploring opportunities to expand the program to additional states and underserved communities nationwide. The company said early lessons point to the importance of addressing device access, choosing the right tools, and giving students clear pathways into higher education or the workforce.
Why this matters for educators
This pilot offers a concrete model for schools working with limited broadband access and students who start with little AI exposure. The structure - weekly hands-on tutorials combined with entrepreneurship instruction and teacher professional development - fits into existing course formats rather than requiring a standalone AI class. For teachers exploring how to integrate AI and app-building into their classrooms, resources like an AI Learning Path for Teachers can provide a starting point for building the same kind of project-based confidence this program demonstrated.
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