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Give Your Child Confidence and Safety in the Water

Emler’s structured swim program helps children build water safety skills step by step, guided by experienced instructors from infancy through age 6+.

Find a class at your nearest Emler location and book directly. Or start with a free trial lesson.

Find a Swim School Near You

Explore swim programs, pricing, and lesson options at your nearest Emler location.

Location

47 people booked a lesson today

50+

Years Teaching Children to Swim Safely

Structured Levels, Infant to Independent

4:1

Student-to-Instructor Ratio. More Eyes on Your Child

1M+

Lessons Taught Across All Locations

"He's made tons of progress: now kicking his feet and holding his breath under water for 5 seconds."

Jessica M.,

Parent (Child Age 9 Months)

Every Parent Worries About Water Safety. You're Not Just Looking for Swim Lessons.

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1–4, and formal swim lessons can reduce that risk by up to 88%. This isn’t just about swim lessons. It’s about finding a place you trust, where your child is taught with structure, consistency, intention and love.

For over 50 years, Emler has helped children learn to swim through a structured, milestone-based approach. Our SwimSure™ curriculum, experienced instructors, and small class sizes are designed to build water safety skills step by step, so progress is clear and consistent.

A Clear Path: From First Splash to Swimming Independently

Every child starts at the level that’s right for them and progresses through our SwimSure™ curriculum, built around clear, measurable milestones. You’ll always know what your child is working on and what comes next.

(2–35 months)

Starting Early

Bathtime Babies + Toddler (Levels 1A–2)

Independent movement, kicking, and beginning arm coordination.

3 years

Learning Independence

Preschool (Levels 3–5)

Floating, going underwater, and learning to turn and reach the wall independently.

4+ years

Building Skills

Kids (Levels 6–9)

Independent movement, kicking, and beginning arm coordination.

5+ years

Confident Swimming

Advanced (Levels 10–11 + Swim Team Prep)

Floating, going underwater, and learning to turn and reach the wall independently.

Placement is based on age
and skill to ensure each swimmer is in the right class.

Explore a Swim School Near You

Learn more about pricing, swim levels, class times, and other programs at your nearest Emler location.

Location

47 people booked a lesson today

More Attention Per Child

With just 4 children per instructor, your child gets the individual coaching they need to actually progress, not just show up and splash around.

Flexible Pricing,
Real Value

Sibling discounts, multi-class savings, and 12 free makeup lessons per year all included. Billed monthly, no lock-in.

Heated Pools,
Year-Round

All Emler pools are heated to 90°F, warm enough that your child stays comfortable, focused, and happy to keep coming back every week.

Life Happens.
We Work With You

Flexible scheduling, 12 free makeup lessons per year, and sibling discounts built in. Keeping your child in the water shouldn't be a scheduling puzzle.

More Attention
Per Child

With just 4 children per instructor, your child gets the individual coaching they need to actually progress, not just show up and splash around.

Flexible Pricing,
Real Value

Sibling discounts, multi-class savings, and 12 free makeup lessons per year all included. Billed monthly, no lock-in.

Heated Pools,
Year-Round

All Emler pools are heated to 90°F, warm enough that your child stays comfortable, focused, and happy to keep coming back every week.

Life Happens.
We Work With You

Flexible scheduling, 12 free makeup lessons per year, and sibling discounts built in. Keeping your child in the water shouldn’t be a scheduling puzzle.

What Emler Parents Are Saying

13,381 parents trust Emler

"We have tried several swim schools over the years, and Emler is by far the best experience we’ve had. The instructors are the perfect balance of fun and educational. My daughter absolutely loves going to class and leaves every lesson with a huge smile on her face. We’ve seen so much growth in her confidence and ability in the water."

Christopher Drew

Parent

Location

"Best decision ever! Our little one LOVES swim school! We started when she was one year old and have been continuing for almost a year. Patient, fun instructors and a nurturing environment. Our toddler gained confidence and skills in the water and always looks forward to class."

Royston Crasto

Parent, child started age 1

Location

"The transformation has been incredible. Both girls have made incredible progress and are getting so confident in the water. We just got back from vacation and our 4.5 year old met a 6 year old girl. Thanks to Emler she could keep up and they became best friends. That made our whole family very happy."

Eric Peterson

Parent, two daughters

Location

"Emler is a fantastic program! My daughter started at two months old and is now eight years old and preparing to join swim team. She loves it!"

Jamie Messinger

Parent, child age 2 months to 8 years

Location

"My son just turned 4 and he can fully, independently swim by himself. He’s been taking classes at Emler since he was 1. The teachers are lovely and always come with positive energy. I’m so impressed with his skills at every class."

Kaily Reid

Parent, child age 1 to 4

Location

"The instructors are genuinely great at what they do and make the classes fun and productive. The pool is consistently clean and well-maintained, which gives us a lot of peace of mind. You can tell they really care about the kids and families who come in."

Mukund Multani

Parent

Location

"My daughter had zero experience and in 3 weeks she was swimming on her own. Coach Brynn did an amazing job. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly — all around a great group of people."

Joseph Bonila

Parent

Location

"My daughters have been in classes for 3+ years each and we’ve seen so much improvement. We’ve tried others like Nitro and private lessons but Emler has been their favorite."

Aaron Komo

Parent, children ages 3 and 5

Location

"After spending years at another swim school, we left with my son still unable to swim. Within two weeks here, he could move through the water independently. I’m definitely happy with the skills my kiddo has picked up."

Paige

Parent

Location

"My son could roll on to his back pretty quickly. He loved it and we did Emler from a baby till he was 4 or 5. He had zero trauma from it."

Jennifer W.

Parent, Child started age 6 months

Location

"He's made tons of progress: now kicking his feet and holding his breath under water for 5 seconds. Emler has been great."

Amanda M.

Parent, Child started age 9 months

Location

"My kid learned super fast and is a little fish now! They can be a bit expensive but they have a monthly pay option which helps."

Karen R.

Parent, Child started age 3

Location

You're Trusting Us With Your Child. Here's How We Earn That.

Every Emler instructor is trained in the SwimSure™ curriculum and certified before they step into the water with your child. We hold them to a standard, and we stand behind it.

Try It Before You Commit.
One Full Lesson, On Us.

See the class, meet the instructor, watch your child in the water before you spend a dollar. If it’s not the right fit, you owe us nothing.

Find the Right Level for Your Child

Answer a few quick questions and we’ll recommend the best starting level for your child based on their age and experience.

Your information is safe with us. No spam.

Trusted by Families for 50 Years. Backed by Results You Can Measure.

From Jan Emler’s single backyard pool to a nationwide network of 35+ schools, the mission has never changed: make every child feel safe, confident, and loved in the water.

100M+

Lessons Taught Since 1975

15,000+

Five-Star Parent Reviews

30+

Hours of Instructor Training Before First Class

35+

Locations Nationwide

What makes Emler different?

Every child learns Jump-Turn-Swim and Roll-to-Backfloat — two survival techniques taught consistently across all 11 levels. These aren’t optional extras. They’re built into every class from day one.

Instructors complete 30+ hours of training covering child development, safety protocols, and real in-water scenarios before they ever teach a class. Continued coaching keeps standards consistent across every location.

We don’t rely on floaties or puddle jumpers. SwimSure™ teaches true independence and water confidence from the very first lesson — real skills that last, not temporary props.

Olympic medalist Amanda Beard trusts our schools. Every class also begins with a safety promise — a simple routine that builds water awareness and personal responsibility in a way kids understand.

Confidence Starts Here.

From first water introductions to advanced stroke development, our proven curriculum helps children build confidence, safety skills, and lifelong comfort in the water.

50+ years of proven swim instruction
Small class sizes with caring and trained instructors
11 structured levels with clear progress
Warm 90° indoor pools year-round
Flexible scheduling with free makeups
Free trial lesson available for new families

Find an Emler Swim School Near You

View swim levels, class times, and pricing at your nearest location.

Location

47 people booked a lesson today

Billed monthly

Small class sizes

Warm 90° pools

12 makeups/year

50+ years of proven swim instruction
Small class sizes with caring and trained instructors
11 structured levels with clear progress
Warm 90° indoor pools year-round
Flexible scheduling with free makeups
Free trial lesson available for new families

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is your curriculum better?

Our curriculum is built on SwimSure™, the gold standard in learn-to-swim education. With over 100 million lessons taught, 400 years of combined teaching expertise, and over 15,000 five-star parent reviews, families can feel confident in our proven, step-by-step approach. Each level builds confidence and essential skills through goal-driven progressions, while managers and instructors closely monitor every swimmer’s milestones.

What is a Team Manager?

Team Managers oversee lessons, answer questions, and track progress. They help ensure consistent instruction and support communication with parents, so you always have someone to talk to about your child’s development.

How warm is your pool?

Pools are kept between 88 and 92°F year-round, the ideal temperature for comfort and learning. Warm water helps children relax, focus, and enjoy their lessons without the distraction of being cold.

What makes your school unique?

Proven curriculum, warm water year-round, small class sizes, advanced safety systems, and highly trained, friendly staff. Emler has been teaching children to swim safely since 1975, with the same mission Jan Emler started with in a single backyard pool.

How long have you been in business?

Some of our schools have served families for decades, while others opened more recently. Each location has deep local roots and experienced staff, and all operate under the same SwimSure™ curriculum and standards.

What are the benefits of swimming year-round?

Year-round lessons prevent skill regression, build lasting confidence, and ensure children stay water-safe at all times, not just in summer. Children who swim consistently progress through levels faster and retain their skills for life.

47 people booked a lesson today

Give Your Child Confidence and Safety in the Water

Every Parent Worries About Water Safety. You're Not Just Looking for Swim Lessons.