7 Coding Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student with a passion for technology, programming and coding, look no further! We have collated a list of 7 popular coding programs that can enhance your skills and help you gain valuable experience before starting college. Whether you're an aspiring programmer intrigued by app development or just eager to explore the vast domains of coding, participating in these programs in today's rapidly evolving tech landscape can not only help strengthen your CV and college SOP, but also offer research experience.
Note: Please keep in mind the following information is for 2024-2025, though dates tend to be similar year on year.
Location: Virtual
Cost:
$1,790 for the 10-week AI Scholars program
$4,900 for the 12-15 week AI Fellowship
$4,700 for both
Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply here.
Program dates: Varies according to the cohort
Application deadline: April 21 (on a rolling basis). Applications for fall cohort have closed September 3.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit past experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI a suitable environment to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. These programs are designed and run by Harvard graduate students and alumni and you can expect a great, fulfilling educational experience. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship.
The AI Fellowship program will have students pursue their independent AI research project. Students work on their individual research projects over a period of 12-15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. In the past, students have worked on research papers in the field of AI & medicine, AI & finance, AI & environmental science, AI & education, and more! You can find examples of previous projects here.
To apply, fill the online application form, answer a few questions pertaining to your background and coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest and you are good to go.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free! Needs-based grant available for eligible students in the United States.
Program Dates:
Summer Immersion Program: Two-week program
Self-Paced Program: Six weeks to complete course projects at your own pace
Application Deadline: Rolling applications.
Eligibility: Identify as girls or non-binary.
Summer Immersion Program: Current 9th - 11th graders
Self-Paced Program: Current 9th - 12th graders, including Summer Programs alums and graduating seniors
Girls Who Code focuses on providing high school students with the computer science skills they need to make an impact and prepare for their tech careers. Their free, virtual summer programs offer benefits including professional connections, financial grants, tech support and much more, with no previous computer science experience required. Participating students will also get the opportunity to invest in their future by learning about tech jobs and meeting industry leaders, all while building a supportive community of sisterhood.
During the two-week Summer Immersion Program (SIP), students will attend live, virtual classes sponsored by industry-leading companies like MetLife, Bank of America, Logitech and Synchrony, and dive into the tech world and game design, covering beginner to intermediate CS concepts, the step-by-step design process, and the basics of UX design. On the other hand, during the six-week Self-Paced Program, students will get the chance to explore web development, cyber security, data science, and AI. Participants work at their own pace to learn coding languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python, and have the opportunity to build community through live events.
Location: Virtual and In-person
Cost: Free!
Program Dates: Two-week program.
June 3 - June 14
June 17 - June 28
July 8 - July 19
July 22 - August 2
August 5 - August 16
Application Deadline: Rolling applications
Eligibility: Girls, gender nonconforming and trans students aged between 13-18.
Designed for students of traditionally underrepresented genders in the STEM fields, Kode with Klossy camps are a series of free two-week coding intensive camps that focus on teaching the students the fundamentals of coding, along with sparking a lifelong passion for STEM.
With no prior coding experience required, students can apply to one of the four custom curricula available:
Web Development, wherein students are taught what it takes to build a website;
Machine Learning, which covers the foundations of AI and machine learning with topics including algorithms, data sets, and natural language processing to train a chatbot using Python;
Data Science, where students will examine data and draw meaningful insights through the use of SQL, Python, and data visualization tools. By the end of camp, they will build a visualization of a topic they are passionate about using data; and
Mobile App, where students will learn to code in Apple’s programming language, Swift, using the framework SwiftUI. By the end of camp, they will use Xcode to create fully-functioning iOS-capable mobile apps.
Location:
Code Next Live: In-person
Code Next Connect: Virtual
Cost: Free!
Program Dates: Varies according to program type
Application Deadline: Rolling applications
Eligibility: Grades 9th - 12th. No prior coding experience required.
Google’s Code Next program is a free, computer science education program that focuses on cultivating the next generation of Black, Latinx and Indigenous tech leaders. It currently offers two programs—Code Next Live and Code Next Connect. For students who prefer in-person experiences, Code Next Live offers three labs, located in Oakland, California; Chelsea, New York; and Detroit, MI. Programming is available for 9th-12th grade students who live in the areas around these labs, and cover topics from rigorous coding and game design to entrepreneurship—all taught by real Googlers. Students will also have the opportunity to present their work to the broader Google community during their Demo Days.
The Code Next Connect program, on the other hand, is a virtual program for students across the United States and Canada. It consists of various clubs that students can apply to be a part of, where they engage in lessons with real Google employees. Club topics range from game design to hardware development. Students also get the chance to earn a $250 stipend!
Find out more details about the Code Next Program here!
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4000 (financial aid available)
Program Dates: July 8 - 26
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: Current 9th grade students
Stanford AI4ALL is a three-week online program that aims to increase diversity in the field of AI. During this program, students are immersed in AI research, through a combination of mentoring activities, lectures and hands-on research projects, wherein they focus on the societal impacts of AI and how AI can be used to address some of our world’s most pressing problems.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering
Cost: $2750 + add on fees (housing and meal plan)
Program Dates: Two-week program. June 14 - August 9
Application Deadline: April 22
Eligibility: Must be age 14+ the day program begins (minimum 15 years old for housing). Must have completed Algebra 2 or equivalent and have some programming experience.
NYU Tandon’s summer program on Machine Learning familiarizes students with computer science, data analysis, mathematical methods, and reasoning that is essential to the fields of machine learning and AI. The coursework focuses on core principles in ML such as model development through neural networks, linear regressions and cross-validation. Students will also get the chance to understand how logic and mathematics are applied both to "teach" a computer to perform specific tasks on its own and to improve continuously at doing so along the way. A strong emphasis is put on students learning the principles of engineering problem-solving, and how these techniques can be used to tackle societal challenges.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University
Cost: None
Program Dates: June 22 - July 20
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The AI Scholars program at Carnegie Mellon University is a four-week immersive in-person experience for high school students. This merit-based, fully funded program takes a deep dive into the world of AI through a combination of hands-on research projects, classroom and faculty lectures, and industry engagement with leading tech companies around the United States.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source: Veritas AI logo