8 Internships for High School Students in Atlanta, Georgia
Internships offer high school students a valuable chance to bridge the gap between academics and the professional world. By stepping into real-world settings, you can gain experience and explore potential career paths early on. These opportunities provide exposure to various industries and help build a network of professional connections that can shape your future academic and career goals.
Interning can give you a competitive edge in college applications by demonstrating your initiative, commitment, and willingness to learn outside the classroom. Whether it's exploring technology, healthcare, the arts, or business, internships can help you make informed decisions about your future.
Note: The following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Here’s a list of the top 8 internships for high school students in Atlanta:
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries from tech/deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Cost: $2490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
The Winship Summer Scholars Program allows high school students to engage in cancer research at the Winship Cancer Institute. Over six weeks, you will work with researchers in laboratory or clinical settings, gaining experience in oncology research. The program includes lectures from oncology experts and site visits to institutions like the CDC and Georgia Tech. Interns are required to commit to a full-time schedule and will present their research findings at a symposium on the final day. Participants who complete the program receive a $2,400 stipend.
Cost: Free (stipend of $2,400)
Location: Atlanta, GA
Application Deadline: February
Program Dates: June 9 – July 18
Eligibility: Open to rising or graduating high school seniors aged 17 or older by June 9.
The Teen Team Program at the High Museum of Art allows high school students to explore art, history, and culture while building civic and teamwork skills. You will gain exclusive access to the museum, assist in planning events like Teen Nights, and contribute to public programming throughout the year. The program starts with an eight-week summer intensive, where you will work on projects and engage with the museum’s collections, career opportunities in the arts, and public programs. During the school year, Teen Team members continue to support museum events for teens, youth, and families, gaining insights into museum operations.
Cost: Free (paid position)
Location: Atlanta, GA
Application Deadline: Opens in January and closes in March
Program Dates: Year-round, includes an eight-week summer intensive
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors enrolled full-time for this school year.
The Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP), established in 1993, offers Atlanta-area high school students an opportunity to explore the legal profession. The program provides paid internships in various legal settings, allowing you to perform real-world tasks while building connections with legal professionals. SLIP emphasizes mentorship to deepen your understanding of the law and foster diversity within the legal field. Over its 31-year history, the program has provided over 900 internships, with many alumni pursuing careers in law. As of the past academic year, 20 program alumni, including seven first-year students, are in law school.
Cost: Free (paid internship)
Location: Atlanta, GA
Application Deadline: Applications will open in March
Program Dates: Summer
Eligibility: Open to high school students in the Atlanta area.
The DPR Construction Build Up High School Internship offers an eight-week program for students interested in construction management. Interns work alongside a project team on a major commercial construction site, gaining experience managing multi-million-dollar projects. You will learn about technologies used in planning, scheduling, and design while exploring professional roles in construction, engineering, and architecture. You will work in the job trailer, engage in daily site operations, and complete a capstone project, which you’ll present to industry professionals for feedback. The program includes a competitive hourly wage and transportation stipends.
Cost: Free (paid internship)
Location: Various locations (in-person)
Application Deadline: April 18
Program Dates: Summer
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors, seniors, or May graduates with a family income below HUD Median Family Income (MFI). Participants must commit to the full eight weeks and commute daily to the job site.
The Georgia Power Apprentice Lineworker Internship offers a program for high school graduates interested in pursuing a career in power line construction. Interns gain experience assisting crews with tasks, using basic tools, and developing an understanding of construction standards. The program emphasizes safety, ethical behavior, and teamwork. Interns must be able to lift 50 lbs. or more. Successful participants may qualify for scholarships to pursue Electrical Lineworker Apprentice Certification (ELAC) at a TCSG campus, with potential full-time employment opportunities upon certification.
Cost: Free (paid internship)
Location: Various locations in Atlanta, GA
Application Deadline: Applications open January
Program Dates: Summer
Eligibility: Open to high school graduates or those graduating by June. Applicants must be at least 18 by September 1, hold a valid driver’s license, and pass the CAST test (study materials available on the EEI Test Prep website).
The ACLU of Georgia provides internship opportunities in legal, policy, communications, community engagement, and development fields. Interns gain valuable experience in advancing civil liberties and rights. Paid interns earn $15 per hour, while some students receive school credit. Legal interns focus on research, drafting memoranda, supporting litigation efforts, and contributing to legal pleadings. This role is suited for law students interested in public interest litigation and civil rights advocacy. Flexible schedules can be arranged with supervisors to accommodate academic commitments.
Cost: Free (paid internship)
Location: Atlanta, GA
Application Deadline: Rolling (Spring, Summer, Fall)
Program Dates: Various (Spring, Summer, Fall)
Eligibility: Open to high school, undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students. Legal interns must be enrolled in law school with strong research, writing, and communication skills.
The TAG-Ed High School Summer Internship Program connects high school students with STEM-focused companies for a five-week paid internship. You will work on specific projects under professional supervision, gaining experience and insight into STEM careers. Interns receive mentorship, collaborate with peers, and develop transferable skills while earning a $1,500 stipend. Key features include a minimum of 100 work hours, project-based assignments, and professional guidance in STEM fields.
Cost: Stipend of $1,500
Location: Various locations across Georgia, including Atlanta
Application Deadline: March
Program Dates: June 1 – July 31
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older by June 1
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
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.