10 Computer Science Programs for High School Students in Houston, Texas
If you are a high school student interested in coding, software development, or artificial intelligence, a structured computer science program can help you build skills beyond what typical school courses offer. These programs often introduce you to programming languages, algorithms, data structures, robotics, and machine learning while giving you the chance to work on technical projects and collaborative problem-solving tasks. You may also learn from instructors, researchers, or industry professionals and connect with peers who share your interest in technology.
Why should you attend a program in Houston, Texas?
Houston has a range of universities, research centers, and STEM organizations that offer computer science programs for high school students. Depending on the program, you might build applications, explore robotics systems, analyze data, or study the foundations of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Whether you are a local or out-of-city student, these programs provide structured opportunities to strengthen your technical foundation and explore computer science in greater depth.
To help you get started, we have narrowed down our list to 10 computer science programs for high school students in Houston, Texas.
If you’re looking for online STEM programs, check out our blog here.
1. Mohan Lab Summer Internship (MLSI)
Location: Mohan Lab, Houston, TX
Stipend: No stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 8 - July 31
Application Deadline: March 26
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with strong academic records and an interest in data science, AI, or computer science
The Mohan Lab Summer Internship (MLSI) is a competitive, in-person research program designed for high-achieving rising high school seniors interested in biomedical and computational sciences. You'll have an initial training period focused on laboratory safety and foundational techniques, followed by eight weeks of hands-on bench research under the mentorship of scientists or graduate students. Your research areas include big data analytics, including AI- and image-based analysis, giving you experience at the intersection of biology and computation. You’ll gain exposure to research workflows, experimental design, and data interpretation within an active research laboratory. At the conclusion of the program, you’ll present your findings through a formal oral presentation, and some projects may contribute to ongoing research publications. You may continue working with the lab beyond the summer on data analysis and manuscript preparation.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students looking to get started in AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and have the opportunity to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students have the opportunity to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Rice ELITE Tech Camp
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $3,899 for Residential; $1,799 for Commuter
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Multiple 1-week sessions in June - July
Application Deadline: No information available
Eligibility: High school students
Rice ELITE Tech Camp is a computer science program for high school students in Houston, Texas, that blends advanced technology learning with real-world problem solving. You spend the week diving into a focused technical track, such as AI and machine learning, robotics, data science, IoT, C++, and 3D printing, while learning how engineers approach complex challenges. Each day combines structured instruction with group activities, giving you plenty of opportunities to apply concepts rather than just learn them in theory. Beyond technical training, the program emphasizes communication, teamwork, and project management to help you grow into a future tech leader. By the end of the week, you'll walk away with sharp technical skills, exposure to college-level engineering, and a clear picture of what studying engineering in college can look like.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - Computer Science Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort and course
Eligibility: High school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Computational Biomedicine Lab Summer Internship
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: No information available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Six to twelve weeks between June and September
Application Deadline: Students can apply via email
Eligibility: Highly motivated secondary/high school students with coding experience (Python or similar)
The Computational Biomedicine Lab Summer Internship at the University of Houston offers you an opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and biomedicine. You’ll work alongside graduate students and researchers on real-world projects that use advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning to address significant societal and healthcare challenges. You'll gain experience formulating research questions, designing experiments, and writing and testing computational code to evaluate hypotheses. The program emphasizes independent thinking, analytical problem-solving, and the use of advanced research tools. Overall, you'll develop a deeper understanding of how machine learning models and computational methods are applied in multidisciplinary biomedical research environments.
6. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: In-person, hybrid, or remote; (In-person locations: Fairfax Campus, Science & Technology Campus, Potomac Science Centre)
Cost: $1,299; application fee $25; full tuition and fee waivers available for demonstrated financial need
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 18 - August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students (minimum age 15; 16+ for wet-lab research)
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) is a competitive, full-time summer research experience that pairs you one-on-one with faculty researchers at George Mason University. You’ll conduct original, cutting-edge research across a wide range of STEM disciplines, including computer science, data science, machine learning, cybersecurity, engineering, biology, and interdisciplinary fields. You’ll gain hands-on experience using advanced research tools and technologies while developing skills in scientific writing, data analysis, and research communication. The program culminates in a formal poster presentation and, in some cases, offers opportunities for publication and conference presentations. ASSIP awards three transferable college credits through the course COS 120: Introduction to Research, graded on a university transcript, giving you both research experience and academic recognition.
7. Cyber Operations - (BWSI)
Location: Virtually hosted by Beaver Works Summer Institute
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 7 - August 3
Application Deadline: Application for the summer program is due March 31 (Prerequisite online registration opens February 1; Teacher recommendations are due April 3)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (rising seniors) residing in the United States; students must complete the online prerequisite course to be eligible for the summer session
Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) Cyber Operations Program introduces high school students to the mechanics of cyber operations. The program begins with foundational concepts in computer architecture and progresses to advanced topics such as cryptography, networking, reverse engineering, side-channel attacks, and human factors in security. Hands-on exercises are integrated throughout the program, allowing you to work across both traditional and nontraditional computing environments, including industrial control systems, satellites, cloud computing, and IoT infrastructure. The program requires prior familiarity with Python, Linux, and core computer science concepts. During the final week, you’ll complete a comprehensive capstone project that integrates the skills you've learned and the tools you've developed throughout the course.
8. Girls who code pathways
Location: Virtual; Optional in-person Industry Immersion Days are available for students in select cities
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 29 - August 14 (7-week flexible program)
Application Deadline: Early Application: February 25; General Application: April 10
Eligibility: High school girls and non-binary students
The Girls Who Code is a free, flexible program that lets you explore computer science while connecting your interests to real-world tech careers. Instead of a fixed class schedule, you work through hands-on projects at your own pace in areas such as game design, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and web development. As you build projects, you join a lively virtual community on Discord, where participants share their progress, collaborate on ideas, build friendships, and support each other. The program also offers optional career panels, workshops, and events with corporate partners, giving you exposure to professionals working in emerging tech fields. By the end of the Pathways track, you’ll have a portfolio of practical projects, strong problem-solving skills, and a clear sense of how tech can fit into your future.
9. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual (global); select in-person locations to be announced
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: 2-week sessions during the summer; specific dates are announced in the spring
Application Deadline: Not yet announced; Interest list currently open
Eligibility: Young women and gender-expansive teens aged 13 - 18; no prior coding experience required
Kode With Klossy’s flagship summer camps are fast-paced, two-week coding intensives built for high school students who want to explore tech in a welcoming, beginner-friendly environment. You’ll choose one focused track, whether web development, machine learning, mobile app development, or data science, and spend your days building real projects using industry tools and languages such as HTML/CSS/JavaScript, Python, Swift, SQL, and Xcode. No prior coding experience is required, so the program meets you where you are and helps you grow quickly. Beyond the technical skills, the camps emphasize collaboration, creativity, and confidence as you learn alongside a supportive cohort, share ideas, and solve challenges together. By the end of the two weeks, you’ll leave with a completed project and a strong connection to Kode With Klossy’s global alumni community.
10. HarvardX: CS50's Introduction to Computer Science
Location: Virtual (Hosted via edX)
Cost: Free to audit; an optional paid fee for a verified certificate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: February 1 - June 30 (Self-paced)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all learners, including high school students; no prior programming experience or specific grade level required
Rather than starting with heavy theory, the CS50 Introduction to Computer Science Program pushes you straight into thinking like a computer scientist, breaking down problems and figuring out how to solve them step by step. From the start, you focus on logical reasoning, algorithmic thinking, and structured problem solving. As the course progresses, you move through multiple programming languages, exploring everything from low-level C concepts to higher-level work in Python, SQL, and web development. Weekly problem sets let you apply what you’ve learned to real-world scenarios, making the learning process practical and engaging. You'll also join a massive global learning community, which adds motivation and perspective as you progress. The course wraps up with a final project of your own design, giving you a tangible portfolio piece to showcase and a strong foundation for future computer science classes or independent technical projects.