15 Data Science Programs for High School Students in NYC

If you are interested in informatics, data visualization and analysis, computer science, and AI, a data science program can be a great option to explore while in high school. 

Data science programs go beyond traditional classroom learning to help you gain experience in the field. As a participant, you will work with real datasets, contribute to ongoing projects, and learn directly from researchers, developers, and industry professionals. You will also gain exposure to essential tools like Python, R, and machine learning frameworks. These programs can also offer opportunities to learn from professors and experts and collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds. 

New York City is home to various universities and organizations offering high schoolers opportunities. A local program can be an accessible and affordable way to explore your interests in data science if you are an in-city student. Programs often let you analyze data in fields such as healthcare, finance, and social science. You can learn from experts in the field and meet like-minded peers to work on projects with and start building your network. 

To help you get started, we have come up with a list of 15 data science programs for high school students.

1. American Museum of Natural History’s Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP): Data science/Machine learning track 

Location: American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), Manhattan, NY + remote sessions

Stipend: $2,500

Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: August – June (year-long program)

Application deadline: Typically, December; applications open in October

Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 who live and attend school in New York City; completion of algebra and at least one science class is required 

SRMP offers year-long opportunities to high schoolers interested in exploring research under the guidance of American Museum of Natural History scientists. SRMP: Machine is a relatively new track within the American Museum of Natural History’s Science Research Mentoring Program that allows you to explore the role of machine learning and data science in research. During the program, you will work on a project, gain insights into how data science and ML tools are used in real scientific research, and complete mini-projects to develop your programming skills. Throughout the academic year, you will work with museum scientists and refine communication, presentation, and scientific writing skills.

2. Veritas AI: AI Scholars & AI Fellowship

Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; financial aid offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective

Dates: Multiple sessions scheduled throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort; program cohorts run all year
Eligibility: High school students; for the AI Fellowship program, you need to have been an AI Scholars participant or have some experience working with Python.

Veritas AI offers multiple learning opportunities focused on artificial intelligence exploration. These programs have been developed and executed by Harvard graduate students and alumni. If applying to the beginner-friendly AI Scholars program, you will get to work with Ph.D. students from top institutions and learn about the applications of AI. Here, you will also learn how to work with Python and explore core machine learning, AI, and data science concepts. You can also opt for the AI Fellowship program, which offers mentorship to help you develop your own project. You can check out past projects here.​​

3. New York University’s ARISE Program

Location: New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $1,000
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are full-time NYC residents attending NYC schools in the upcoming school year

ARISE is a 10-week program designed to offer high school students research training, college prep guidance, and lab work opportunities in the summer. The program starts by teaching you important research skills, like scientific writing and lab safety. Then, for six weeks, you will work in an NYU lab on real projects, gaining about 120 hours of research experience. You can indicate your preference for a data science-based placement. In the assigned lab, you may gain experience working with algorithms, models, and real datasets in areas like computational neuroscience, network science, tech, or bioinformatics. You will also get help with college applications and an opportunity to showcase your research at a public symposium at the American Museum of Natural History.

4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Data Science Track

Location: Remote 
Cost: Varies by program; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate: Selective

Dates: Varies by cohort—summer, fall, winter, or spring; options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a selective research opportunity to work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to design and complete an independent research project. Over 12 weeks (or longer, depending on the format you choose), you will learn how to conduct a literature review, design methodologies, and write a formal research paper. You will work closely with your mentor as well as a writing coach during the program. You can choose from various research areas, including data science, AI, and computer science. By the end, you will have produced an original paper that you can present at conferences or competitions. 

5. NASA Internships

Location: Virtual or NASA centers nationwide
Stipend: Paid + unpaid opportunities available; amount varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Opportunities available in spring, summer, and fall
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 at the time of application, have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and are U.S. citizens

NASA’s internships allow you to work alongside scientists and engineers tackling assignments in aeronautics, technology, and space exploration. While tasks can vary by role, you may contribute to technology assessment or research that involves developing software tools, analyzing datasets from satellites, or modeling complex systems. You will also gain experience in collaboration, communication, research, and problem-solving skills in a professional environment. Additionally, the internship can help you learn about career pathways at NASA.

6. CREST HIRES Summer Internship Program

Location: CUNY CREST Institute at the City College of New York (CCNY), New York, NY

Stipend: $1,000 + three college credits

Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~25–35 students
Dates: 7 weeks; late June – mid-August 

Application deadline: Varies

Eligibility: NYC public high school students who are enrolled in (or have completed) Algebra 1 and 2 with a minimum average of B and/or pre-calculus; applicants must also meet other academic prerequisites

The HIRES program offers high schoolers training in remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS), which are key tools for studying environmental data science. Over seven weeks in the summer, you will take short courses in computer analysis, GIS, and remote sensing before choosing a project in areas like climate change, weather, water resources, or coastal oceans. You will work with CUNY scientists to collect and analyze data, apply real research methods, and share your results at the CREST STEM Summer Research Symposium. The program runs full-time, offering you the chance to earn college credit, gain valuable STEM experience, and receive a stipend for your work.

7. Urban Barcode Research Program (UBRP)

Location: DNA Learning Center (DNALC), Brooklyn, NY

Stipend: $500

Cohort size: 36 students
Dates: August – May (academic year program); commitment of ~55 hours during the school year

Application deadline: May 27

Eligibility: High school students in NYC who are at least 13 years old

UBRP is a year-long research opportunity for NYC high school students to explore biodiversity and research through DNA barcoding. You will begin with training sessions at the DNA Learning Center in Brooklyn, where you will learn lab techniques, research design, and how to use molecular tools. Under the guidance of a scientist mentor, you and your team members will come up with a research proposal, collect samples, and conduct DNA barcoding experiments to identify species and analyze data. You will also present your work at a research symposium. 

8. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY (~1 hour away from NYC)
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~5% applicants selected
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are U.S. citizens and/or permanent residents and at least 16 when the program starts

The Simons Summer Research Program offers high school students the chance to dive into original research under the guidance of Stony Brook University’s faculty mentors in science, math, or engineering. As a Simons Fellow, you will be a part of an active research team that aligns with your interests. You may gain insights into and experience with computational research, mathematical modeling, and other data-driven investigations, depending on your focus. You will take on project responsibilities, learn essential research methods, and present your work at the end of the program. You will also attend faculty lectures, workshops, and lab tours that can offer you exposure to a variety of scientific disciplines and potential career paths.

9. NYU Tandon's Summer Program for Machine Learning

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY

Cost: $3,050 

Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – 27 | Session 2: July 7 – 18 | Session 3: July 28 – August 8

Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 and older, including current 9th through 12th graders.

The NYU Tandon Machine Learning Summer Program is a two-week in-person program for high school students who want to explore the basics of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Here, you will attend lectures, work on hands-on projects, and receive mentorship while learning about topics like neural networks, model validation, and real-world applications in image recognition, self-driving cars, and medical diagnostics. Within a small group, you will complete programming and data analysis projects, learn from NYU Tandon faculty and experts, and develop practical skills and a strong understanding of machine learning concepts.

10. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)

Location: Virtual internships available for NYC students

Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee (need-based fee waivers available); no stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old

ASSIP offers virtual research internships in various fields, including computational and data sciences, computer science, geoinformation science, information sciences, and operations research. You can choose a mentor working on data science research and offering a remote research format. Over eight weeks, you will engage in research within your chosen track while also refining your scientific writing and communication skills over remote sessions. During the program, you will learn about STEM career paths through discussions led by professors, researchers, or professionals. The program ends with a research symposium, where you will learn about the research conducted at ASSIP over the summer. 

11. Kode With Klossy Summer Camp

Location: Virtual and in-person; sites vary but have included NYC in the past
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Dates: Two weeks in the summer; dates vary

Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Women and gender expansive teens, ages 13–18

Kode With Klossy offers free summer camps, which offer a two-week introduction to data science, software development, machine learning, and programming. You will learn about these concepts through one of four tracks. In the camp’s web development track, you will get some experience in using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to develop an online site. The machine learning track covers AI/ML concepts such as algorithms, natural language processing, and data sets. In the data science track, you will assess data and draw key insights while using SQL, Python, and data visualization tools. You will also build a visualization of a topic of interest using data. The mobile app track can help you learn how to code in Swift (Apple’s programming language) and develop an iOS mobile application.

12. Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program

Location: Virtual

Cost: None

Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June – August (two weeks)

Application deadline: TBA

Eligibility: 9th–11th grade girls and non-binary students

The Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program is a free, two-week online program for high school students. Here, you will explore coding and data science through hands-on projects like building games using the JavaScript library p5.js. You will attend live virtual classes, work with other students in teams, and get guidance from mentors. The program also offers extra events for learning and networking, helping you build coding skills, teamwork, and problem-solving experience while exploring careers in technology. You can also opt for the six-week self-paced Girls Who Code Pathways program to dive into AI, data science, cybersecurity, and other related fields while building coding skills.

13. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship

Location: Virtual

Cost: $40 application fee and $850 participation fee; financial aid available

Cohort size: 25 students/year 

Dates: June 16 – 27

Application deadline: February 28

Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 and U.S. citizens/permanent residents; preference given to those with math/programming skills and experience working on a healthcare project

This research-based program offers high school students insights into how artificial intelligence is used in medicine. Here, you will attend lectures on AI in healthcare, work in small teams on research projects, and get guidance from Stanford student leaders and researchers. You will also join “Lunch and Learn” discussions with professionals in education, industry, and non-profits to explore how AI is changing healthcare. This experience can help you build research and presentation skills and connect with Stanford faculty and students.

14. Illinois Tech Elevate College Prep’s Summer Programs: Data Science Basics

Location: Virtual
Cost: $350 + $100 application fee; financial aid + opportunity to earn $500 scholarship for future education available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: TBA
Program dates: June 23 – 27

Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders, ages 14–17

Illinois Tech offers various in-person and virtual summer programs to high schoolers interested in exploring topics in STEM. The Data Science Basics: Exploring Big Data is a week-long virtual program. Here, you will learn about data science concepts like data visualization and analysis through instruction and projects. You will also find opportunities to develop data analysis skills. The program also offers opportunities to connect with Illinois Tech faculty and/or data scientists.

15. Stanford AI4ALL

Location: Virtual

Cost: $4,000
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – July 2

Application deadline: January 24
Eligibility: 9th graders or rising 10th graders who are over the age of 14 by the start of the program

Stanford AI4ALL is a two-week online summer program that offers high school students a hands-on introduction to artificial intelligence and its real-world applications. Through lectures, mentorship, and project work, you will explore machine learning, data science, computer vision, natural language processing, and medical AI while focusing on using technology for social impact. The program is designed to help you build both conceptual knowledge and practical skills to find AI-based solutions for society. In small research groups, you will apply what you learn to projects while also receiving guidance from Stanford researchers and industry professionals.

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