14 Data Science Programs for High School Students in Texas
If you are a high school student curious about how data can be used for decision-making across industries, a data science program is worth considering. Programs in data science offer you opportunities to explore how coding, data science, and engineering power the tools we use every day. As a participant, you will gain practical exposure to concepts like data analysis, statistical modeling, machine learning, and data visualization through instruction and project work.
Why should you attend a program in Texas?
Texas, home to a rapidly growing research and technology sector, offers various programs that connect high schoolers with mentors from NASA, UT Austin, Texas A&M, and the University of North Texas. Whether you live in the state or are planning to enroll in a program here, you can find various data science programs, ranging from camps to intensive internships, that align with your goals.
To help you get started, here is a list of 14 data science programs for high school students in Texas.
If you are looking for research programs and internships in Texas, check out our blogs here and here.
1. NASA and UT Austin’s STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Internship Program
Location: University of Texas at Austin, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10%; 215 students selected in the past
Dates: May 19 – July 22, including online and on-site components
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school students (U.S. citizens)
SEES Internship Program, a collaboration between NASA and the UT Austin Center for Space Research, offers high school students a chance to conduct authentic NASA-supported research. The hybrid program includes several weeks of remote preparation, followed by a two-week residential experience on the UT Austin campus. You will work directly with NASA scientists and engineers on real projects related to Earth systems, natural hazards, planetary science, and climate research. You will engage in projects, either online or in person, within the space science and remote sensing fields, and work with datasets.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; certain programs require prior Python/AI experience
Veritas AI offers several project-based learning opportunities focused on artificial intelligence and data science exploration. These programs have been developed and run by Harvard graduate students and alumni. If applying to the introductory AI Scholars program, you will learn about the key concepts and applications of AI, Python, machine learning, and data science. If you have completed AI Scholars or have some experience with coding, you can opt for the AI Fellowship program, which offers you mentorship to develop your own data science project. The program also offers support if you want to refine your work for submission to journals. You can check out past projects here.
3. NASA OSTEM Internship Programs
Location: NASA centers and facilities nationwide + virtual opportunities
Stipend: Paid; amount varies by internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer, fall, and spring internships; dates vary by opportunity
Application deadline: Varies by internship session
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 or older, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and are U.S. citizens
The NASA Internship Program, offered through the Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM), offers you opportunities to work alongside NASA scientists, engineers, and professionals advancing space exploration, aeronautics, and cutting-edge research. You will contribute to real projects at NASA centers nationwide while gaining technical, analytical, and teamwork skills essential for STEM careers. Positions are available in science, engineering, computer science, business, and communications. While the exact responsibilities will vary based on the position, you will help NASA staff with data analysis and collection.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Data Science Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on the program format; financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, running during summer, spring, fall, and winter
Application deadline: Varies by Cohort
Eligibility: High school students from around the world
Lumiere Education’s Research Scholar Program is a virtual opportunity to explore an area and topic of interest in absolute detail. You will work one-on-one with a Ph. D.-level mentor on an independent research project. You can choose research topics from a wide range of subjects, including data science, AI, and machine learning. You will finalize a research question with support from your mentor and also work with a writing coach to learn how to present your findings as you prepare an independent research paper. You can find more details about the application and various program formats here.
5. National Security Agency (NSA) Student Programs
Location: NSA field sites in TX
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June – August; dates vary
Application deadline: September 1
Eligibility: High school juniors
The NSA offers various student programs to high schoolers and college students. NSA’s High School Work Study Program, designed for rising seniors living near NSA sites, offers students part-time paid roles in technology, administration, and intelligence analysis. These programs combine opportunities to contribute to national service with access to world-class technical training and mentorship. As a participant, you will explore the fields of cybersecurity, data science, or linguistics with a focus on boosting national security and building an early-career foundation.
6. Texas A&M University’s Statistics and Data Science Summer Camp: Storytelling with Data
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 2 – 6
Application deadline: May 12
Eligibility: High school students in the Bryan/College Station or the surrounding areas, ages 15 and up
Hosted by the Department of Statistics at Texas A&M University, the Statistics & Data Science Summer Camp: Storytelling with Data camp invites high school students to explore how numbers and narratives work together. During the five-day, non-residential day camp, you will learn about the tools of data science through hands-on projects and guided instruction. You will learn how to collect, analyze, and visualize data to tell compelling stories and solve real-world problems. You will also write computer programs and engage in games with peers.
7. University of North Texas’s Summer Camps
Location: University of North Texas, Frisco, TX
Cost: Varies; ~$350 in the past
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Week-long camps in June and July; dates TBA
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students
The University of North Texas offers various data science and tech-focused camps each year. Here, you will explore topics like human-computer interaction, misinformation, informatics, and the future of working with technology. Each day consists of lessons, guided activities, and time to collaborate with peers. You will learn directly from UNT research faculty and Ph.D. students who specialize in areas of information science. You will also gain insights into careers in data analysis, predictive analytics, deep learning, data science, machine learning, and generative AI.
8. University of Texas at Austin’s Computer Science Summer Academies
Location: University of Texas, Austin, TX
Cost: Varies by program; free options also available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: One-week sessions in summer; dates vary by academy
Application deadline: Early Spring
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12
The UT Computer Science Summer Academies are one-week, residential programs where you can explore specialized areas of computer science while living on the UT Austin campus. Led by university faculty, the Open-Enrollment Academies cover topics such as game development, iOS app creation, machine learning, and robotics. These sessions emphasize hands-on learning, whether you are programming a robot, designing a mobile app, or experimenting with AI tools. As a participant, you will gain practical coding experience, mentorship from UT researchers, and a preview of college-level computer science academics.
9. UT Dallas Computer Science Research Program for High School Students
Location: University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
Cost: $1,000 for research internships | $700 (in-person) or $600 (virtual) for workshops | $1,600 for the 8-week Deep-Dive AI Workshop; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students
The UT Dallas Computer Science Research Program offers a rigorous summer experience for you to engage in real-world computer science research. The program is designed for students ready to work independently under the guidance of UT Dallas researchers and graduate mentors. You can choose between Intensive Research Internships conducted at UT Dallas labs or Summer Research Workshops that operate like informal college courses, each ending with a project or research paper. Topics vary widely, from app development and coding simulations to specialized areas like artificial intelligence, data analysis, and human-computer interaction.
10. UT Austin’s High School Research Academy (HSRA)
Location: University of Texas at Austin, College of Natural Sciences, TX
Cost: $4,000; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 9 – July 16
Application deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, ages 15 and up; priority given to Texas residents.
HSRA is a five-week, non-residential summer program hosted by UT Austin’s College of Natural Sciences. Designed for high school students interested in STEM, HSRA will place you directly in active UT research labs, where you will work alongside undergraduates and faculty mentors on projects in data analytics, biochemistry, neuroscience, genetics, or other fields. You will spend 15–25 hours per week conducting research while gaining technical skills and insight into the daily life of a scientist. You will also participate in seminars hosted by UT guest speakers and earn a NSC309 UT extension course credit. You will present a printed poster showcasing your summer research findings at the closing symposium.
11. Kode With Klossy Summer Camp
Location: Virtual and in-person; sites vary each year
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two weeks in the summer; dates vary by year
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Women and gender expansive teens, ages 13 – 18
Kode With Klossy’s Summer Camp is a two-week program focusing on coding/programming, data science, software development, and machine learning. You will explore these disciplines through one of four tracks. In the data science track, you will examine data and draw insights using SQL, Python, and data visualization tools. In the camp’s web development track, you will learn how to work with JavaScript, CSS, and HTML, and create an online platform. The machine learning track covers AI and ML concepts, including algorithms, natural language processing, and datasets. The mobile app track covers coding in Swift (Apple’s programming language), allowing you to create an iOS mobile application.
12. Girls Who Code Pathways Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Six weeks in the summer
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12, ages 14 – 18, who identify as girls or non-binary individuals
Girls Who Code offers free virtual summer programs to high school students interested in computer science. The Girls Who Code’s Pathways Program is a six-week program covering topics such as data science, cybersecurity, web development, and AI. Here, you will learn through step-by-step video tutorials that you can complete at your own pace. Additionally, you will have access to live industry-led events, opportunities to work on real data science projects, and exposure to coding languages like CSS, Python, HTML, and JavaScript.
13. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual opportunities available
Cost: $25 application fee with need-based fee waivers available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
ASSIP offers mentored research internships in various fields, including computational and data sciences. You can opt for a mentor offering remote internships whose research interests lie in data science topics like machine learning, computational research psychology, modeling and simulation, natural language processing, and deep learning. Over the course of eight weeks, you will work with your mentor, contributing to data science research and developing scientific writing and communication skills. As an intern, you will learn about STEM career paths while connecting with professors, researchers, and professionals. The program ends with a research symposium, where you will learn about ASSIP research conducted over the summer.
14. Illinois Tech Elevate College Data Science Basics: Exploring Big Data
Location: Virtual
Cost: $350
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: TBA
Program dates: June 22 – 26
Eligibility: Rising 9th – 12th graders between the ages of 14 and 17
Illinois Tech offers a variety of in-person and virtual summer programs for high school students interested in exploring topics in STEM. Its Data Science Basics: Exploring Big Data is a virtual program that offers an introduction to big data and data analytics. Through online sessions and projects in data analysis and visualization, you will explore key data science concepts under the guidance of instructors. The program also offers opportunities to build technical data science skills and analytical thinking.
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