11 Computer Science Programs for High School Students in Georgia
Computer science programs can be a strong option if you’re a high school student interested in developing skills in areas like programming, artificial intelligence, and data science. They allow you to explore technical concepts while building problem-solving and computational thinking skills in a structured setting. You can also gain exposure to different applications of computer science, which can help you better understand your academic and career interests.
Why should you attend a program in Georgia?
Georgia is home to universities and organizations that offer computer science programs across a range of topics and formats. Depending on the program, you might study areas like software development, machine learning, or cybersecurity while working through coding projects, research activities, or collaborative challenges. These opportunities are worth considering whether you are a local student looking for programs nearby or an out-of-state student interested in exploring a new academic environment.
With a range of options available across the state, we've narrowed the list to 11 computer science programs for high school students in Georgia.
If you’re looking for programs in Georgia, check out our blog here.
1. Georgia Governor's Honors Program: Computer Science Track
Location: Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 14 – July 11
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors enrolled in Georgia; Must be nominated through the local school selection process
The Georgia Governor's Honors Program Computer Science track offers a curriculum encompassing a comprehensive range of topics delivered through theoretical instruction, practical assignments, and collaborative project work. These topics include knowledge-based artificial intelligence, principles of machine learning, and interdisciplinary applications across fields like biology, biomedical engineering, and finance. The program teaches you to design and implement complex, scalable computing systems. You’ll acquire practical knowledge about machine learning concepts, including hyperparameter tuning, bias-variance tradeoff, algorithmic bias, different types of learning models, and model evaluation metrics. You’ll master the essentials of environment setup and version control, including proficiency in tools such as Anaconda for package management and GitHub for versioning and collaborative development.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; Financial aid offered
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
Veritas AI, founded and managed by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. If you’re looking to explore AI, machine learning, and data science, you may find the AI Scholars program particularly useful. It is a 10-session boot camp that introduces you to the fundamentals of AI and data science and provides opportunities to work on real-world projects. If you’re a more advanced student, consider the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase program, which allows you to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. This program also provides access to an in-house publication team that will help you secure publication 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. STEP
Location: Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: July 6 – July 17
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Georgia high school students (16+)
The Science, Technology, and Engineering Program (STEP) is an educational outreach initiative presented by Georgia Tech's Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering that provides hands-on engineering internships. It is an immersion program where you’ll work in teams on challenge problems inspired by active Georgia Tech research efforts, with no pre-designed solutions to follow. The cohort tackles open-ended engineering challenges that require computational thinking and often involve programming, data analysis, simulation, and algorithmic problem-solving. You’ll work with Georgia Tech faculty mentors to solve challenges, applying both engineering principles and computational techniques to develop solutions. Throughout the program, you’ll collaborate with teammates to analyze problems, design solutions, build prototypes, and test your designs. This process frequently involves writing code, processing data, creating visualizations, and using software tools to model and analyze your engineering systems. At the end of the two weeks, you’ll present the results of your work at a poster session.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar: Computer Science
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; Financial aid available
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students with demonstrated high academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs high school students one-on-one with researchers from top universities to develop independent research projects in computer science. The program provides structured support throughout the research process, from initial topic exploration to the production of a final paper that meets academic standards appropriate for undergraduate or graduate-level work. You’ll meet with your assigned computer science mentor to identify and align on a research topic that matches your interests and your mentor's expertise. Your mentor will provide personalized guidance as you work through technical concepts, implement code, conduct computational experiments, analyze results, and articulate your findings in academic writing. After completing the twelve-week program, you’ll participate in a graduation ceremony and symposium where you’ll present your research alongside fellow scholars.
5. TryEngineering Summer Institute
Location: Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 7 – 15
Application Deadline: Applications open January 15
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th graders residing in Georgia
The TryEngineering Summer Institute is designed to train the next generation of engineers through exploration of both engineering and computer science disciplines. Throughout the program, you’ll participate in hands-on design challenges and interactive workshops that explore engineering and computer science applications. The curriculum includes experiments that require computational thinking, programming skills, and understanding how software and hardware integrate to solve problems. The program includes interactive field trips that expose you to real-world applications of engineering and computing, showing how theoretical concepts translate to practical solutions in industry and research settings. You’ll receive mentorship from engineering and technology professionals who guide you through challenges and share their experiences navigating careers in STEM fields. Beyond technical content, the program also includes information sessions about the admissions process at Georgia Tech and other leading technical universities.
6. CEISMC Computer Science Summer Programs
Location: Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Varies by program
Program Dates: Multiple sessions in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Rising 6th-12th graders
CEISMC’s computer science programs allow you to gain exposure to block-based and text-based coding, robotics, app development, and game development. The curriculum highlights that computer science encompasses everything from building weather stations and creating apps and games to adding interactivity to school projects, demonstrating the field's relevance across interests. To earn the certificate, you must attend a minimum of two qualifying programs during the summer, attend each program in its entirety, and complete all projects and activities.
7. Summer PEAKS: Computer Science Programs
Location: Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $400 – $650
Program Dates: Weekly programs in June and July
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders
Summer PEAKS offers an immersive experience designed to expand your knowledge in computer science and related fields. These programs provide you with the opportunity to participate in hands-on, experiential activities that spark curiosity, promote independent thinking, and cultivate real-world skills. As a participant, you’ll learn from Georgia Tech faculty and staff, Georgia Tech students, and area science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics teachers who bring diverse expertise to instruction. Each week-long program is uniquely themed to provide varied computer science learning experiences throughout the summer. Topics include coding, 3D game design, and other computational skills delivered through engaging projects and activities. All programs include take-home components so you can continue expanding your computer science knowledge after the program concludes.
8. Georgia Tech Dual Enrollment
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Advanced mathematics students with a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 3.5 unweighted math GPA; Must be enrolled in a Georgia high school
Georgia Tech's Dual Enrollment program allows you to take college-level computer science courses like CS 1301: Introduction to Computing, which teaches foundational computing principles, including how to write, read, run, and debug code. You can also participate in CS 1331: Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming with Java, which builds on the foundations of CS 1301, offering an introduction to object-oriented programming techniques and methods, including encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. The program provides an opportunity to earn college credit while exploring whether computer science aligns with your interests and abilities.
9. Emory Summer College: Introduction to Computer Science I
Location: Virtual
Cost: $6,493 + $70 non-refundable application fee; Financial aid offered
Program Dates: May 15 – June 26
Application Deadline: April 24
Eligibility: Current 10th-11th graders (15+) with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Emory Summer College's Introduction to Computer Science allows you to enroll in Emory undergraduate courses and earn college credit. Introduction to Computer Science I provides an introduction to computer science for students who expect to use computing in future coursework, research, or employment, emphasizing computing concepts, programming principles, algorithm development, and basic data structures. The course uses the Java programming language and the Unix operating system, teaching you foundational skills applicable across computing fields. You’ll learn how to write and read computer code, run and debug programs, and develop algorithms to solve computational problems. The curriculum covers fundamental programming concepts, including variables, control structures, functions, and data manipulation, building progressively toward more complex topics.
10. EDIT AI High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 13 – August 31
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students with a strong foundation in computer science and prior exposure to machine learning/deep learning concepts.
The Emerging Diagnostic and Investigative Technologies (EDIT) AI program is a unique national-level high school internship that engages you in hands-on research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and medicine. Throughout the program, you’ll gain access to a Virtual Student Laboratory providing a high-performance computing environment where you will develop computational methods to analyze and integrate diverse biomedical data types. These include whole slide pathology images, text-based pathology reports, metagenomic sequences, graphs, electronic health records, and multi-omics datasets. You’ll work with programming languages such as R and Python, along with advanced computational tools, learning to handle complex, high-dimensional data typical of modern biomedical research. You’ll have opportunities to present findings to clinical research audiences, honing scientific communication skills while explaining complex computational methods to medical professionals.
11. Girls Who Code: Pathways Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders who identify as girls or non-binary
Girls Who Code's Pathways program offers high school students a free online learning opportunity to gain computer science and problem-solving skills. This summer program allows you to learn coding at your own pace while exploring how to combine your interests and passions with potential tech careers. Pathways offers five curriculum tracks: Data Science and AI, Game Design, Web Development, Cybersecurity, and AI and Society. Beyond coding instruction, you’ll gain real-world insights through virtual Partner Events with leading tech organizations, providing exposure to how professionals apply computer science skills in industry settings. You’ll also connect with peers through Girls Who Code's private Discord community, joining optional Student Hours for live support and collaboration.
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