15 Programs for High School Students in Houston, Texas
If you are a high school student looking to explore your interests beyond the classroom, structured programs can be a smart way to get started. Well-designed programs go beyond lectures and worksheets, offering you experience, mentorship, and insight into how different industries actually work. Depending on your interests, you can choose from structured learning opportunities in various fields, including medicine, physical sciences, computer science, engineering, business, data science, environmental studies, social sciences, or the arts.
Why should you attend a program in Houston, Texas?
Houston is home to universities, medical institutions, research centers, and organizations that run high school-level programs. You can conduct research in labs, build AI and machine learning models, design digital health tools, contribute to aerospace engineering challenges, or assist with clinical studies. Whether you already live in Houston or are traveling from another city, you can find programs that help you build your profile and connect with professionals.
To help you get started, we have narrowed down 15 programs for high school students in Houston, Texas.
If you are looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences
Location: University of Texas’s MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $7,200 stipend (for 10 weeks) | $6,480 (for nine weeks)
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application deadline: Typically, January
Eligibility: Texas high school seniors, ages 18 and up
The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences is a selective research program that allows you to engage in biomedical research through full-time, hands-on laboratory work. You will be placed in MD Anderson laboratories under the mentorship of full-time faculty members, where you will work on a structured research project within a biomedical discipline. The experience is designed to build a clear understanding of scientific investigation, the research discipline, and what day-to-day work as a biomedical researcher entails. Additionally, the program offers faculty-led seminars on a wide range of research topics, as well as professional development activities such as abstract writing, poster presentations, and elevator speech competitions. At the end of the program, you will formally present your work and reflect on your experiences during a closing event.
2. Veritas AI: AI Scholars & AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: Program cohorts run all year; the AI Scholars runs for 10 weeks, and the AI Fellowship program runs for about 12 to 15 weeks
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship typically accepts previous AI Scholar participants or those with some experience working with AI or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and led by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with 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. One benefit of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help 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. Digital Health Workforce Initiative (DHWI)
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Stipend: Up to $1,800 for high school students
Dates: Software Track: June 8 – 18 | Hardware Track: June 22 – July 2
Application deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Current 9th and 10th-grade high school students
The Digital Health Workforce Initiative (DHWI) is an NSF-supported, paid summer program that introduces high school students to the rapidly growing field of digital health through hands-on, project-based learning. You can select one of two focused pathways: Hardware or Software. In the Hardware Track, you will explore how wearable devices, sensors, and biomedical hardware are used to monitor, diagnose, and treat patients. The Software Track focuses on how artificial intelligence is applied in healthcare, offering you hands-on experience with machine learning tools such as PyTorch and exposure to how data can be used to detect disease and make early, accurate predictions. The program combines structured instruction with experiential learning, providing insights into real-world applications of AI and biomedical technology, and the intersection of healthcare, biomedical technology, and artificial intelligence.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial assistance offered
Dates: Multiple sessions, including summer, spring, fall, and winter cohorts, are scheduled each year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0
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, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. University of Houston’s TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: None + opportunity to earn a $1,000 scholarship
Dates: June 8 – August 7
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are planning to attend the University of Houston
The TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy allows you to spend nine weeks in the summer immersed in a rigorous academic curriculum focused on calculus, chemistry, and college prep. You will attend classes, engage in lectures, small-group review sessions, workshops, and tutoring designed to reinforce mathematical concepts and build strong study habits. Upon successful completion of the program and final exam, you also earn college credit for Calculus I. Beyond academics, the program emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and self-management, and offers targeted support through math facilitators, peer mentors, tutoring sessions, and structured workshops.
6. Houston Methodist Hospital’s Caring Teen Volunteer Program
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas
Cost: Free
Dates: June 8 – July 26
Application deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Teenagers; applicants must complete all onboarding, health screening, and background check requirements.
The Caring Teen Volunteer Program is a structured summer volunteer experience designed to introduce teenagers to the healthcare environment while building responsibility, professionalism, and service-oriented skills. You will join one of the several clinical support areas, administrative services, or customer-facing departments, where you will assist hospital staff with non-clinical, essential tasks that support patient care and daily operations. While direct observation and shadowing are not part of the program, they can still provide firsthand insight into how a major hospital operates. You will also find opportunities to build workplace skills while working alongside healthcare professionals in a fast-paced, real-world setting.
7. MD Anderson Cancer Center’s UPWARDS Summer Program: High School Track
Location: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: Up to $7,200
Dates: 10 weeks in the summer; dates not specified
Application deadline: January 14; applications open on November 17.
Eligibility: Underserved high school current juniors/rising seniors who will be 18 or older during the program
Each year, this program invites 10 high school students to work with faculty mentors in an active MD Anderson research laboratory on biomedical and cancer-related research projects. While applying, you can indicate your preference for an area or topic in cancer research that you want to investigate. In addition to daily lab work, you will participate in didactic coursework, structured research training, and mentoring sessions to develop foundational research skills and long-term academic planning. The summer experience culminates in a poster session, where you’ll formally present your research projects to peers, mentors, and members of the MD Anderson research community. This capstone event can help you develop scientific communication skills and confidence in presenting complex research topics.
8. MD Anderson Cancer Center DACCPM Summer Research Program
Location: University of Texas’s MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Cost/Stipend: Free; a $3,600 stipend is provided.
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application deadline: January 14
Eligibility: High school students, college students, and medical students (who have completed their first year of medical school), ages 18 and up, in good academic standing
The DACCPM Summer Research Program is an in-person summer research experience designed for students interested in biomedical, clinical, and cancer-related research. The program matches you with a faculty mentor to work on a research project that reflects ongoing work within MD Anderson. You may work as a laboratory trainee focusing on basic science research or as a research trainee involved in clinical or human-subjects-based studies. You will start with Cancer Biology boot camp, during which you will learn about cancer biology to prepare for hands-on research. Throughout the summer, you will receive instruction in lab safety, institutional and federal research policies, data collection and interpretation, and science communication. Research topics span areas such as chemotherapy-induced pain, perioperative immune function, cancer recurrence factors, opioids, anesthesiology, critical care, and pain medicine. The experience ends with a poster symposium, where you will present your research to the broader MD Anderson research community.
9. SMS Summer Research Program @ Baylor College of Medicine
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Stipend: Paid according to Texas minimum wages
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: April 17
Eligibility: High school students, ages 18+, who have participated in Saturday Morning Science programs in the past
The SMS In-Person Summer Research Program is a competitive summer research opportunity that places you directly into active research environments at one of Houston’s leading medical research institutions. You will contribute to ongoing laboratory or research initiatives, gaining exposure to experimental design, data collection, and analysis, and the day-to-day operations of a professional biomedical research lab. In addition to lab-based research, you will participate in weekly “Lunch and Learn” sessions focused on research skills, scientific careers, and professional development. You will also attend research group meetings and specialized seminars associated with your assigned lab. The program concludes with the SMS Summer Research Symposium, where you will formally present your research findings to peers and faculty.
10. High School Emerging Researcher Experience @ Houston Methodist
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: January 30
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up, with a minimum 3.5 GPA
The High School Emerging Researcher Experience is a selective, in-person summer research program designed to introduce you to translational and biomedical research within a major academic medical center. You will work alongside undergraduate research interns within a collaborative academic environment that closely mirrors real college-level research settings. You will be paired with a mentor from Houston Methodist’s faculty and contribute to a research project aligned with your area of interest. Over the course of the program, you will learn about laboratory techniques, research methods, and scientific problem-solving. In addition to technical training, you will gain exposure to how research ideas move from the lab toward real-world clinical applications. The program culminates in a formal research symposium, where you will present a poster summarizing your research findings.
11. University of Houston MohanLab Summer Internship Program
Location: University of Houston MohanLab, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: March 26
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The MohanLab Summer Internship Program is a competitive, in-person research opportunity for rising high school seniors looking for early exposure to laboratory-based scientific research. The internship begins with one to two weeks of instruction and training, during which you will learn about fundamental laboratory techniques and research practices. Following training, you will engage in bench research under the close supervision of a scientist or graduate student mentor. You will contribute to ongoing research projects in areas such as biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, big data analytics, and neuroscience. Depending on the project's scope and outcomes, you may contribute to research publications. At the end of the program, you will deliver an oral presentation summarizing your research findings.
12. NASA High School Aerospace Scholars
Location: Online components + in-person experience at NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Dates: Online course: October 6 – March 8 + Virtual Moonshot: June 1 – 5 or June 8 – 12 + Residential experience: July
Application deadline: September 27
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens and residents of Texas
The High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) program is a year-long STEM experience designed for Texas high school juniors with a strong interest in space exploration, engineering, and aerospace careers. The program begins with an online learning component during the academic year, and the highest-performing students here earn an invitation to an all-expenses-paid, in-person residential experience at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. If selected for the residential experience, you will participate in hands-on, team-based engineering and design challenges connected to NASA’s Moon to Mars and Artemis missions. Working closely with NASA scientists and engineers, you will learn about space science and engineering, and apply skills developed throughout the year in coding, computer-aided design (CAD), engineering problem-solving, and systems thinking.
13. Rice STEM Academy Sustainable Futures Academy
Location: Rice University, Houston, Texas
Cost: Free
Dates: July 7 – July 11
Application Deadline: June 7
Eligibility: High school students entering 10th or 11th grade. The primary focus is on high school girls, but high school boys and non-binary students are also eligible.
The Sustainable Futures Academy, hosted by the Rice Office of STEM Engagement, is a one-week summer enrichment program that introduces high school students to core scientific and engineering principles through the lens of sustainability. Throughout the week, you will engage in hands-on labs, engineering challenges, and faculty-led discussions with Rice University researchers and graduate students. The curriculum focuses on sustainability-driven problem solving, encouraging you to think critically about environmental impact, efficiency, and design trade-offs. Program activities include building and testing engineering landing capsules, designing roller coasters, learning circuit fundamentals using Micro:bits and TI-Nspire technology, and exploring motion concepts with TI-Nspire Rovers.
14. McGovern Medical School’s High School Summer Research Program
Location: McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: $3,800
Dates: June 8 – July 2
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school rising juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up
The High School Summer Research Program provides high school students with early exposure to biomedical research at a leading academic health center. During the program, you will be placed in laboratories and work alongside faculty and student mentors on interdisciplinary research in the medical sciences. You will gain hands-on experience in a research environment while building foundational scientific knowledge and developing laboratory and professional skills through workshops, lab work, and seminars. The structure is designed to mirror real academic research settings, helping you understand what a future career in biomedical science or medicine can involve. The program also offers opportunities to connect with faculty, medical students, and healthcare professionals and gain insights into career trajectories within medicine and biomedical research.
15. Rice University Pathfinder Summer High School Program
Location: Rice University, Houston, Texas
Cost: $7,000; a discount of $1,000 available on paying the deposit before March 1
Dates: July 12 – 25
Application deadline: Early bird deadline: February 15; Rolling admissions until April 1
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Rice University Pathfinder Summer High School Program is a two-week, residential entrepreneurship experience designed for high school students interested in innovation, startups, and leadership. You will work in teams to develop your own venture ideas, moving through key stages such as problem identification, customer discovery, prototyping, and business model development. Throughout the program, you will participate in workshops on market segmentation, product development, marketing and sales, funding strategies, and pitching. The experience extends beyond campus, offering visits to Houston innovation hubs such as Ion and Greentown Labs, where you will interact with founders and gain insight into the local entrepreneurial landscape. The program culminates in Pathfinder Demo Day, where you will present your venture concepts to Houston-based entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Image source - RICE Uni