Top 9 Computer Science Programs for High School Students in Los Angeles, California (LA)
If you’re looking for computer science programs for high school students, there are plenty of programs that offer practical experience outside the classroom. From coding and app development to robotics and AI, summer and year-round programs for high schoolers can help you develop coding skills, explore different tech areas, and meet people who share your interests.
Many of these computer science programs for high school students are hosted by top universities, nonprofits, and research institutions in LA, making them valuable options. Programs like these can help you connect with faculty and peers, strengthen your college applications, and explore careers in computer science.
In this post, we’ve highlighted 9 of the best computer science programs for high school students in Los Angeles. Each one offers a strong computer science curriculum, and we’ve included both in-person and online options, so you can find a program that fits your goals and schedule.
1. UCLA’s Computer Science Summer Institute (Introductory Track)
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA (commuter only, no housing available)
Cost: $3,291 (select scholarships are available)
Dates: June 23 – July 11
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 through 12 who will be at least 15 years old by the first day of Summer Sessions
The Computer Science Introductory Track at UCLA offers high school students a mix of hands-on learning and academic coursework. The program combines classroom instruction with guided tours of UCLA’s advanced research labs. You will explore how computers can be used for problem-solving, creativity, and discovery. You will learn foundational concepts such as data types, including integers, strings, and lists, as well as control structures like conditionals and loops. The curriculum introduces functional decomposition and the logic behind writing clean, effective code.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are 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 get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance 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. Those interested in this computer science program for high school students can explore examples of past projects to see the types of topics covered and the level of work completed.
3. AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp by Stanford University
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 program participation fee; $40 application fee
Dates: June 16 - June 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 through 12 in the fall who will be at least 14 years old by the start of the program
Stanford’s AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp is designed for high school students interested in the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. The bootcamp introduces you to how machine learning is shaping the future of medicine and public health. You will participate in courses, discussions, and interactive sessions. The experience includes social activities and Virtual Career Lunch and Learns, where guest speakers from academic, industry, and government backgrounds share their insights and career journeys. The program explores how healthcare systems are beginning to integrate foundation models and generative AI to improve diagnostics, treatment planning, and patient care.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
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 that you can explore as a high schooler. 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. USC Summer Programs - Engineering & Information Technology
Location: USC, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Residential, $11,347; Commuter, $7812
Dates: June 15 - July 12 (engineering track)
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: High school students
The USC Summer Programs allow high school students to explore computer science through the Engineering and Information Technology track. This four-week experience combines lectures, labs, and workshops to introduce students to key concepts in computer science and related disciplines. You will learn about programming, data science, and other technology areas, guided by USC faculty and professionals in the field. Alongside academic learning, you will get a preview of college life at USC. This computer science program for high school students also offers the opportunity to earn college credit, making it a practical choice for those planning to study STEM in college.
6. Stanford’s A14ALL
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,000 (financial aid available)
Dates: June 18 – July 2
Application Deadline: January 24
Eligibility: Students entering 10th grade in the fall who will be at least 14 years old by the program start date.
Stanford AI4ALL is a two-week online program that introduces high school students to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and its impact on the world. The curriculum covers key areas such as robotics, computer vision, natural language processing, and medical AI. You will participate in research projects and learn from experts at the Stanford AI Lab. Through guided mentorship, you will explore both the technical and ethical sides of AI. In addition to research, the program includes workshops and career development sessions that support academic and personal growth.
7. The Intern Project (TIP) Summer Program
Location: Multiple locations in LA; Virtual sessions available
Cost: Free
Dates: June 17 – August 9
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 through 12 who live in Los Angeles County
The Intern Project (TIP) offers paid internships to high school students across Los Angeles County. These opportunities allow students to explore professional fields such as technology, business, engineering, healthcare, and government. They are designed to help you build practical skills while working with experienced mentors. For students interested in computer science, internship placements may include roles in software development or software engineering. You might assist with app creation or contribute to programming tasks. Some positions focus on data analytics, where you would use tools like Python, Excel, or SQL to interpret and present findings from large datasets.
8. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) Online Programs
Location: Virtual
Cost: Live courses range from $550 to $1,365 | Individually paced courses range from $984 to $1,499 | Session-based courses range from $716 to $2,127 | Clubs are available for $191
Dates: Varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) offers a range of computer science programs for high school students seeking more than the standard classroom experience. These courses provide challenging material in a flexible format and are available as session-based, individually paced, or live classes. The Computer Science track introduces various topics, from beginner-friendly Scratch programming to advanced Java and AP-level coursework. You will learn key programming languages and develop a strong foundation in coding. You will design games, create animations, and build websites.
9. Futures: Machine Learning Algorithms by UC San Diego Extended Studies
Location: Virtual
Cost: $395 per course
Dates: Varies by course
Application Deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: High school students.
UC San Diego Extended Studies offers a fully online Machine Learning program designed for high school students. The program includes three courses: Python and Mathematics for Machine Learning, Machine Learning Algorithms, and Deep Neural Networks. The first course teaches essential Python programming skills and the mathematical concepts behind machine learning. In the second course, you will explore commonly used algorithms for both supervised and unsupervised learning. The final course focuses on deep neural networks, where you will study artificial neural networks and create your own models to solve problems such as classification and recommendation systems.
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