Top 10 Data Science Programs for High School Students in Boston
Data science is a growing field that a lot of high school students are interested in. If you live in Boston and are looking for programs in data science, there are a lot of options that you can explore. Many of these programs are run by established institutions and organizations. These programs range from structured research mentorships to summer courses. Below are 10 of the top data science programs for high school students in and around Boston.
1. Northeastern Data Analytics Summer Program
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Moderate; priority to BPS students
Dates: July – August
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Boston Public School students, completed 9th grade
Cost: Free
Northeastern’s free eight-week virtual summer program offers an introduction to Python, data visualization, and statistical analysis. You’ll work on team capstone projects, present your work to peers and faculty, and receive support from instructors throughout.
2. Veritas AI – AI Scholars & AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
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. 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. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. MITES Summer Program (MIT)
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Late June – Early August
Application Deadline: February 1 (reopens in Fall)
Eligibility: U.S. residents entering Grade 11
Cost: Free
MITES at MIT is a prestigious, free six-week STEM summer program for rising juniors from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds. The program offers you college-level courses in subjects like physics, calculus, and programming—with data science components such as Python and data analysis—plus a capstone project, field visits, and faculty networking.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world! Cost: Varies depending on program type
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. Columbia Pre-College Program – Data Science and ML 1
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Space-available
Dates: July 7–18 (Online)
Application Deadline: Multiple programs
Eligibility: High school students; algebra recommended
Cost: ~$4,800
Columbia’s two-week virtual course offers an introduction to Python, Pandas, regression analysis, and core machine learning algorithms, centered around a final project. You will receive support through labs and office hours, with optional guest panels and college prep sessions included.
6. UCLA’s Python for Economics and Finance Summer Institute Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,611. California-based students may apply for financial aid.
Deadline: June 13
Program Dates: July 14 – August 1
Eligibility: 9th – 12th grade students in Spring
In this 3-week introductory course, you will learn Python, a key programming language for data science. You’ll explore data analysis, visualization, and basic concepts using real-world examples from finance and economics. Topics include data types, flow control, functions, loops, numerical programming with NumPy, data manipulation with pandas, and basic techniques like regression and time series analysis. The program includes lectures from UCLA faculty and interactive sessions with UCLA Economics Peer Learning Facilitators.
7. The Coding School: National Data Science Research Program
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Rolling until full
Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Rising grades 10–12
Cost: $3,995; financial aid available
The Coding School’s five-week virtual program is designed for high school students who want to build a research project from the ground up. With guidance from a mentor, you’ll learn Python, data wrangling, and machine learning, then apply those skills to create a research-based project you’ll write up in academic format. The program is beginner-friendly and helps you develop real research and technical skills, even if you’re just starting out in coding or data science.
8. Kode With Klossy – Boston
Location: Boston (in-person) + Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Moderate
Dates: Multiple cohorts in July
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Girls and non-binary students, ages 13–18
Cost: Free
Kode With Klossy is a free, beginner-friendly summer program designed to introduce coding in an inclusive and supportive environment. While it’s not exclusively focused on data science, several tracks dive into topics like artificial intelligence and incorporate datasets into projects. The camps emphasize collaboration, creativity, and confidence-building, making them a great starting point for students curious about tech. Along the way, you’ll connect with peers who share your interests and gain skills that can open doors to future STEM opportunities.
9. Stanford AIMI Internship – AI in Medicine
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students (Grades 9–12)
Cost: $850 + $40 registration fee
Stanford’s two-week virtual internship explores how data science and AI are changing healthcare, from diagnosing diseases to interpreting medical images. You learn core concepts like machine learning, neural networks, and the ethics of AI in medicine while developing your own project proposals. This program is a strong fit for those interested in the intersection of technology and the life sciences.
10. Codeday Labs – Remote Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Moderate
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: High school students (Grades 9–12)
Cost: Free
Codeday Labs is an 8–12 week remote internship-style program where students work in small teams on open-source projects, often involving data analysis, predictive modeling, or backend development. With mentorship from engineers and researchers at major tech companies, you will gain practical experience and complete a published project that you can showcase in college applications or interviews.
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