10 Free Coding Programs for High School Students
For high school students, coding programs offer more than just technical know-how — they provide a gateway to a world of creativity, problem-solving, and innovation. Whether you’re looking to enhance your college applications, explore potential career paths, or simply dive into a field that drives our digital world, coding programs can be an excellent opportunity to get a head start. Summer programs are particularly beneficial as they provide immersive, hands-on experiences that allow students to develop practical skills in coding.
Coding has applications in virtually every industry, from finance and healthcare to engineering and the arts, making it one of the most versatile skill sets to acquire. Participating in coding programs also fosters collaboration, teamwork, and analytical thinking—essential qualities for success in any career.
We’ve curated this list of 10 free coding programs tailored specifically for high school students. These programs not only provide a solid foundation in coding but also encourage creative thinking and collaborative learning!
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starts at $2,990. Financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. November 24, 2024, for the upcoming Winter cohort
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students anywhere in the world
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a challenging initiative designed for high school students, offering personalized research opportunities in various academic fields. Participants work 1-on-1 with PhD mentors from top universities like Harvard and Oxford to undertake independent research projects. This program accommodates flexible schedules and is conducted entirely online, allowing students worldwide to participate.
Over the course of 12-20 weeks (depending on chosen program), students will produce an original research paper, selecting topics from diverse subjects like psychology, physics, economics, data science, and more. This program aims to foster in-depth learning and scholarly development among high school students. You can find more information about the application here.
2. Girls Who Code Summer Programs
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: The Summer Immersion Program is two weeks(June 14-28, July 8-19, and July 29-August 9), while the self-placed program gives you six weeks to complete your course projects.
Eligibility: Students who identify as a woman or non-binary. The SIP is open to 9th - 11th grades, while the self-paced program is open to 9th - 12th graders.
Girls Who Code offers two free virtual programs: the Summer Immersion Program (SIP) and the Self-Paced Program (SPP). These programs provide high school students with coding skills, career insights, and networking opportunities with industry leaders. Both programs emphasize inclusivity and aim to close the gender gap in tech.
Summer Immersion Program (SIP): A two-week live, virtual course for current 9th-11th grade students. It includes hands-on lessons in game design using p5.js, a creative coding JavaScript library. Participants also engage with mentors from top companies like MetLife, Bank of America, and Synchrony.
Self-Paced Program (SPP): A six-week program that allows 9th-12th graders to explore topics such as web development, cybersecurity, and data science + AI at their own speed. The program offers beginner to intermediate-level coding lessons using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python, with opportunities for certification.
3. Carnegie Mellon University AI Scholars Program
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
Program Dates: June 21 - July 19, 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors who will be at least 16 years old by the start date. Must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA-registered
The AI Scholars program at Carnegie Mellon University is an initiative designed to provide a fully funded, four-week immersive experience specifically tailored for high school students deeply interested in the field of artificial intelligence. Participants in this prestigious program will have the unique opportunity to engage extensively with various facets of AI, diving into hands-on research projects that challenge their creativity and critical thinking skills.
Throughout the program, students will attend a series of informative lectures delivered by esteemed faculty members. These lectures will not only cover fundamental concepts but will also explore cutting-edge developments in the field, giving students insight into the latest advancements and ethical considerations surrounding AI. Additionally, participants will have the chance to interact with representatives from top tech companies across the United States, gaining valuable exposure to the industry and networking opportunities that could shape their future careers.
4. Kode with Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual and in-person (multiple U.S. cities)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis. Priority applications are typically due by March.
Program Dates: Various two-week sessions between June and August
Eligibility: Open to girls, gender nonconforming, and trans students between ages 13 and 18.
The Kode with Klossy Summer Camps offers free two-week coding bootcamps that are specifically tailored for girls, non-binary, and gender-expansive students who fall within the age range of 13 to 18 years old. During these immersive camps, participants will embark on a journey to learn the fundamental coding concepts, gaining confidence and skills that are increasingly vital in today’s technology-driven world.
Throughout the program, students will not only learn coding basics, but will also have the chance to complete a capstone project. This project will allow them to explore various areas of interest within the tech field, including web development, data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and game design. Participants will be encouraged to express their creativity while applying their newly acquired technical knowledge.
Location: Labs in Oakland, Chelsea, Detroit, and Inglewood; virtual program available nationwide in the U.S. and Canada
Application Deadline: Mid-August for in-person labs; rolling admissions for virtual programs
Program Dates: Typically runs from October to June each year
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12, particularly those from underrepresented communities
The Code Next Program is a free computer science initiative by Google to foster tech skills among Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and women-identifying high school students. The program offers both in-person and online experiences, focusing on cultivating skills in areas like web development, game design, artificial intelligence, and hardware engineering. In state-of-the-art Code Next labs, participants dive into a challenging computer science curriculum while receiving tailored coaching and working on hands-on projects like programming robots and 3D printing chess sets.
Over several months of immersive education, students evolve into technology creators, equipped to share their innovations with the community. Access to Google mentors, industry experts, and advanced tools, including virtual and augmented reality, further enhances the learning experience.
6. Tisch Future Game Designers
Location: Brooklyn, NY (NYU Game Center)
Application Deadline: November 11, 2024
Program Dates: February 1, 2025 - May 10, 2025
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors
The Future Game Designers program, hosted by the NYU Game Center, offers a free, 14-week workshop for high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors interested in game design. It focuses on both digital and non-digital game creation, covering topics such as game literacy, tabletop game design, and digital game development. The workshop takes place in Downtown Brooklyn, and participants meet weekly on Saturdays.
Participants will learn game design principles, develop digital prototypes, and explore the gaming industry's history. Emphasizing hands-on experience, the workshop allows students to refine their game prototypes through practical, lab-based activities, alongside discussions on tabletop game design and critical analysis.
7. Python for Everybody Specialization - Coursera
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: None (self-paced)
Program Dates: Approximately 32 weeks (5 courses)
Eligibility: Open to all levels, especially beginners interested in coding
The Python for Everybody Specialization offered by the University of Michigan on Coursera is designed for beginners and covers key programming concepts. It comprises five courses that build progressively, starting with the basics and advancing to data retrieval and visualization using Python.
Topics include data structures, working with web APIs, and using databases with Python. The specialization concludes with a capstone project, allowing students to apply their skills in building Python applications for data processing.
8. Program in Python - Coursera
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: None (self-paced)
Program Duration: Approximately 44 hours
Eligibility: Open to beginner-level students interested in programming
This course focuses on introducing programming fundamentals through Python, emphasizing problem-solving with code. It covers Python syntax, problem-solving, control flow, functions, data structures, and more.
The course includes a mix of videos, quizzes, and coding exercises, allowing students to apply concepts through hands-on projects. This free course is self-paced and takes about 44 hours to complete. While the course is free, learners can purchase a certificate upon completion, which can be added to their resume or LinkedIn profile. By the end, students will grasp Python basics, error handling, object-oriented programming, and the ability to set up and navigate a Python environment.
9. Introduction to Computer Science in Python - CodeHS
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Available year-round
Program Duration: 175 hours, year-long pacing
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The Introduction to Computer Science in Python course by CodeHS is a comprehensive, high school-level curriculum spaning 175 hours. It covers Python fundamentals and advanced programming concepts, equivalent to an introductory college semester in computer science.
This programming course begins with interactive activities like Turtle Graphics to introduce essential coding concepts. Students learn Python fundamentals, progressing from conditionals and loops to functions for creating modular code. They practice handling exceptions, string manipulation, and dive into more advanced topics like data structures, including lists, tuples, grids, and dictionaries.
The course culminates in building a word-guessing game, allowing students to apply their skills, and concludes with a final exam featuring multiple-choice, short-answer, and coding questions to assess their knowledge.
10. Build Chatbots with Python - Codeacademy
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: None (self-paced, available year-round)
Program Duration: Approximately 29 hours, divided into six courses
Eligibility: Open to everyone, including Python beginners
The Build Chatbots with Python course on Codecademy takes learners from beginner to advanced chatbot development. The program focuses on building both rule-based and generative chatbots. It introduces core programming skills, moving into advanced topics like natural language processing (NLP) and deep learning, helping students create AI-powered chatbots capable of interacting with users dynamically.
Participants create both rule-based and retrieval-based chatbots before tackling open-domain generative chatbots using AI. The course concludes with a capstone project, allowing participants to design their own chatbot model, integrating rule-based responses and deep learning techniques.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI is founded by Harvard graduate students. Through the programs, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
Image Source - Carnegie Mellon University Logo