high school computer science research projects

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25+ Research Ideas in Computer Science for High School Students

As a high school student, you may be wondering how to take your interest in computer science to the next level. One way to do so is by pursuing a research project. By conducting research in computer science, you can deepen your understanding of this field, gain valuable skills, and make a contribution to the broader community. With more colleges going test-optional, a great research project will also help you stand out in an authentic way!

Research experience can help you develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. These skills are valuable not only in computer science but also in many other fields. Moreover, research experience can be a valuable asset when applying to college or for scholarships, as it demonstrates your intellectual curiosity and commitment to learning.

Ambitious high school students who are selected for the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs work on a research area of their interest and receive 1-1 mentorship by top Ph.D. scholars. Below, we share some of the research ideas that have been proposed by our research mentors – we hope they inspire you!

Topic 1: Generative AI

Tools such as ChatGPT, Jasper.ai, StableDiffusion and NeuralText have taken the world by storm. But this is just one major application of what AI is capable of accomplishing. These are deep learning-based models , a field of computer science that is inspired by the structure of the human brain and tries to build systems that can learn! AI is a vast field with substantial overlaps with machine learning , with multiple intersections with disciplines such as medicine, art, and other STEM subjects. You could pick any of the following topics (as an example) on which to base your research.

1. Research on how to use AI systems to create tools that augment human skills. For example, how to use AI to create detailed templates for websites, apps, and all sorts of technical and non-technical documentation

2. Research on how to create multi-modal systems. For example, use AI to create a chatbot that can allow users Q&A capabilities on the contents of a podcast series, a television show, and a very diverse range of content.

3. Research on how to use AI to create tools that can do automated checks for quality and ease of understanding for student essays and other natural language tasks. This can help students quickly improve their writing skills by improving the feedback mechanism.

4. Develop a computer vision system to monitor wildlife populations in a specific region.

5. Investigate the use of computer vision in detecting and diagnosing medical conditions from medical images.

6. Extracting fashion trends (or insert any other observable here) from public street scene data (i.e. Google Street View, dash cam datasets, etc.)

Ideas by a Lumiere Mentor from Cornell University.

Topic 2: Data Science

As a budding computer scientist, you must have studied the importance of sound, accurate data that can be used by computer systems for multiple uses. A good example of data science used in education is tools that help calculate your chances of admission to a particular college. By collecting a small amount of data from you, and by comparing it with a much larger database that has been refined and updated regularly, these tools effectively use data science to calculate acceptance rates for students in a matter of seconds.

Another area is Natural Language Processing, or NLP, for short, aims to understand and improve machines' ability to understand and interpret human language. Be it the auto-moderation of content on Reddit, or developing more helpful, intuitive chatbots, you can pick any research idea that you're interested in.

You could pick one of the following, or related questions to study, that come under the umbrella of data science.

7. Develop a predictive model to forecast traffic congestion in your city.

8. Analyze the relationship between social media usage and mental health outcomes in a specific demographic.

9. Investigate the use of data analytics in reducing energy consumption in commercial buildings.

10. Develop a chatbot that can answer questions about a specific topic or domain, such as healthcare or sports.

11. Learn the different machine learning and natural language processing methods to categorize text (e.g. Amazon reviews) as positive or negative.

12. Investigate the use of natural language processing techniques in sentiment analysis of social media data.

Ideas by a Lumiere Mentor from the University of California, Irvine.

Topic 3: Robotics

A perfect research area if you're interested in both engineering and computer science , robotics is a vast field with multiple real-world applications. Robotics as a research area is a lot more hands-on than the other topics covered in this blog, so it's a good idea to make a note of all the possible tools, guides, time, and space that you may need for the following ideas. You can also pitch some of these ideas to your school if equipped with a robotics lab so that you can conduct your research in the safety of your school, and also receive guidance from your teachers!

13. Design and build a robot that can perform a specific task, such as picking up and stacking blocks.

14. Investigate the use of robots in medicine, such as high-precision surgical robots.

15. Develop algorithms to enable a robot to navigate and interact with an unfamiliar environment.

Ideas by a Lumiere Mentor from University College London.

Topic 4: Ethics in computer science

With the rapid development of technology, ethics has become a significant area of study. Ethical principles and moral values in computer science can relate to the design, development, use, and impact of computer systems and technology. It involves analyzing the potential ethical implications of new technologies and considering how they may affect individuals, society, and the environment. Some of the key ethical issues in computer science include privacy, security, fairness, accountability, transparency, and responsibility. If this sounds interesting, you could consider the following topics:

16. Investigate fairness in machine learning. There is growing concern about the potential for machine learning algorithms to perpetuate and amplify biases in data. Research in this area could explore ways to ensure that machine learning models are fair and do not discriminate against certain groups of people.

17. Study the energy consumption and carbon footprint of machine learning can have significant environmental impacts. Research in this area could explore ways to make machine learning more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable.

18. Conduct Privacy Impact Assessments for a variety of tools for identifying and evaluating the privacy risks associated with a particular technology or system.

Topic 5: Game Development

According to statistics, the number of gamers worldwide is expected to hit 3.32 billion by 2024. This leaves an enormous demand for innovation and research in the field of game design, an exciting field of research. You could explore the field from multiple viewpoints, such as backend game development, analysis of various games, user targeting, as well as using AI to build and improve gaming models. If you're a gamer, or someone interested in game design, pursuing ideas like the one below can be a great starting point for your research -

19. Design and build a serious game that teaches users about a specific topic, such as renewable energy or financial literacy.

20. Analyze the impact of different game mechanics on player engagement and enjoyment.

21. Develop an AI-powered game that can adjust difficulty based on player skill level.

Topic 6: Cybersecurity

According to past research, there are over 2,200 attacks each day which breaks down to nearly 1 cyberattack every 39 seconds. In a world where digital privacy is of utmost importance, research in the field of cybersecurity deals with improving security in online platforms, spotting malware and potential attacks, and protecting databases and systems from malware and cybercrime is an excellent, relevant area of research. Here are a few ideas you could explore -

22. Investigate the use of blockchain technology in enhancing cybersecurity in a specific industry or application.

23. Apply ML to solve real-world security challenges, detect malware, and build solutions to safeguard critical infrastructure.

24. Analyze the effectiveness of different biometric authentication methods in enhancing cybersecurity.

Ideas by Lumiere Mentor from Columbia University

Topic 7: Human-Computer Interaction

Human-Computer Interaction, or HCI, is a growing field in the world of research. As a high school student, tapping into the various applications of HCI-based research can be a fruitful path for further research in college. You can delve into fields such as medicine, marketing, and even design using tools developed using concepts in HCI. Here are a few research ideas that you could pick -

25. Research the use of color in user interfaces and how it affects user experience.

26. Investigate the use of machine learning in predicting and improving user satisfaction with a specific software application.

27. Develop a system to allow individuals with mobility impairments to control computers and mobile devices using eye tracking.

28. Use tools like WAVE or WebAIM to evaluate the accessibility of different websites

Topic 8: Computer Networks

Computer networks refer to the communication channels that allow multiple computers and other devices to connect and communicate with each other. An advantage of conducting research in the field of computer networks is that these networks span from local, regional, and other small-scale networks to global networks. This gives you a great amount of flexibility while scoping out your research, enabling you to study a particular region that is accessible to you and is achievable in terms of time, resources, and complexity. Here are a few ideas -

29. Investigate the use of software-defined networking in enhancing network security and performance.

30. Develop a network traffic classification system to detect and block malicious traffic.

31. Analyze the effectiveness of different network topology designs in reducing network latency and congestion.

Topic 9: Cryptography

Cryptography is the practice of secure communication in the presence of third parties or adversaries. It uses mathematical algorithms and protocols to transform plain text into a form that is unintelligible to unauthorized users - the process known as encryption.

Cryptography has grown in uses - starting from securing communication over the internet, protecting sensitive information like passwords and financial transactions, and securing digital signatures and certificates.

32. Investigating side-channel attacks that exploit weaknesses in the physical implementation of cryptographic systems.

33. Research techniques that can enable secure and private machine learning using cryptographic methods.

Additional topics:

IoT: How can networked devices help us enrich human lives?

Computational Modeling: Using CS to model and study complex systems using math, physics, and computer science. Used for everything from weather forecasts, flight simulators, earthquake prediction, etc.

Parallel and distributed systems: Research into algorithms, operating systems and computer architectures built to operate in a highly parallelized manner and take advantage of large clusters of computing devices to perform highly specialized tasks. Used in data centers, supercomputers and by all major web-scale platforms like Amazon, Google, Facebook, etc.

UI/UX Design: Research into using design to improve all kinds of applications

Social Network Analysis: Exploring social structures through network and graph theory. Was used during COVID to make apps that can alert people about potential vectors of disease – be they places, events or people.

Optimization Techniques: optimization problems are common in all engineering disciplines, as well as AI and Machine Learning. Many of the common algorithms to solve them have been inspired by natural phenomena such as foraging behavior of ants or how birds naturally seem to be able to form large swarms that don’t crash into each other. This is a rich area of research that can help with innumerable problems across the disciplines.

Experimental Design: Research into the design and implementation of experimental procedures. Used in everything from Ai and Machine learning, to medicine, sociology, and most social and natural sciences.

Autonomous vehicle: Research into technical and non-technical aspects (user adoption, driver behavior) of self-driving cars

Augmented and Artificial Reality systems: Research into integrating AR to enhance and enrich everyday human experience. Augmenting gaming or augmented learning, for example.

Customized Hardware Research: Modern applications run on customized hardware. AI systems have their own architecture; crypto, its own. Modern systems have decoders built into your CPU, and this allows for highly compressed high quality video streams to play in real-time. Customized hardware is becoming increasingly critical for next-gen applications, from both a performance and an efficiency lens.

Database Systems: Research in the algorithms, systems, and architecture of database systems to enable effective storage, retrieval and usage of data of different types (text, image, sensor, streaming, etc) and sizes (small to petabytes)

Programming languages: Research into how computing languages translate human thought into machine code, and how the design of the language can significantly modify the kind of tools and applications that can be built in that language.

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology: Research into how computational methods can be applied to biological data such as cell populations, genetic sequences, to make predictions/discovery. Interdisciplinary field involving biology, modeling and simulation, and analytical methods.

If you're looking for a real-world internship that can help boost your resume while applying to college, we recommend Ladder Internships!

Ladder Internships  is a selective program equipping students with virtual internship experiences at startups and nonprofits around the world!  

The startups range across a variety of industries, and each student can select which field they would most love to deep dive into. This is also a great opportunity for students to explore areas they think they might be interested in, and better understand professional career opportunities in those areas.

The startups are based all across the world, with the majority being in the United States, Asia and then Europe and the UK. 

The fields include technology, machine learning and AI, finance, environmental science and sustainability, business and marketing, healthcare and medicine, media and journalism and more.

You can explore all the options here on their application form . As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship - the Ladder Coach serves as a second mentor and a sounding board, guiding you through the internship and helping you navigate the startup environment. 

Cost : $1490 (Financial Aid Available)

Location:   Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.

Application deadline:  April 16 and May 14

Program dates:  8 weeks, June to August

Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates and gap year students!

Additionally, you can also work on independent research in AI, through Veritas AI's Fellowship Program!

Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI a suitable environment to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship.  

These programs are designed and run by Harvard graduate students and alumni and you can expect a great, fulfilling educational experience. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. 

The   AI Fellowship  program will have students pursue their own independent AI research project. Students work on their own individual research projects over a period of 12-15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. In the past, students have worked on research papers in the field of AI & medicine, AI & finance, AI & environmental science, AI & education, and more! You can find examples of previous projects   here . 

Location : Virtual

$1,790 for the 10-week AI Scholars program

$4,900 for the 12-15 week AI Fellowship 

$4,700 for both

Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply   here . 

Application deadline : On a rolling basis. Applications for fall cohort have closed September 3, 2023. 

Program dates : Various according to the cohort

Program selectivity : Moderately selective

Eligibility : Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit past experience with AI concepts or Python.

Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions pertaining to the students background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest. 

Additionally, you can check out some summer programs that offer courses in computer science such as the Lumiere Scholars Program !

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

Image source: Stock image

75+ Remarkable Computer Science Projects for High School

• Post author By admin
• October 17, 2023

Unlock creativity and innovation with computer science projects for high school. Explore a world of coding, design, and tech solutions to spark your passion

Hey, high school superstars! Ever wondered how your favorite apps work their magic, or how robots pull off their tricks? Well, that’s the enchanting world of computer science, and the best part is you don’t need to be a tech genius to get started.

High school is your golden ticket to explore the incredible universe of computer science with some seriously cool projects.

We’re talking about creating your own games, giving life to robots, or even crafting your own websites – it’s like stepping into a tech wonderland!

In this guide, we’re going to keep things breezy and exciting. No confusing tech-talk here, just pure, exhilarating learning.

So, gear up to dive into the realm of computer science projects designed just for high schoolers, where the journey is an absolute blast!

Table of Contents

The Importance of Computer Science Projects

Computer science projects are kind of a big deal, and here’s why in simple terms:

Skills Galore

They help you learn cool stuff like coding, problem-solving, and creativity. These skills aren’t just for computer geeks; they’re handy in lots of jobs.

Real-Life Stuff

You’re not stuck in theory-land. You get to make real things, like apps or solutions for real-world problems. It’s like having a superpower to fix things with tech.

Get Creative

Projects let your imagination run wild. You can invent new things, dream up solutions, and basically be a tech wizard.

Career Boost

Tech skills are like a golden ticket. Companies love people who can code and solve tech problems, so jobs in tech become your oyster.

You get really good at problem-solving. Big problems, small problems, life problems – you learn how to break them down and solve ’em.

Team Player

Many projects are team efforts, so you learn to work with others. It’s a bit like practice for the real world where teamwork rules.

You become a tech ninja. You understand gadgets, gizmos, and online stuff better, which makes life easier and safer.

Future Ready

The future is all about tech. So, computer science projects prep you to rock in a world that’s getting more digital every day.

Global Friends

You can join forces with tech-loving pals from all over the world. It’s like being part of a global club where everyone speaks the same tech language.

Feel Awesome

Lastly, you feel amazing when you create stuff. It boosts your confidence, and you get hooked on learning and making cool things.

In a nutshell, computer science projects aren’t just about tech; they’re about getting you ready for the tech-filled future, making you a pro at solving problems, and sparking a love for learning.

They’re the key to unlocking loads of exciting opportunities!

Computer Science Projects for High School

Check out some of the best computer science projects for high school:-

Programming and Software Development

• Create a weather app that provides real-time weather updates.
• Develop a simple e-commerce website for a fictional store.
• Build a budgeting application that tracks expenses and income.
• Design a social media platform with user profiles and posts.
• Create a digital calculator with advanced functions.
• Program a virtual piano or music composition tool.
• Build a basic content management system (CMS) for a blog.
• Develop a game leaderboard system with user registration.
• Design a code editor for a specific programming language.
• Create a time management application with task scheduling.

Robotics and Hardware

• Construct a robot that can pick and place objects.
• Build a self-balancing robot or Segway-like device.
• Create a robot that can draw or paint images.
• Design an automated plant watering system.
• Build a solar-powered mobile robot.
• Develop a voice-controlled home assistant with Raspberry Pi.
• Design a robot that can perform simple household tasks.
• Build a line-following robot with multiple sensors.
• Create a robot with facial recognition capabilities.
• Construct a drone with a camera for aerial photography.

Data Science and Analysis

• Analyze and visualize data from a specific social media platform.
• Create a recommendation system for a movie or book library.
• Study the impact of a local environmental issue through data analysis.
• Explore data from a health-related survey and draw conclusions.
• Analyze financial data to predict stock market trends.
• Create an interactive COVID-19 dashboard with data from different sources.
• Analyze user behavior on a website or app using Google Analytics.
• Study the relationship between weather data and energy consumption.
• Explore and visualize demographic trends in your region.
• Analyze and predict traffic patterns in your city.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

• Develop a website chatbot that can answer questions and engage in conversation.
• Create a recommendation system for personalized music playlists.
• Train a machine learning model to classify images of animals.
• Build a virtual tutor that helps with math or language learning.
• Develop a sentiment analysis tool for product reviews.
• Create a speech recognition system for a specific task or command.
• Experiment with a generative adversarial network (GAN) to generate art.
• Implement a machine learning model to predict housing prices.
• Train a model to detect objects in real-time using a webcam.
• Create a language translation tool with machine learning.

Game Development

• Develop a 2D role-playing game (RPG) with multiple characters and quests.
• Create a physics-based game like Angry Birds.
• Build a tower defense game with various levels and enemy types.
• Design a first-person shooter (FPS) game with 3D graphics.
• Develop a multiplayer online game with user registration and scoring.
• Create a puzzle game with intricate level design.
• Design a strategy game with resource management elements.
• Develop a virtual reality (VR) game using platforms like Unity or Unreal Engine.
• Build a game inspired by a classic board game.
• Create an educational game for a specific subject or concept.

Cybersecurity and Network Projects

Set up a home network with multiple devices and secure it against common threats.

• Create a password manager with strong encryption and secure storage.
• Develop a network intrusion detection system (NIDS) for monitoring network traffic.
• Investigate and simulate common cyberattacks like phishing or DDoS attacks.
• Build a secure file transfer system with end-to-end encryption.
• Implement a basic firewall with customizable rules.
• Create a secure messaging application with end-to-end encryption.
• Study ethical hacking by identifying and fixing vulnerabilities in a web application.
• Design a network traffic analysis tool for identifying suspicious activity.
• Develop a secure login system with multi-factor authentication.

Web Development and Design

• Build an e-commerce website with user accounts and payment processing.
• Create an online job board platform for job seekers and employers.
• Design a personal blog with a content management system (CMS).
• Develop a forum or community website for discussions and sharing.
• Build a collaborative project management tool for teams .
• Create a real estate listings website with advanced search and filtering.
• Design a recipe-sharing platform with user-contributed recipes.
• Develop an online education platform with courses and quizzes.
• Build a news aggregator website that collects news from various sources.
• Design a booking and reservation system for a local business.

These project ideas span a wide range of categories and complexity levels, allowing high school students to explore their interests and develop valuable computer science and problem-solving skills.

How to do Computer Science Projects for High School?

Creating a computer science project in high school is a fantastic adventure, and I’ll break it down into easy steps:

Find Your Passion

Start by thinking about what gets you buzzing in the world of computer science. Is it making apps, web design, games, or perhaps diving into data? Your project should reflect your interests and talents.

Define Your Mission

What’s the big idea? Define your project’s purpose – the problem you’re solving or the goal you’re chasing. Having a clear mission keeps you on track.

Break It Down

Divide your project into smaller, manageable tasks. Set milestones for each task to keep you moving forward.

Knowledge is Power

Depending on your project, you might need to learn new stuff. Whether it’s coding languages , software, or design principles, there are tons of resources online to help you level up.

Plan Like a Pro

Craft a detailed project plan. Outline your timeline, set deadlines for milestones, and budget your time and resources.

Gather Your Arsenal

Get all the tools you need – from software to hardware. Make sure your work environment is ready to roll.

Get Your Hands Dirty

Now comes the fun part – start coding, designing, or building. Stick to your plan and don’t hesitate to ask for help if you hit a roadblock.

Test, Test, Test

Make sure your project works like a charm. Hunt down bugs and fix them to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Document Your Journey

Write down what you did, why you did it, and how it all works. Good documentation is like a treasure map for anyone checking out your project.

Show and Tell

Depending on your school’s rules, you might need to present your project. This is your chance to shine and explain what you’ve created.

Share the Love

After the school stuff is over, consider sharing your project online. Platforms like GitHub are awesome for showcasing your skills to potential colleges or future employers.

Reflect and Grow

Take a moment to think about what you’ve learned and how you can improve. Every project is a lesson in disguise.

Seek Feedback

Don’t be shy about showing your project to teachers, mentors, or friends. Their feedback can be a game-changer.

Remember, the journey of creating a high school computer science project is a bit like an epic quest. It’s about learning, growing, and having a blast along the way. So, explore those ideas, push your limits, and celebrate your wins!

What is the best project for computer science?

Picking the right computer science project is like finding a great recipe – it should be just the right mix of exciting, doable, and impactful.

Think of your skills, past experiences, and what you’ve got on hand when choosing your project. Oh, and don’t forget to make sure it’s something you can wrap up without needing a time machine.

Here are some tasty project ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

Cook Up a Website or Web App

Building a website or web app is like baking a digital cake. You’ll get a taste of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and maybe some Python or PHP. Whip one up for yourself, a buddy, or even a local business.

Serve a Mobile App

Apps are all the rage, and making one is like becoming a tech chef. You can cook up an Android app, an iOS app, or maybe even both. Who doesn’t love a good app, right?

Create a Game

It’s like playing with your food but better! Game development can be as easy as flipping pancakes or as challenging as gourmet cooking. Try your hand at simple 2D games or go all-in with 3D masterpieces.

Join an Open Source Potluck

Open source projects are like community cookouts for techies. You can bring your own dish (code) and learn from others. Platforms like GitHub have a feast of projects to choose from.

Build a Robot Dish

Cooking up a robot project is like a tech adventure in your kitchen. Start with a simple one, like a robot that follows lines, or go wild with a humanoid robot or even a car that drives itself.

Remember, the secret sauce is to choose a project that gets you excited, matches your skills, and, most importantly, leaves you with a satisfying tech feast.

What is the hottest topic in computer science?

Computer science is always buzzing with exciting developments. Here are some of the coolest areas right now:

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Think self-driving cars and medical breakthroughs. AI is all about teaching machines to think like humans.

Machine Learning (ML)

This is AI’s sidekick. It helps computers learn on their own, like spotting fraud, suggesting what to buy, and diagnosing diseases.

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Ever talked to a chatbot? That’s NLP at work. It helps computers understand and talk like us.

Computer Vision (CV)

Want your computer to recognize faces or objects in photos? That’s CV making it happen.

Quantum Computing

This one’s a bit like sci-fi. Quantum computers can tackle problems too tricky for regular computers, with big potential in medicine, materials, and finance.

Edge Computing

Imagine speeding up stuff like real-time data analysis and augmented reality by moving computing closer to the action.

Beyond cryptocurrencies, blockchain helps create super-secure and transparent systems for things like tracking products and conducting elections.

Cybersecurity

With more of our world online, we need heroes protecting our systems and data from cyber baddies.

Data Science

Data scientists are like data detectives. They dive into information to uncover insights, whether it’s for healthcare, finance, or marketing.

These areas are just the tip of the computer science iceberg. The field keeps evolving, so there’s always something new and exciting to explore.

If you’re into computer science or thinking of diving in, staying updated on the latest trends is a smart move.

What is computer science senior project?

Imagine a computer science senior project as the ultimate showdown, the big finale, the “mic drop” moment for computer science students in their senior year. It’s their time to shine and prove they’ve got what it takes in the world of tech.

These projects aren’t your run-of-the-mill homework assignments; they’re more like a choose-your-own-adventure, tailored to each student’s interests and program requirements.

Here’s what some students might dive into:

• They might become software wizards and conjure up a totally new app that could change lives.
• Or they could venture into the mysterious world of machine learning, crafting a mind-bending model.
• For the research buffs, it’s like becoming the Sherlock Holmes of computer science.
• Some might join the tech revolution, contributing their genius to open-source projects.
• And then there are those on a quest to save the world (or just make it run smoother) with their very own computer science superhero solution.

Senior projects can be like climbing a mountain with no ropes, but they’re also like striking gold at the end. Students get to play with the latest tech toys, getting hands-on experience and leaving a mark on the tech universe. It’s their chance to be the rock stars of the coding world! 

Let’s sum it up: high school computer science projects are like a backstage pass to the digital world. They’re your golden ticket to explore, experiment, and let your tech wizardry run wild.

Whether you’re cooking up games, creating software, or embarking on a tech adventure, these projects are where the action happens.

But they’re not just about the techy stuff. Think of them as a superhero training ground for problem-solving and a turbo boost for your curiosity.

Beyond getting you ready for future jobs, these projects are your secret weapon for making real change happen.

So, if your dream is to whip up the next big app, solve tech mysteries, or shape the future, high school computer science projects are your canvas.

You get to unleash your creativity, tackle challenges head-on, and, most importantly, have a blast doing it. In the world of computer science, your imagination is the compass, and the future is your playground. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these projects suitable for beginners.

Yes, many of these projects are beginner-friendly, and they come with detailed instructions to help students get started.

What programming languages are commonly used in these projects?

Python is a popular choice for many projects, but students can also explore HTML, CSS, Scratch, and more.

How can I choose the right project for me?

Consider your interests and existing knowledge. Choose a project that excites you and aligns with your skills.

Do I need special equipment for hardware projects?

While some projects may require specific hardware like Raspberry Pi, many can be done with basic materials.

How can I seek help or guidance if I get stuck during a project?

You can reach out to online forums, programming communities, or ask your teachers for assistance.

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Recent Posts

MIT THINK SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Our 2023-2024 application is now live!

Rather than requiring students to have completed a research project before applying, THINK caters to students who have done extensive research on the background of a potential research project and are looking for additional guidance in the early stages of their project. The program is organized by a group of undergraduates at MIT.

the PREMISE

Selected finalists have weekly mentorship meetings with THINK team members for technical guidance, helpful resources, and updates on the projects progress and are given up to $1,000 in funding for their project. Additionally, if permitting, finalists are invited to a four-day all-expenses paid trip to MIT's campus , where they tour labs, present their research to MIT students and faculty, and hang out with members of the THINK team.

THINK project proposals are science, technology, and engineering ideas that span many fields, from green technologies and practical devices to software applications. As long as it can be completed in one semester with a $1,000 budget, almost anything is fair game! A good proposal has an insightful idea , clearly defined goals , and a well thought-out procedure for implementation .

For complete information on how to apply and an example finalist proposal, please download and read the full guidelines.

Nov ember . 1, 2023.

Applications to the MIT THINK Scholars Program open online at think.mit.edu. High school students generate exciting STEM research ideas to submit to the competition.

Jan uary . 1, 2024

Applications are due. Students finish submitting project proposals to be evaluated by the MIT THINK committee and professors.

Jan uary . 30, 2024

Semifinalists are announced and interviewed.

Feb uary . 5, 2024

Finalists are announced and notified of mentorship from MIT professors and researchers in their field and project funding!

Feb ruary . 2024

Finalists virtually get guidance on projects, engage in thought-provoking conversations with mentoring professors, learn about research in MIT labs, tour MIT and Boston, bond with fellow finalists and the THINK team, and receive loads of THINK swag.

Jun e . 2024

Finalists complete their projects. Upon completion of their projects, finalists present their final results to the THINK team, their fellow finalists, and other MIT students.

Contrail Reduction Algorithm and Data Live E-system (CRADLE)

Edward wu | pittsford sutherland high school, ny.

Escaping Synthetic Carcinogens: An Integration of Chemically-Based Testing Methods for Detecting Carcinogens in Personal Care and Cosmetic Products

Chloe sow | the downtown school, wa.

Development of Photosensitive Cellulose Resin for Stereolithography 3D-Printing

Elliott hirko | gainesville high school, fl.

Wall-Climbing Robot in Disaster Zones

Emily stanton and anna brusoe | university high school and homeschool, wv.

From Weed to Wheat: Seaweed as a Potential Staple in the Global Freshwater Crisis

Jun ru chen | jericho high school, ny.

Echo: A Sound Solution For Mapping and Navigation in Firefighting

Agastya pawate | lynbrook high school, ca.

Despite the aviation industry’s one billion tons of CO2 produced annually, its biggest contributor to global warming is not CO2 pollution but condensation trails (contrails for short)–long cloud streaks that airplanes produce at high altitudes. These artificial clouds trap infrared radiation fleeing Earth’s surface and significantly contribute to the rising threat of global warming. Resolutions to reduce contrail harm lack, especially in the area of finding ways to avoid high-impact contrail airplane routes. Other approaches are either too costly or harm the environment even more such as altering engine design or adding chemicals to plane fuel. My proposal is Contrail Reduction Algorithm and Data Live E-system (CRADLE), a fully computerized program that aims to alleviate contrail airplane routes. I plan to carry out my proposal through three phases. In phase one, the program first identifies contrails from any land- or satellite-based sky image by employing state-of-the-art computer vision AI models. Then, in phase two, by matching contrail regions with flight routes and considering contrail formation conditions including temperature, humidity, and pressure, the algorithm calculates alternate flight routes that reduce contrails and is maximally fuel-efficient. Finally, to address a lack of available contrail image data, phase three focuses on creating an interactive smartphone app that allows users to take an image of contrails anywhere, which is then collected into a usable dataset to improve CRADLE’s accuracy.

Eddy is a junior at Pittsford Sutherland High School who is interested in the environment and applied physics. In summer 2022, he conducted quantum physics research through the University of Rochester Research Experience for High School Students. Over the years, he has noticed how his region has been getting fewer snow days, which inspired him to read deeply about the environment. Having a fascination for planes since he was little, Eddy was motivated to solve the pressing contrails problem. He is incredibly excited to further his CRADLE project through MIT THINK. His overall goal in science is to pursue a career in physics academia to make a positive impact on the world. Outside of research, Eddy is a hockey player, saxophonist, and debater as the co-president of his school’s Model UN club. He is involved in his local community as a junior hockey coach helping kids with developmental disabilities.

A lack of transparency and regulation in the consumer products industry, specifically in personal care and cosmetic products, makes it difficult for consumers to know what is in the products they use and their potential risks. Personal care and cosmetic products, including items such as makeup, hair care, skincare, and fragrance, may contain various chemicals and ingredients that can potentially harm human health. For instance, some of these substances, known as carcinogens, can cause cancer in humans or animals, while others may cause irritation, allergic reactions, or other adverse health effects. Thus, herein, we propose the development of an origami paper-based microfluidic device capable of simple and rapid colorimetric detection of multiple carcinogens and other harmful chemicals in personal care and cosmetic products. Origami in paper-based microfluidic devices creates 3-D paper microfluidic channels as liquid fluids wick through paper through capillary action, carrying and mixing reagents, enabling the fluid exchange between layers without the assistance of a bonding agent with a lower cost and with more straightforward fabrication. Thus, with an inexpensive, rapid, and accessible device utilizing chromatography paper, wax, and colorimetric reagents—easily customized for the desired carcinogens—the general population will moreover be able to readily identify unknown irritants and toxins that may potentially affect their well-being.

Chloe Sow is a current junior at The Downtown School in Washington, who is absolutely thrilled to be a part of MIT THINK as a finalist. Interested in pursuing engineering, ubiquitous computing, and/or synthetic epigenetics, having independently conducted research, as well as at the UbiComp Lab at the University of Washington, she has presented at a few research symposiums (being absolutely roasted by the judges, of course!). In her free time, other than spending time with family and friends, she loves to watch documentaries (+ k-dramas), translate novels, and make music. With the support and resources of MIT THINK, for her project, inspired by the Stink! documentary (which is a definite must-watch!), she hopes that the device will provide greater transparency and insights, assisting consumers in making more informed decisions about the personal care products they use.

Over the past several decades, there have been huge advances in tissue recellularization, a field which involves the growth of specific tissue cells onto a porous network called a scaffold to produce a functioning organ. One of the drawbacks keeping these methods from reaching the medical field is the lack of a scaffold for the organ needed (O’Brien, 2011). Herin a potential system for producing 3 dimensional cellulose structures with extreme precision for use in tissue recellularization is presented. Cellulose, the most abundant polysaccharide on the planet, is both biocompatible and very low cost. Additionally, it’s chemical properties fill the prerequisites required for being a good cell scaffold material (Encheva et al., 2004). The only issue is there is no readily available way to directly manipulate cellulose into precise 3 dimensional objects since it neither melts or dissolves in common solvents. One of the most precise 3D printing process called stereolithography typically employs a laser to solidify a photosensitive resin layer by layer until a 3 dimensional object is made (Hubs, n.d). To allow for this method to be applied to cellulose, a metal complex called tetraamine copper II hydroxide or Schweizers reagent (SWR) will be tested under the influence of a photoacid generator (PAG) called coumarin-4-ylmethyl (c4m) to generate a photosensitive cellulose solution that can be utilized with a custom made stereolithography printer to produce 3 dimensional cellulose structures.

Elliott is a junior at Gainesville High School in Florida. He has always had an interest in absorbing information from the world around him an applying it to projects he finds interesting. He puts a great emphasis on chemistry and engineering because it is with these disciplines that he can obtain the ability to create almost anything through his work. He hopes to one day apply this knowledge in a way as to aide in the energy crisis. He enjoys creating things and performing various organic synthesis projects along with long walks through nature and hanging out with his friends (when they actually manage to agree on plans).

Over the years, natural and man-made disasters have persisted at an alarming rate, devastating the lives of many, and leaving behind an unceasing death toll. Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy way to prevent these disasters from happening. So the best we can do is help preserve the lives of those caught in disasters and those risking everything to save others. This is where the wall-climbing robot comes in. The wall-climbing robot can climb up buildings, taking 3D visuals of the damaged area and providing necessary materials to people stuck inside, such as air masks and water. To accomplish this task, we are creating a robot that can climb up and across walls using a modified suction system that can work on any type of wall, even walls with crevices and dirt. Our robot also utilizes pneumatic powered limbs for greater reach. We plan on using a Lidar sensor for the 3D mapping aspect of our design.

Emily is a student at University High School in Morgantown WV who has always had a love for creating things, whether it be robots or novels. This has led her to join Mountaineer Area RoboticS (MARS), her local FRC team, where she has learned how to work with others to build robots quickly. This last year, she has interned at the Biomedical company, Intermed Labs, where she learned more about material science and the process of researching an idea. In her free time, she also loves writing sci fi and fantasy novels and short stories, swimming, and discussing crazy ideas with Anna.

Anna is a homeschooled senior from Morgantown, West Virginia. With her goal of becoming a mechanical and aerospace engineer, she hopes to design innovative technology that can be used to help others. Anna is passionate about expanding STEM education access and resources to rural areas and has written a children’s book about five women in STEM to help students learn about science and engineering. As a member of the mechanical sub-team of FIRST Robotics Competition team Mountaineer Area RoboticS(MARS), Anna has learned a lot about engineering design and fabrication of materials. She is very thankful to have been selected as a finalist for the MIT THINK Scholars Program, and she is very excited to continue collaborating with Emily to continue research on wall-climbing robots. Outside of her STEM related interests, Anna is a classically trained pianist and is learning to play the organ.

Often endearingly referred to as the elixir of life, water is an indispensable commodity required by all aspects across the biological spectrum. Yet, most of freshwater is inaccessible and locked away in glaciers or blended with salts. To conserve this declining resource for our growing population, this project will introduce and demonstrate scale model processing of novel crop and explore dietary shifts for minimizing irrigative water reliance while increasing global crop yield. I will model a scale biochemical process that will render common kelp, specifically, Saccharina japonica into a common grain substitute similar to rice flour. The fungal fermentation with Paradendryphiella salina seeds the sample with accessible nutrients; complex sugars are broken down to build protein rich mycelium. A session of solar baking sanitizes the newly enriched sample. Through another round of fermentation with lactic acid bacteria instead, free protons from lactic acid promote the formation of hydrogen iodide gas with aqueous iodine. Finally, the sample is baked by the sun for the last time— when dehydrated, remaining hydroiodic acid would reform into a dispersed gas. With the acute concentration of iodine removed, myoprotein enriched seaweed powder can easily replace consumer flour with a myriad of advantages. This iodine depressed flour would serve as a low glycemic, high nutrient, and environmentally friendly grain, grown completely past the need for any of our dwindling freshwater supplies. Seaweed as a crop holds untapped potential as a source of an enriched and sustainable diet for future capitalization.

Jun Ru Chen is a sophomore at Jericho High School in New York and a student of the science research program there. Since a brief cooking unit in middle school, food has been one of the major topics sitting on the backburner. With a fear of spicy food and salmonella, he avoids cooking protein himself— drifting into simple cooking, tasting quite bland. In pursuit of this, he researches a superior ingredient and debates on creating a club to support his ventures. Among the existing clubs that he is currently in, he competes in SciOly, Mathletes, and occasionally drops by into whatever club was running that day. Despite having no background in physics, he was placed into all three physics events by the team leader. Armed with spite, he is now lobbying his guidance counsellor to waive AP Physics I prerequisites for Physics II, a class vacant for over 20 years.

Across the western US, destructive fires are larger, hotter and more frequent every year. Their white-hot flames rise high to singe the crowns of tall redwood trees and blacken vast tracts of forest; their smoke and ash turn the skies an eerie yellow. But firefighters on the frontlines are increasingly in need of better equipment and technology in order to be more effective. Currently, they rely on thermal imaging cameras to find their ways around in these situations, but these cameras white out under the intense heat of these blazes, fail to show obstacles and lack crucial depth of field information. My proposal for overcoming these limitations is to use narrow-beam ultrasonic mapping for imaging. By scanning the surroundings of a user with repeated pulses of ultrasound and plotting the resulting distance measurements on a full field of view, my camera will not white out in extreme heat and will be able to image through plumes of smoke. Measuring distance rather than temperature will produce images with clear depth of field and a view of surrounding obstacles. An innovative capture system using a stepper and a DC motor will allow for optimum resolution and measurement quality, and a dual gyroscope system enables crucial odometry for a real-time display. Multiple sensor inputs will be threaded together for efficient operating speed and signal. With this array of sensors and motors, my proposal would provide accurate, three-dimensional mapping in firefighting situations.

Agastya is a junior at Lynbrook High School in San Jose, CA and is excited to be a THINK finalist this year! Ever since he got a Python book from the library and an Arduino for his tenth birthday from his parents, he has done numerous robotics projects using microprocessors and sensors (especially his favorite - the ultrasonic distance sensor). He is a member of his school’s robotics team, where he learned and taught skills such as creating Arduino projects and using power tools for machining. Outside of academics, Agastya is an avid runner on the Lynbrook Cross Country and Track teams and plays clarinet in his school’s Wind Ensemble. In his free time, he enjoys exploring new routes in the hills near his home, going on trips up and down the West Coast and reading whatever he can get his hands on.

See a full list of THINK winners from past years , 2019 , 2018 , 2017 , 2016 , and 2015 .

Alexander greer, class of 2024 | computer science and molecular biology.

Greer is a junior studying computer science and molecular biology. In his free time, he enjoys playing the piano, designing infographics, managing his Google calendar, and learning new things. He is keen on helping THINK make STEM research at the high school level ever more exciting and accessible.

Alexandra So

Class of 2023 | brain and cognitive sciences, business analytics.

Alexandra is a senior from Los Angeles, California, who is double majoring in business analytics (Course 15-2) and brain and cognitive sciences (Course 9). Along with THINK, she is involved in MIT EMS (campus ambulance service) and the Sloan Business Club. Alexandra is excited to continue to share her love of research and provide opportunities for high school students to pursue the scientific projects that they are passionate about through MIT THINK.

Caitlin Ogoe

Class of 2025 | computer science and engineering, chemical engineering.

Caitlin is a sophomore from Western Colorado. She plans on studying computer science and chemical engineering. Caitlin is super excited to get to help extend an opportunity for students from rural schools to gain research experience and to learn a ton from the super talented students who pass through this program every year. She loves picking new color palates for her Google Calendars, obsessing over the latest tech drop's specs, and asking her mom for pictures of her cat, Sherbert.

Class of 2025 | ELectrical Engineering and Computer Science

Emma is a sophomore studying computer science and engineering. In her free time, she can often be found hanging out with friends, watching Kdramas, or munching on chips in her dorm room. With THINK, Emma has enjoyed giving back to communities and empowering high school students and is excited to continue mentoring high school students just like the mentorship she got inhigh school.

Class of 2024 | Computer Science and Engineering

Grace is a junior from Westford, Massachusetts majoring in computer science and minoring in political science. Outside of school, Grace loves to have deep talks with friends, play violin, and weightlift. Grace has really enjoyed mentoring as well as her research experiences and is excited to help high schoolers discover and pursue their interests in research.

Kenneth Choi

Class of 2025 | electrical engineering and computer science.

Kenneth is a sophomore from Ridgefield, Connecticut, planning to major in a computer science related field. Having conducted research and participated in research competitions throughout high school, Kenneth has a passion for mentoring students in their science and engineering projects. His next research goals are to explore the fields of computational biology and natural language processing. Outside of THINK, Kenneth is involved with Science Olympiad, Korean Cultural Association, and IEEE/ACM.

Mulan Jiang

Director | class of 2023 | mechanical engineering with computer science.

Mulan is a senior from Leawood, Kansas planning to study mechanical engineering with a concentration in medical devices and pre-med. Outside of academics, she can be found designing book covers in Photoshop, trying to dance, and eating too many Asian snacks. Coming from an area with fewer opportunities to work in research labs, Mulan is excited to help organize a program accessible to any high school student who is passionate about STEM!

Tiffany Chen

Class of 2022 | computer science and engineering, humanities and mathematics.

Tiffany is a MEng student from New York City majoring in computer science and a joint major between humanities and mathematics. Social and computer science research was a major part of her senior year experience, and she joined THINK to help high school students hone their interest in STEM with resources and mentorship. When she’s not internally dying from her psets, she’s grabbing food or bubble tea with her friends, walking around Boston, or writing letters to her friends back home.

Class of 2025 | Physics, Computer Science and Engineering

Zimi is a freshman from Long Island, NY. Academically, Zimi is interested in maybe too many things, and she is planning to pursue some combination of physics and computer science. Outside of classes, she can be found playing the piano, doodling, and learning how to cook. As a part of THINK, She is excited to share her love of STEM and provide an opportunity for high school students to pursue their passions through scientific research.

Alexandra Volkova

Class of 2026 | computer science and molecular biology, finance.

Alexandra is a freshman from Bergen County, NJ, about half an hour from NYC. She is planning to double major in Computer Science and Molecular Biology (6-7) and Finance (15-3), and as that choice shows, is interested in pretty much everything. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, listening to music and podcasts, playing board games, losing track of hours in the Harvard library and other libraries and bookstores, and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to help bring THINK to an even greater audience of highschoolers and discover the innovative ideas others have.

Class of 2026 | Computer Science and Molecular Biology

Iris is a freshman from Shoreline, Washington, planning on majoring in computer science and molecular biology (Course 6-7), biochemistry (Course 5-7), or bioengineering (Course 20). She is interested in biotechnology, drug design, and personalized medicine! Outside of classes and work, she loves to work out, play Smash, watch Zelda theories, and bead!

Abena Kyereme-Tuah

Class of 2026 |.

Abena is a freshman from Northern Virginia. She is interested in the intersection between computer science and medicine, as well as the process behind business management. In her free time, Abena enjoys dancing, baking, and reading books. She is very excited to be a part of THINK and be able to help students gain access to resources to further their passions.

Katherine Xie

Class of 2026 | computer science and neuroscience.

Katherine is a freshman from New Jersey. She is planning to study computer science and neuroscience. In her free time, she can be found listening to music, playing squash, or hanging out with friends. As a part of THINK, Katherine is excited to create STEM research opportunities for high schoolers and give back to the community as a mentor.

Thomas Larsen

Class of 2026 | mechanical and biological engineering.

Thomas is a freshman from Staten Island, New York, planning to major in Mechanical and Biological Engineering. Throughout high school, he developed and presented research projects in regional and national science competitions, becoming a two-time finalist in NYCSEF and semi-finalist in MIT Think. He is now a researcher in the Biomechatronics Group in the MIT Media Lab, interested in researching the intersection between robotics and human physiology. In his free time, Thomas enjoys playing the Alto Saxophone, designing 3D printing projects, and petting his adorable cat, Shadow. As a member of THINK, Thomas is excited to mentor high school students throughout their research projects and provide them with the resources they need to succeed.

Class of 2024 | Computer Science and Cognitive Science

Claire is a junior from Houston, Texas majoring in computer science and cognitive science with a minor in biomedical engineering. As part of THINK, she is excited to support high school students from all backgrounds in pursuing their research interests! Outside of THINK, Claire is a traditional choreographer for the Asian Dance Team. In her free time, she can always be found listening to music, embroidering, or exploring Boston.

Benjamin Gao

Class of 2023 | computer science.

Ben is a senior from Gainesville, Florida. He is majoring in Computer Science, and after graduation will be working at Palantir as a Software Engineer. In his free time, Ben enjoys working out, reading, and rock climbing. He is looking forward to reading all the amazing applications and mentoring some awesome projects!

How do I apply?

Can my proposal be longer than ten pages, do references/cover pages/figures count in the ten page limit, i am in a team of two. how do we create an account for two people, i am an international student. can i still apply, who judges these applications, how will i know if i won, where can i send my other questions.

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Interested in sponsoring THINK? Please contact us at think-cr [at] mit [dot] edu.

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Summer 2024 Admissions Open Now. Sign up for upcoming live information sessions here (featuring former and current Admission Officers at Havard and UPenn).

5 Free Virtual Research Opportunities For High School Students

Virtual research opportunities for high school students are programs that provide hands-on experience and research projects in various STEM fields, such as mathematics, computer science, computational biology, physics, neuroscience, and engineering. These programs are designed to deepen students’ understanding of STEM and help them develop the skills needed to succeed in their academic and professional careers. 

Participating in these programs can also help high school students expand their knowledge and skills in their areas of interest and work on exciting, unsolved problems with established researchers from top-tier universities. 

Virtual research opportunities are especially useful for high school students who are unable to attend in-person programs due to distance, cost, or other factors. They offer a flexible and accessible way to gain valuable experience and knowledge from the comfort of their own homes. In this article, we will discuss five free virtual research opportunities available for high school students.

1. MIT Primes  

MIT PRIMES is a free, year-long after-school program that provides research projects and guided reading to high school students in the areas of mathematics, computer science, and computational biology. The program is designed for students living within driving distance from Boston, and it offers four sections: PRIMES, PRIMES-USA, Menezes Challenge PRIMES Circle, and Yulia’s Dream.

PRIMES is a research-focused program in which participants work with MIT researchers to solve exciting, unsolved problems. PRIMES-USA is a distance mentoring math research section for high school juniors and sophomores from across the United States. Menezes Challenge PRIMES Circle is a math enrichment section for underrepresented groups living within commuting distance from Boston. Yulia’s Dream is a math enrichment and research program for exceptional high school students from Ukraine.

In addition to these sections, PRIMES runs two collaborative initiatives: MathROOTS, a two-week summer program for high-potential high school students from underrepresented backgrounds or underserved communities, and CrowdMath, a year-long online collaborative research project open to all high school and college students worldwide.

Finally, PRIMES STEP is a year-long math enrichment program for middle school students from Greater Boston.

Overall, MIT PRIMES aims to provide challenging and engaging opportunities for students with a passion for mathematics and science. Through research projects, guided reading, and collaborative initiatives, PRIMES seeks to foster the intellectual growth and development of high school and middle school students, and to inspire them to pursue their interests in these fields.

MIT PRIMES is a prestigious year-long after-school program that offers research projects and guided reading to high school students interested in mathematics, computer science, and computational biology. 

The admissions for the 2023 cycle are closed, and the admission decisions are made by February 1. However, for the 2024 cycle, new problem sets will be posted on October 1, 2023, and applicants will have until November 30, 2023, to solve the relevant problem set(s). 

To apply for MIT PRIMES, you must be a high school student (or a home-schooled student of high school age) living in the Greater Boston area, able to come to MIT weekly from February to May.

To apply, you need to fill out a questionnaire, ask for two or three letters of recommendation, and submit your solutions of the PRIMES problem set. Applicants to the Math section must solve the Math problem set (at least 70%), and applicants to the Computer Science and Computational Biology sections must solve the Computer Science problem set (100%) and the General part of the Math problem set (at least 70%). Admission decisions are based on all components of your application, and there is no application fee.

MIT PRIMES suggests a list of recommended readings as a preparation for entering the program and as a background for further research. By participating in MIT PRIMES, students can gain hands-on experience working on exciting, unsolved problems with MIT researchers and expand their knowledge and skills in these areas.

The Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) is a program that provides opportunities for underrepresented high school students to explore STEM fields. The program is designed to deepen students’ understanding of STEM through traditional classroom instruction, hands-on projects, and sustained engagement with faculty and staff mentors. 

SAMS Scholars are taught by renowned faculty and staff who are deeply committed to their success. They also have the opportunity to collaborate and develop meaningful relationships with peers from across the country. Through SAMS and other outreach initiatives, the program aims to develop a diverse and supportive community of STEM Scholars interested in attending top-tier universities.

The program consists of two parts: Part one is a virtual jumpstart that will occur prior to the start of the residential program. This will focus on skill-building that will be needed for the in-person program. Part two is a 5-week in-person Pre-College program where students will move into the residence halls and attend full days of courses and meetings. The academic portion of the program will conclude with a symposium, and students will move out of the residence halls at the end of the program. 

SAMS is a fully funded, merit-based program, and there is no cost for scholars to participate. To be eligible for the program, students must be at least 16 years old, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and a junior in high school at the time of application submission. Scholars are expected to participate fully for the duration of the program and cannot participate in any other programs if selected for SAMS.

3. University of Illinois – High School Summer Research Program

The High School Summer STEM research program invites current 9th-11th graders from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, or Wisconsin to apply for an authentic six-week STEMM research experience at a world-class research university. Participants will be matched with another student, and in some cases, a teacher from their school. 

The program aims to provide hands-on experience in various STEMM fields, including cancer immunology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, physics, quantum mechanics, bioengineering, and electrical engineering.

Participants will work with established researchers in engineering, computer science, and medicine and attend weekly seminars on topics such as college admission processes and support available, communicating scientifically, and preparing research posters etc. Students will also interact with faculty, post-doctoral researchers, graduate students, undergraduate students, and local high school teachers.

Participants will showcase their research with a research poster and symposium at the end of the program. They should plan for 30-35 hours per week of research and professional development time, with a majority of activities taking place on the University of Illinois campus. 

The program covers some transportation/parking expenses, meals, and a monetary award.

High school teachers play an essential role in the program, with some research projects requiring a teacher to be a co-researcher, and others having a teacher mentor who checks in weekly with the students to discuss their research progress and address any issues or challenges. 

Teachers and students do not need to come from the same school, and interested individuals should apply regardless of whether they can recruit others from their school to apply.

The program also invites research faculty, staff, and graduate student researchers affiliated with The Grainger College of Engineering and the Carle Illinois College of Medicine to propose a high school research project for consideration. The proposals will be mentored by POETS YS, GEnYuS, or SpHERES research teams, which will guide two high school juniors/seniors from limited understanding to completion of a related project of their own and poster presentation explaining their research.

In summary, the High School Summer STEM research program provides high school students with an opportunity to engage in authentic STEMM research and develop professional and college-ready skills. Participants work with established researchers, attend weekly seminars, and showcase their research at the end of the program. 

The program aims to provide hands-on experience and build confidence in students as scientists and engineers.

4. Simons Summer Research Program

The Simons Summer Research Program is a highly selective program that offers high school students the opportunity to conduct hands-on research with Stony Brook faculty mentors. Founded in 1984, the program attracts applicants from all over the country, with Simons Fellows being paired with a faculty mentor, joining a research group or team, and taking responsibility for a project. Students are encouraged to demonstrate independence, creativity, and an aptitude for hands-on work, with a strong interest in science. The program takes place during the summer before the student’s senior year of high school, with students participating in the program from June 26, 2023 to August 11, 2023.

In addition to working on their research project, Simons Fellows attend weekly faculty research talks, special workshops, tours, and events. At the closing poster symposium, students present their research project through a written research abstract and a research poster. Participants receive a stipend award.

The Simons Summer Research Program is supported by the Simons Foundation and is open to US citizens and/or permanent residents who are at least 16 years of age by the start of the program. The program is an opportunity for high school students interested in science to learn valuable techniques, experience life at a major research university, and develop independence, creativity, and an aptitude for hands-on work. The program aims to give students a glimpse into the world of scientific research and inspire them to pursue careers in science.

5. EnergyMag Internship

EnergyMag is offering virtual internships for high school and college students interested in increasing the share of renewable energy in the world and gaining work experience in the energy storage industry. 

The internships aim to provide students with research and analysis skills that will be valuable for their future professional lives. The virtual internship allows students to complete their internship hours virtually, providing flexibility to fit the experience into their busy personal and professional lives. Additionally, virtual interns enjoy the unique rewards of learning from experts regardless of their geographic location and strengthening their information and computer skills. 

The internships are strong resume boosters for employers, graduate college programs, and undergraduate programs. 

EnergyMag offers half-time and quarter-time virtual internships. Half-time internships are available in the summer for two to eight weeks, with interns expected to work approximately 20 hours per week. Quarter-time internships are available all year round for one to nine months, with interns expected to work approximately eight hours per week. The internships are unpaid, and interns work from home while maintaining daily electronic contact with EnergyMag and their mentor. 

Depending on the student’s graduation date, academic record, and experience, interns will be asked to research and analyze a specific company, technology, or market. The intern will be mentored, briefed, supervised, and assisted in producing a draft analysis report. If the report is publishable, EnergyMag will give the intern an internship Letter of Accomplishment. 

The application process for college and high school internships requires an application explaining why EnergyMag should grant an internship, a Skype or voice interview, and a writing sample upon request. College interns are also required to provide their academic record, and high school interns should have at least one honors science or English class with a GPA above 3.25. 

EnergyMag believes that internships provide the opportunity for students to learn on-the-job skills that are not easy to acquire at school but will make a big difference in their future professional success, such as learning how to research a scientific or business issue, approach strangers with positions of authority in a friendly and professional manner, analyze and synthesize information from multiple sources, and communicate professionally in writing.

The blog highlights five virtual research opportunities for high school students, providing hands-on experience and research projects in various STEM fields such as mathematics, computer science, physics, neuroscience, and engineering. These virtual research opportunities aim to provide students with a deeper understanding of STEM and develop the necessary skills to succeed in academic and professional careers. Furthermore, these programs help expand knowledge and work on unsolved problems with established researchers from top-tier universities.

Virtual research opportunities for high school students provide a flexible and accessible way to gain valuable experience and knowledge from the comfort of their own homes. These programs aim to foster the intellectual growth and development of high school and middle school students, and inspire them to pursue their interests in these fields.

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25 Computer Science Summer Programs for High Schoolers in 2024

What’s covered:.

• Computer Science Summer Programs for High School Students
• How Impressive are Computer Science Programs in High School Admissions?
• Other Ways to Spend Your Summer

Computer science summer programs allow you to build your skills and make friends who are as passionate about the field as you are. You may even get to travel somewhere new or experience life on the campus of a top college! Below is a list of computer science summer programs for high schoolers, where and when they take place, and guidance on which ones will provide the biggest boost to your college applications.

25 Computer Science Summer Programs for High School Students 

1. tandon nyu summer programs: automation, robotics, and coding (sparc).

• Session One: June 17-28 
• Session Two: July 8-19
• Session Three: July 29-August 9

Location: New York University (NYU)

Application Deadline: N/A

Cost: $3,025 

Tandon NYU offers two-week, full-day programs for high school students in grades 9-12 that teach the basics of robotics, mechatronics, and programming. Participants learn about concepts and practices in computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering and build a foundation for careers in fields like IoT, machine learning, and augmented reality.

Applicants must be 14 years of age or older and a minimum of 15 years old for housing.

2. Computer Science for Cyber Security (CS4CS)

Dates: July 10-28

Application Deadline: April 14

This three-week summer program is designed to empower the next generation of engineers to take on the challenges of cybersecurity and break down barriers that have led to the underrepresentation of women and minorities in the field. The program is open to 8th-11th graders living in New York City and its neighboring cities.

Participants in CS4CS will learn about a variety of topics including digital forensics, steganography, “white-hat” hacking, and cryptography. Students don’t need experience in computer science or cybersecurity to participate.

3. iDTech Tech Camps

Dates: Varies 

Location: Varies

Cost: $999-$4,799 

iDTech offers two-week coding and artificial intelligence camps for high school students, covering topics like machine learning, deep neural networks, cryptocurrency, and even encryption in 25 states and Washington, D.C. 

iDTech camps can be day or overnight programs, and they’re hosted at universities, providing students with the opportunity to sample college life while gaining hands-on STEM experience. Programs offer participants a mix of group and one-on-one sessions with certified coding instructors. 

4. Code Connects: Artificial Intelligence & Big Data

Dates: July 10-14

Location: Online

This week-long summer program focused on artificial intelligence and big data provides participants with a deeper understanding of machine learning while working on hands-on projects and building programming skills in Python.

5. Code Connects: Emerging Technologies

Dates: June 19-30

This two-week summer camp exposes students to some of today’s most cutting-edge technologies. In week one, participants will learn the fundamentals of the coding language Python. In week two, they’ll apply their coding skills to emerging technologies like AI, cybersecurity, data science, and web development.

6. Kode With Klossy

Location: In-person and Online

Kode with Klossy is a two-week summer coding camp specifically designed for girls, gender-nonconforming, and trans students ages 13-18. Program participants will focus on one of four topics: web development, mobile apps, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and data science. Kode with Klossy is being held both online and in person. 

7. NextGen Bootcamp

Cost: $1,999- $4,495

NextGen Bootcamp offers online and in-person computer education summer programs for high school students—in-person courses are held in New York City. Programs cover a variety of computer-related subjects, including coding in Python and Java, web design and development, and data science.

There are no prerequisites for joining NextGen Bootcamp’s programs—they do not require any prior coding knowledge.

8. Penn Summer Coding Academy

Dates: July 6-27

Location: University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)

Cost: $5,500* 

*Students who attend a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school may be eligible to attend the academy for free.

This three-week residential program at UPenn for high schoolers in grades 9-11 introduces students to front-end web development. Participants learn about Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and JavaScript (JS), along with how to use them to create web pages for desktop and mobile devices. The program provides a strong foundation for students hoping to pursue careers in technical fields. 

9. Girls Who Code Summer Programs

Application Deadline: March 29

Girls Who Code offers two summer programs for girls and nonbinary students: the Summer Immersion Program and the Self-Paced Program.  The Summer Immersion Program is open to high schoolers in grades 9-11. This two-week-long virtual course focuses on beginner to intermediate computer science concepts, the iterative design process, and UX design basics.

The Self-Paced Program is open to high schoolers in grades 9-12, including graduating high school seniors. This course dives into intermediate applications of Python, with a focus on cybersecurity and data science. Students in the self-paced program have six weeks to complete course projects, and support is available through weekly live advisory sessions and activities.

10. Wolfram High School Summer Research Program

Dates: June 25-July 13

Location: Bentley University

Cost: $4,200

The Wolfram High School Summer Research Program is a two-week intensive training that aims to introduce high schoolers to programming, computational thinking, and technology. Students participate in lectures and activities led by Wolfram instructors and build hands-on experience developing a project from ideation to completed product. 

Approximately 50 students are admitted to the program annually.

11. Emagination STEM Camp

Dates: Varies

Cost: $1,960-$3,760

Emagination STEM Camp offers several technology courses that will interest high schoolers with an interest in computer science, most notably coding basics, coding in C#, coding in Java, and AI Explorations. Each course is two weeks long and meets for three hours a day.

Camps are offered on college campuses in three states—Connecticut, Illinois, and Pennsylvania—and provide participants with a college-like experience.

12. Terp Young Scholars

Dates: July 8-26

Location: In-person and online

Application Deadline: May 1

Cost: $1,500-$2,500

This program for rising 10th graders to graduating high school seniors is offered through the University of Maryland. The three-week-long, immersive experience allows students to undertake college-level work, earn college credit, and, in the case of in-person students, learn on a college campus.

Participants in the Terp Young Scholars program choose one course to explore—where they attend class, work on projects, take exams, and collaborate with their peers. Of most interest to students interested in computer science is the in-person course, Introduction to Computing. 

13. Naval Academy Summer STEM Program

• Rising 9th graders: June 3-8
• Rising 10th graders: June 10-15
• Rising 11th graders: June 17-21

Location: U.S. Naval Academy

Application Deadline: April 15 

Cost: $700 

High schoolers in grades 9-11 interested in careers as coders, game developers, designers, and robotics engineers should check out the Naval Academy Summer STEM program. The week-long residential program tests participants’ problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration skills while exploring the world-class labs and facilities at one of the top engineering programs in the nation.

14. WPI Frontiers Program

• Session 1: July 7-19
• Session 2: July 21-24

Location: Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)

Application Deadline: April 30 

Cost: $3,995

This two-week, residential program at WPI allows students in grades 10-12 to explore a STEM major with a humanities minor—providing a preview of college life at WPI. Students interested in computer science may want to pursue the major Computer Science: Possibilities in Programming or the major Data Science: Extracting Knowledge and Insights.  

In addition to coursework, students participate in a variety of recreational activities and college preparatory programming.

15. National High School Game Academy

Dates: June 22-August 3 

Location: Carnegie Mellon University

Application Deadline: March 1

Cost: $8,998-$12,105

This six-week residential program for current high school sophomores and juniors is hosted by Carnegie Mellon and provides students with hands-on experience designing video games. The course is a great opportunity for students with an interest in software development, taking students through the process of creating a video game from ideation to pitch to final ship.

16. AI Scholars

Dates: June 22-July 20 

This free four-week program for rising high school seniors explores artificial intelligence through classroom instruction, research projects, lectures, and engagement with the nation’s leading tech companies. Students will also participate in college prep and readiness seminars focused on everything from admissions to financial aid to social-emotional well-being. 

17. UT Computer Science Summer Academy for All

• Standard Academy: June 9-15
• Machine Learning Academy: July 7-13

Location: University of Texas, Austin (UT Austin)

Application Deadline: December 22 

This week-long residential summer program offered by UT Austin is open to students of all skill levels in grades 10-12. Standard Academy for All participants will learn about C++, project management, and careers in tech, while those in the Machine Learning Edition will explore Python, machine learning concepts, and the social impacts of the technology.

All participants will gain firsthand experience living and learning on a college campus, including sharing a room in a residence hall with a roommate, eating in the dining hall, and tackling college-level coursework.

18. Berkeley Summer Computer Science Academy

Dates: June 16-28

Location: University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley)

Application Deadline: March 11

Cost: $5,060

The two-week-long Berkeley Summer Computer Science Academy allows students ages 16 and 17 to immerse themselves in computer science and coding for two weeks in the summer. The program is based on the introductory computer science course taken by UC Berkeley undergrads. The academy culminates with the Code Celebration, an event where participants show off the coding project they worked on during the program.

This is a residential program and provides students with an excellent understanding of college life.  

19. Summer Liberal Arts Institute (SLAI) Computer Science

Dates: July 6-26

Location: Carleton College

Cost: $4,500

This residential program is open to rising high school juniors and seniors. The SLAI Computer Science program takes a different approach to exploring the field—it looks at it through the lens of liberal arts. Participants will learn about finding computational solutions via classwork, hands-on labs, and working in small teams on projects. The program concludes with a symposium where students share the results of their work. 

20. Veritas AI Scholars

Dates: June 3-June 14 

Application Deadline: May 12

Cost: $1,790

This program, founded and operated by Harvard graduate students, teaches students in grades 9 through 12 the fundamentals of Python and the key concepts of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Participants work in small teams under the guidance of an artificial intelligence expert in fields including gaming, sports, finance, and health care.

The structure of the summer program has participants completing 25 hours of work over two weeks. 

21. Columbia University Introduction to Programming with Java

• Session 1: June 24-July 12
• Session 2: July 16-August 2

Location: Columbia University 

Cost: $12,449

This three-week program is designed to provide participants with an understanding of the fundamentals of Java and build familiarity with object-oriented programming concepts, algorithms, and techniques. Students will also challenge their logical reasoning, systematic thinking, and problem-solving skills on programming projects and in labs. Students already knowledgeable in Java may want to check out this program’s counterpart course, Introduction to Programming with Python.

Outside of the classroom and lab, students are offered a variety of college preparedness programs, including lectures, seminars, and workshops covering everything from the college application process to managing the rigors of college life. 

This is a residential program that allows students to experience life at one of the nation’s most prestigious colleges and in one of the world’s great cities. 

22. UCLA Computer Science Introductory Track

Dates: June 30-August 9

Location: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Application Deadline: June 1

This commuter program at UCLA combines a coding boot camp with college-level coursework and lab experiences to introduce students in grades 9-12 to computer science. Program participants will explore the design and implementation of computer programs, learn how to use computers as tools, and explore topics like integers, strings, lists, control structures, and functional decomposition. 

No previous coding experience is necessary to participate in this program.

23. Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)

Dates: June 24-July 12

Location: Boston University

Application Deadline: February 14

Cost: $3,120-$3,426

High school juniors passionate about developing their STEM skills will want to check out RISE, a six-week program that provides research opportunities in a number of fields, including computer science.

Participants can choose between two tracks in the RISE program: Internship and Practicum. Those on the internship track will spend 40 hours a week working on research projects while those on the Practicum track begin each day with a two-hour lecture followed by four hours of group research. Once a week, practicum track participants will join the internship students for workshops aimed at building academic and professional skills.

24. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program

Dates: June 17-August 2 

Location: UC Santa Barbara 

Application Deadline : March 18

Cost: $4,975-$11,874

The Research Mentorship Program enables high-achieving high schoolers to tackle hands-on, university-level research in a variety of fields, including computer science. Students work with a mentor to learn about research techniques, gain insight into professional opportunities, and grow their academic goals. The program concludes with participants reporting their findings in a technical research paper and presenting at a formal academic symposium.

25. MITES Summer 

Dates: Late June-Early August 

Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)  

Application Deadline: February 15

High school juniors with a passion for STEM will want to check out MITES Summer. This six-week program immerses students in life at MIT—taking courses, participating in lab tours, and attending social events—while also preparing them for college admissions.

The MITES Summer program includes high-level math and science coursework along with electives focusing on real-world STEM applications. In the past, electives have included courses in machine learning, electronics, and engineering design.

At the conclusion of the program, students receive a written evaluation from their instructor which many students submit as supplemental material with their college applications.

How Impressive Are Computer Science Programs in College Admissions?

Computer science summer programs are a great way to show colleges that you are passionate about your academic interests, and attending a prestigious summer program can give your odds of college admission a significant boost.

The four tiers of extracurricular activities provide a good guideline for understanding the influence summer programs have on your chances of getting into college. Tiers 1 and 2 are reserved for the most impressive and rarest activities—and have the most impact on college admissions. Extracurriculars in Tiers 3 and 4 are more common and hold less weight with admissions offices. Most summer programs are in Tiers 3 and 4, though ones that are highly selective, free, and have a competitive application process would be considered Tier 1 or 2. 

CollegeVine can add clarity to the impact your participation in activities outside the classroom, including computer science summer programs, has on your chances of college acceptance. Our free chancing engine uses a number of data points—like academics, extracurriculars, and demographics—to estimate your odds of getting into over 1,600 colleges in the United States.

Other Ways to Spend Your Summer 

Summer computer science programs are one approach to improving your college application, but you may also want to look into volunteer work, independent study, and internships. For example, internships are a challenging, and even more impressive, experience that can increase your chances of acceptance into college. See our list of computer science internships to find the best one for you. 

Another option is self-guided extracurriculars, which, when compared to summer programs, have the advantage of generally being more affordable and easier to fit into busy schedules. Some computer science-related, self-guided activities to consider include participating in an online hackathon, building a website or computer, or learning a new programming language on your own.

If you want to give back to your community, you can also teach residents of a retirement home how to use a technological device, such as a smartphone or computer, or lead a coding camp for elementary schoolers in your community. 

Overall, computer science summer programs are an excellent way to enhance your chances of acceptance, but they’re only one component of the whole application. For more approachable extracurricular opportunities, check out our list of online opportunities for high school students .

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Call for High School Projects

Machine learning for social impact .

The Thirty-Eighth Annual Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS 2024) is an interdisciplinary conference that brings together researchers in machine learning, neuroscience, statistics, optimization, computer vision, natural language processing, life sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, and other adjacent fields. 

This year, we invite high school students to submit research papers on the topic of machine learning for social impact.  A subset of finalists will be selected to present their projects virtually and will have their work spotlighted on the NeurIPS homepage.  In addition, the leading authors of up to five winning projects will be invited to attend an award ceremony at NeurIPS 2024 in Vancouver.  

Each submission must describe independent work wholly performed by the high school student authors.  We expect each submission to highlight either demonstrated positive social impact or the potential for positive social impact using machine learning. Application areas may include but are not limited to the following:

• Agriculture
• Climate change
• Homelessness
• Food security
• Mental health
• Water quality

Authors will be asked to confirm that their submissions accord with the NeurIPS code of conduct and the NeurIPS code of ethics .

Submission deadline: All submissions must be made by June 27th, 4pm EDT. The system will close after this time, and no further submissions will be possible.

We are using OpenReview to manage submissions. Papers should be submitted here . Submission will open June 1st.  Submissions under review will be visible only to their assigned program committee. We will not be soliciting comments from the general public during the reviewing process. Anyone who plans to submit a paper as an author or a co-author will need to create (or update) their OpenReview profile by the full paper submission deadline. 

Formatting instructions:   All submissions must be in PDF format. Submissions are limited to four content pages , including all figures and tables; additional pages containing only references are allowed. You must format your submission using the NeurIPS 2024 LaTeX style file using the “preprint” option for non-anonymous submission. The maximum file size for submissions is 50MB. Submissions that violate the NeurIPS style (e.g., by decreasing margins or font sizes) or page limits may be rejected without further review.  Papers may be rejected without consideration of their merits if they fail to meet the submission requirements, as described in this document. 

Mentorship and collaboration:  The submitted research can be a component of a larger research endeavor involving external collaborators, but the submission should describe only the authors’ contributions.  The authors can also have external mentors but must disclose the nature of the mentorship.  At the time of submission, the authors will be asked to describe the involvement of any mentors or external collaborators and to distinguish mentor and collaborator contributions from those of the authors.  In addition, the authors may (optionally) to include an acknowledgements section acknowledging the contributions of others following the content sections of the submission. The acknowledgements section will not count toward the submission page limit.

Proof of high school attendance: Submitting authors will also be asked to upload a signed letter, on school letterhead, from each author’s high school confirming that the author was enrolled in high school during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Supplementary artifacts:  In their submission, authors may link to supplementary artifacts including videos, working demonstrations, digital posters, websites, or source code.  Please do not link to additional text.  All such supplementary material should be wholly created by the authors and should directly support the submission content. 

Review process:   Each submission will be reviewed by anonymous referees.  The authors, however, should not be anonymous.  No written feedback will be provided to the authors.  

Use of Large Language Models (LLMs): We welcome authors to use any tool that is suitable for preparing high-quality papers and research. However, we ask authors to keep in mind two important criteria. First, we expect papers to fully describe their methodology.  Any tool that is important to that methodology, including the use of LLMs, should be described also. For example, authors should mention tools (including LLMs) that were used for data processing or filtering, visualization, facilitating or running experiments, or proving theorems. It may also be advisable to describe the use of LLMs in implementing the method (if this corresponds to an important, original, or non-standard component of the approach). Second, authors are responsible for the entire content of the paper, including all text and figures, so while authors are welcome to use any tool they wish for writing the paper, they must ensure that all text is correct and original.

Dual submissions:  Submissions that are substantially similar to papers that the authors have previously published or submitted in parallel to other peer-reviewed venues with proceedings or journals may not be submitted to NeurIPS. Papers previously presented at workshops or science fairs are permitted, so long as they did not appear in a conference proceedings (e.g., CVPRW proceedings), a journal, or a book.  However, submissions will not be published in formal proceedings, so work submitted to this call may be published elsewhere in the future. Plagiarism is prohibited by the NeurIPS Code of Conduct .

Paper checklist: In order to improve the rigor and transparency of research submitted to and published at NeurIPS, authors are required to complete a paper checklist . The paper checklist is intended to help authors reflect on a wide variety of issues relating to responsible machine learning research, including reproducibility, transparency, research ethics, and societal impact. The checklist does not count towards the page limit and will be entered in OpenReview.

Contact:   [email protected]

12 Best Computer Science Competitions for High School Students

By Alex Yang

Graduate student at Southern Methodist University

8 minute read

Computer science competitions are a great opportunity for students to practice their programming skills and learn how to solve problems. These events can involve writing code to create specific projects or apps, or to just solve programming problems. These competitions can also be fantastic opportunities for learning how to collaborate in teams, and provide a fun and low-pressure atmosphere to improve your programming skills. In this article, we’ll discuss different competitions that you can get involved in this year!

Things to Consider When Finding Your Next Computer Science Competition 

Keep in mind that not all competitions are the same! They will have key differences in their format and location. For example, if travel is not something you can manage during the school year, then perhaps competitions that rely on in-person events that are far away from you may not be practical. That being said, most computer science competitions for high school students are hosted virtually, so that’s not something you have to be too concerned with.

Some competitions may also have their own “seasons,” where you have a regular cadence of competition during a certain part of the year, and other competitions may just require a single project submission by a certain deadline. Think through what works best with your school workload and your other extracurriculars. If you also have a group of friends in school who are interested in programming competitions, you may also want to lean towards competitions where you can create your team, as that can often be a rewarding and fun experience.

12 Computer Science Competitions for High School Students

1. davidson fellows.

Location: Virtual

Hosting Institution: Davidson Institute for Talent Development

Awards: $50,000, $25,000, and $10,000 scholarships

Entry Deadline: February 14, 2024

Competition Date: Winners announced later in the year.

The Davidson Fellows scholarship program is designed to recognize and support outstanding young individuals who have completed significant projects in various fields, including computer science, programming, and robotics.

To participate, students must submit a formal research report, visual model, and explain the project's benefit to society. In this competition, open to all students 18 years old or younger , you can work in groups of two.

2. American Computer Science League (ACSL)

Location: In-person, check the website for local event locations

Hosting Institution: ACSL Foundation

Awards: Certificates and cash prizes

Entry Deadline: Varies by local contest

Competition Date: Four contests are held throughout the academic year, starting in November 2023 and ending in March 2024. Invitational Finals are on May 25, 2024.

The American Computer Science League is a series of contests designed to engage students in computer science and programming. Participants solve computer science problems that test knowledge of concepts like Boolean Algebra and Number Systems. There’s no need to worry about your current skill level with programming, as ASCL offers different divisions for varying skill levels, and you can participate in multiple divisions.

3. CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Competition

Location: Virtual, then national finals in Maryland

Hosting Institution: Air Force Association (AFA)

Awards: Scholarships, teams that qualify for nationals get all expenses paid trip to Maryland

Cost: $205 registration fee per team

Entry Deadline: April 1 - October 3, 2024 (estimated based on previous year’s date) 

Competition Date: The competition season occurs one weekend per month from October to January

This competition challenges teams to fix cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and teams are scored based on how secure they make the operating systems. Teams will compete in online competitions, and the top-performing teams will then advance to the in-person National Competition in Maryland. The great part about this competition is that no prior experience is necessary; the competition caters to various skill levels and there are training resources available. You must enroll in teams of 2-6 students in association with a school or organization and also have a coach and technical mentor on your team, so there are a bit more personnel requirements in this competition.

4. USA Computing Olympiad

Hosting Institution: International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI)

Awards: Opportunity to advance to IOI

Cost: Not specified

Entry Deadline: TBA

Competition Date: Between December 16th, 2023 and December 19th, 2023 (tentatively, based on previous year’s schedule).

This competition is a very competitive and high-level event where finalists get to represent the USA in the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), a prestigious event launched by UNESCO.

The contest consists of two  days of computer programming/coding and problem-solving of algorithmic nature. You can expect the problems to be very rigorous, but one of the positives of this competition is that it offers a ton of training resources to help improve your programming and problem-solving  skills.

5. Congressional App Challenge

Hosting Institution: U.S. House of Representatives

Awards: Winning apps are eligible to be displayed in the US Capitol Building and featured on the House of Representatives’ website. Winning students are also invited to Capitol Hill Reception in Washington D.C.

Entry Deadline: November 1, 2023

Competition Date: Winners announced in December

In this competition hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives, students create apps using any programming language to solve specific challenges. You can work in up to teams of four. This competition has some of the most unique prizes out there and could be a great fit for you if you’re also interested in government/politics. Previous winners have created apps that help with college applications, and spelling bees, and introduce users to American history.

Create a CompSci research project tailored to YOU!

Polygence pairs you with an expert mentor in your area of passion. Together, you explore the area of Computer Science that ignites your mind to create a high quality research project that is uniquely your own. We also offer options to explore multiple topics, or to showcase your final product!

6. HPE CodeWars

Location: Can compete virtually, but locations in Ft. Collins, Colorado, Houston, Texas, and Roseville, California

Hosting Institution: HPE CodeWars

Awards: Raffle awards

Cost: Free (aside from travel expenses to competition)

Entry Deadline: Registration opens a month before the competition, and closes two weeks before the start date.

Competition Date: March 2, 2024

HPE CodeWars is a coding challenge involving teams of three who must tackle 30 progressively challenging problems within a 3-hour timeframe. The competition, held in languages such as C, C++, Java, and Python 3, helps participants refine their problem-solving abilities and practice competitive coding techniques like the two-pointer method and binary search for enhanced algorithm efficiency. Check this competition out if problem-solving is your thing!

7. Stanford ACM ProCo

Location: Stanford University campus (Palo Alto, California)

Hosting Institution: Stanford University

Awards: Prizes vary year to year. Previous first place prizes have included Raspberry Pis, iPad Minis, and Nintendo 3DSes.

Competition Date: April 15, 2024 (estimated based on last year’s date)

Students team up, with a limit of three members per group, to solve algorithmic problems competitively.. The contest will last 3 hours and consist of 9 - 15 unweighted problems. While the competition recommends having at least one year of programming experience, newcomers are welcome. The contest is split between two separate divisions: Novice and Advanced. The Novice category includes newcomers and students with under two years of programming experience, while the Advanced category is designed for returners and those students with two years or more of programming expertise.

8. Harker Programming Invitational

Location: San Jose, California

Hosting Institution: Harker Programming Club

Awards: Trophies, top eight  teams receive certificates

Entry Deadline: TBA Competition Date: March 11, 2024 (estimated based on last year’s date)

This competition is designed to prepare participants for the Stanford ProCo Contest. Teams of up to three  students compete in a 2-hour contest round to score as many points as possible by solving a number of problems and submitting the answers online. Similar to the Stanford ProCo, the contest offers two divisions, Novice and Advanced. The problems are also similar to the USA Computing Olympiad format, so if you plan on doing either USACO or Stanford this could be a great warm-up  event.

9. Girls Programming League Challenge 

Awards: Top three teams in each division will receive awards and trophies. Top eight  teams in each division will receive certificates.

Entry Deadline: A week before competition date (estimated September 9)

Competition Date: September 16, 2024 (estimated based on last year’s date)

This competition follows a similar problem-solving format to the Harker Programming Invitational, except this challenge is intended for students identifying as female or non-binary. In addition to the competition, participants get to listen to a keynote speech and speaker panel of female academic and industry leaders with backgrounds in AI and computer science! Previous speakers have been leaders at companies like Meta and DoorDash.

10. Bebras Computing Challenge

Location: Online

Hosting Institution: Bebras

Awards: Certificates

Cost: Free 

Entry Deadline: Not specified

Competition Date: November 6-19, 2024

​​Students from 6 to 18 years old work through a set of tasks that focus on different topics and skills within informatics and computational thinking. They will have 45 minutes to complete as many tasks as they can. The challenge has many more age groups than other contests in computer science, with six different age categories. You register for the competition through a teacher and it will also be a teacher who supervises the challenge.

11. picoCTF

Hosting Institution: Carnegie Mellon University

Awards: Cash prizes, specialty awards, and a chance to visit Carnegie Mellon University

Entry Deadline: February 1, 2024 (estimated based on last year’s date)

Competition Date: March 12-16, 2024 

Known as the largest high school hacking competition, the challenge gives participants a chance to learn about cybersecurity skills, which are in demand especially in today’s age. picoCTF also gives you online resources to help prepare you for the competition. The picoGym is a space where you can practice problems from previously released picoCTF competitions.

12. CoderZ League

Hosting Institution: CoderZ

Awards: Not specified

Cost: Costs to register, not specified on website

Entry Deadline: April 1, 2024 for Spring season(estimated based on last year’s date)

Competition Date: Spring season starts on March 27, 2024 and ends in May (estimated based on last year’s date)

In this virtual robotics and coding tournament, students learn how to code virtual 3D robots to complete specific tasks and challenges. You can compete in teams of 6. In both the Spring season and Fall season, there are two age divisions: Novice (4th-6th grade) and Junior (6th-9th). The Spring season is recommended for students who have participated in the Novice division in a previous year and want to challenge themselves.

Computer science research projects completed by Polygence students

We want to highlight some computer science research projects that Polygence student alumni have previously explored. Hopefully, these projects will  give you some inspiration as you explore the field yourself!

Joseph built a Duolingo-like app to help students learn the basics of the Java programming language . Joseph himself learned Java through the AP Computer Science curriculum and wanted to share what he learned with other students! In the app, students learn by completing exercises and mini-quizzes before they can progress.

Laxya wanted to help other students learn about complex but beautiful topics like quantum computing in a more approachable way. Laxya developed a YouTube series of tutorials introducing topics like quantum algorithms and quantum mechanics. As part of the video tutorials , Laxya used Python to demonstrate step-by-step processes for coding quantum algorithms.

Lily’s project was actually a series of smaller projects that she compiled into a small portfolio ! These projects include a game and an animation. Each week, Lily worked independently on the code, learning fundamentals of computer programming and Python along the way.

If you’re interested in computer science, Polygence’s programs are a great place to start your journey as they provide opportunities to work with, and learn from, excellent research mentors who are well-versed in the field of computer science .

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Research and Prepare for your Competition or Fair

Polygence pairs you with an expert mentor in your area of passion. Together, you work to create a high quality research project that is uniquely your own. Our highly-specialized mentors can help guide you to feel even more prepared for an upcoming fair or competion. We also offer options to explore multiple topics, or to showcase your final product!