15 Coding Programs for High School Students in NYC
- Stephen Turban
- 15 minutes ago
- 10 min read
As a high school student, joining a coding program can be one of the most practical ways to explore computer science. These programs give you time to write code, work on projects, and learn from instructors. Over time, this helps you build confidence and understand whether coding is a field you want to pursue further.
Why choose a coding program in New York City?
New York City offers a range of coding programs hosted by universities, nonprofits, and established tech organizations. Many programs allow you to work with mentors, use industry tools, and engage with motivated peers. Being based in the city makes these opportunities easier to access without the added cost of travel. These experiences give you concrete examples of skills and interests to talk about in college applications, and they’re especially useful if you’re applying for a computer science major.
To help you find the right fit, we have curated a list of 15 of the best coding programs for high school students in NYC!
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small, mentor-matched cohorts
Dates: Multiple cohorts offered year-round; options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Rolling; deadlines vary by cohort
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate strong academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a highly selective research experience designed for motivated high school students seeking in-depth, college-level work. You will be paired one-on-one with a PhD mentor to conduct an independent research project in a field of your choice, including computer science, data science, engineering, or related coding-intensive disciplines. Over the course of the program, you will learn how to formulate research questions, apply technical tools and programming methods, and analyze results under expert guidance. The structure focuses on personal mentorship rather than large-group instruction, enabling deep skill development and consistent feedback. By the end of the program, you will produce a full independent research paper. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: NYC College of Technology (CUNY), Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free; includes tuition, books, supplies, and a $1,575 stipend for the summer internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited seats for NYC public school students
Dates: Spring course runs February 14–May 16; summer internship runs for six weeks
Application Deadline: December 12
Eligibility: NYC public high school sophomores or juniors from partner schools; minimum academic and Regents-based requirements apply
The College Now STEM Research Academy at City Tech is a competitive, two-part research program designed to build college-level research skills for NYC public school students from under-resourced science backgrounds. You will begin with a free spring research course focused on core scientific practices, including formulating research questions, designing experiments, conducting literature reviews, and analyzing data. Students who complete the spring course may apply for a paid summer research internship, where they are matched with a City Tech faculty mentor and laboratory team. During the summer, you will conduct original research, write a formal paper, and present your findings at the Summer Science Symposium at the American Museum of Natural History.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small, project-based cohorts
Dates: Multiple cohorts offered year-round; typically 12–15 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling; cohorts offered in spring, summer, fall, and winter
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship applicants should have prior AI or Python experience or have completed the AI Scholars program
Veritas AI is a selective program designed for high school students interested in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and coding-intensive research. If you are new to the field, the AI Scholars program introduces core concepts in AI and data science through a structured bootcamp that includes hands-on coding exercises and applied projects.
For more advanced students, the AI Fellowship offers the opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities on an independent AI research or development project. You will gain experience applying Python, machine learning models, and data analysis techniques to real-world problems. The program places a strong emphasis on mentorship, technical rigor, and tangible outcomes.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free; full scholarship provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not publicly specified
Dates: July 13–August 7
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Currently in 10th or 11th grade, who are NYC residents or residents of select New Jersey and Nassau County areas
CS4CS is a fully funded, four-week summer program that introduces high school students to core concepts in cybersecurity and computer science, regardless of prior coding experience. You will explore topics such as ethical hacking, cryptography, digital forensics, privacy, and data protection through lessons and exercises. A distinctive feature of CS4CS is its integration of theatre-based communication workshops that help you strengthen your presentation skills and technical communication. Classes run Monday through Friday, allowing for sustained immersion in both technical and collaborative work. Hosted at NYU Tandon and supported by industry partners, CS4CS stands out among coding programs for NYC high school students for its rigour, accessibility, and focus on cybersecurity fundamentals.
Location: Multiple locations, including New York City
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size varies by location
Dates: Multiple two-week sessions offered from June to August
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March
Eligibility: Girls, gender nonconforming, and trans students ages 13–18
Kode with Klossy Summer Camps are free, immersive coding programs designed to support students from underrepresented genders in technology. You can choose from focused tracks such as Web Development, Machine Learning, Mobile App Development, or Data Science, each built around collaborative coding projects. Depending on the track, you will work with tools and languages including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Swift, SQL, and data visualization frameworks. Kode with Klossy stands out among coding programs for high school students in NYC for its accessibility, inclusivity, and rigorous introductory training.
Location: New York Historical Society, New York City, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size varies by session
Dates: Multiple short-term sessions offered year-round (winter recess, spring recess, and other seasonal offerings)
Application Deadline: Varies by program; typically 4–8 weeks before each session
Eligibility: High school students who live in and attend school in the NYC metro area (NY, NJ, or CT)
The Tech Scholars Program at the New-York Historical Society is a fully funded digital humanities initiative that introduces high school students to coding and technology through creative, project-based work. You will collaborate with peers to design and produce digital projects such as podcasts, websites, and interactive media that explore historical themes, artists, and social movements. Depending on the track, you may learn technical skills such as HTML and CSS for web design or audio scripting, recording, and editing for podcast production. You will work closely with museum educators and professional staff, gaining exposure to careers at the intersection of history, technology, and media.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; thousands of applicants globally each year
Dates: Innovation challenges run twice annually (September–November and February–April)
Application Deadline: January 6
Eligibility: Students ages 13–17 with strong English proficiency and an interest in STEM
The Junior Academy is a competitive, project-based STEM program where high school students collaborate in international teams to solve real-world problems through innovation challenges. You will work on industry-sponsored challenges under the guidance of STEM experts, learning about research methods, design thinking, data analysis, and computational problem-solving. All work takes place on the Academy’s custom-built virtual platform, Launchpad, which hosts challenges, expert talks, discussions, and mentoring. Teams self-form, develop solutions across multiple milestones, and present final projects that internal and external judges from academia and industry evaluate.
Location: Online
Cost: $3,095 tuition; discounts may be available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment; small class sizes
Dates: Multiple sessions offered from late June through August
Application Deadline: Rolling; enrollment closes once cohorts fill
Eligibility: High school students; open to beginners with no prior programming experience
The Computer Science Summer Certificate Program is a structured, live online program designed to introduce high school students to core programming and data science concepts. You will receive project-based instruction in Java and Python, two languages commonly used in high school AP courses and introductory college computer science classes. The curriculum progresses from programming fundamentals to more advanced topics such as object-oriented programming, data analysis, and introductory machine learning. Instruction is delivered live by expert instructors, with opportunities to ask questions in real time and access one-on-one bonus training. You will work on applied coding projects and gain experience with algorithms, data structures, and problem-solving techniques. Upon completion, you earn a verified digital certificate.
Location: New York City (in person) or live online
Cost: $2,195 tuition; discounts may be available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment; small class sizes
Dates: Multiple two-week sessions offered from late June through August
Application Deadline: Rolling; enrollment closes when sessions fill
Eligibility: High school students
The Python Data Science & AI Machine Learning Program is an intensive, short-term course designed to introduce high school students to one of the most widely used programming languages in the world. You will begin by learning Python fundamentals before progressing to data science and machine learning concepts using tools such as Pandas, Matplotlib, and scikit-learn. Instruction is delivered by experienced instructors, with live interaction, optional one-on-one support, and access to recorded sessions for review. Courses are available in person in New York City as well as live online, offering flexibility in both schedule and format.
Location: Midtown Manhattan, New York City, or live online
Cost: $2,195 tuition; discounts may be available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment; small class sizes
Dates: Multiple sessions offered from late July through mid-August
Application Deadline: Rolling; enrollment closes when sessions fill
Eligibility: High school students
The Java Summer Program is a beginner-friendly course designed to give high school students a strong foundation in one of the most widely taught programming languages at universities. You will start with core Java concepts and gradually move into more advanced topics such as object-oriented programming, recursion, and algorithmic problem-solving. The curriculum is aligned with AP Computer Science topics, making it especially useful if you plan to take the exam in the future. Instruction is project-based, allowing you to apply what you learn through hands-on exercises and build an original, portfolio-ready Java project.
Location: NYU Downtown Brooklyn Campus, New York City
Cost: $2,845 tuition; need-based scholarships available for eligible NYC commuter students
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not publicly specified
Dates: July 6–July 17 or July 27–August 7
Application Deadline: Applications open in January; deadline not yet announced
Eligibility: Students entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school with intermediate programming experience (at least one formal coding course completed with a B+ or higher)
The CREATE Coding for Game Design Summer Program is an in-person, project-based program for high school students interested in game development and advanced coding applications. You will learn core principles of game design while developing 2D games using Unity and C#, the same tools and techniques used by professional developers. The program emphasizes collaboration, allowing you to work both independently and in teams under the guidance of experienced game designers and programmers affiliated with NYU. A new component introduces the ethical and effective use of generative AI in game development, supplementing, but not replacing, foundational coding skills. Throughout the program, you will apply design theory, scripting, and problem-solving to create playable games from concept to completion.
Location: Columbia University, New York City, NY
Cost: Varies. Check here.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; course enrollment capped
Dates: June 29–July 17
Application Deadline: Varies by summer term; applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students with a strong programming background, including experience with object-oriented programming and recursion
Introduction to AI: Search Algorithms is an advanced, college-level course designed for high school students with prior coding experience who want to explore the foundations of artificial intelligence. You will begin with the historical context of AI before focusing on classical search techniques, optimization methods, and probabilistic strategies. The course focuses on trade-offs between different algorithms through well-known problems such as N-Queens, Knapsack, Post Correspondence, and Chess. You are expected to complete rigorous programming assignments that require applying both new concepts and existing knowledge in Python and Java.
Location: Columbia University, New York City, NY (in person) or online
Cost: Program cost varies by format; additional application and course-specific fees apply
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; course enrollment capped
Dates: June 29–July 17 or July 21–August 7 (in person); July 6–July 17 (online)
Application Deadline: Varies by session; applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students
Introduction to Programming with Python is an intensive, beginner-friendly course designed to introduce high school students to one of the most widely used programming languages today. You will learn core programming concepts such as data structures, functions, scripts, and best coding practices through lessons and applications. Python’s versatility is emphasized through examples drawn from data analysis, machine learning, AI, data visualization, and web development.
Location: Cooper Union, 41 Cooper Square, New York, New York
Cost: $5,150
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; competitive admissions
Dates: July 6–August 13 (choose one 6-week session: July 6–23 or July 27–August 13)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rrising juniors and seniors only
App Lab is an immersive, college-level iOS app development course at Cooper Union, one of New York City's most prestigious engineering institutions. You will learn Swift, Apple's modern programming language, starting with programming fundamentals before advancing to building fully functional mobile applications. Throughout the six-week program, you will design user interfaces, implement data persistence, and develop interactive features using Xcode, Apple's professional development environment. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on project-based learning, guiding you from foundational concepts to building and deploying original app prototypes.
Location: NYIT New York City Campus, New York City
Cost: $250 per program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; maximum 20 students per session, rolling admissions
Dates: August 11–15 (5-day intensive week)
Application Deadline: May 6 (rolling basis; spots fill quickly)
Eligibility: Ages 14–18; high school students only
The High School Summer Maker Academy at New York Institute of Technology is a short, hands-on engineering program where you work in teams to solve real design problems. You will build a tech-based Smart City project tied to sustainability goals, moving from idea to working model. You use tools like 3D modeling and printing, laser cutting, PCB design, soldering, and Arduino programming, guided by instructors from NYIT’s engineering school. The focus stays on building, testing, and fixing as a team. At the end, you present your finished project.
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.
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