20+ Data Science Research Topics for High School Students

If you are a high school student interested in independent research, data science is a strong field to explore. Doing your own project lets you go through the full research process: asking questions, working with real data, and finding patterns that lead to answers.

It is better not to settle on the first idea you come across. Looking at different possibilities helps you choose a project that matches both your interests and the resources you have. While working on data science research, you gain more than subject knowledge. You also practice skills like time management, problem solving, and critical thinking. 

Why should I do data science research in high school?

Working on an independent research project as a high school student in data science can help you build both personal and academic skills. You practice time management by balancing the different steps of research, from data collection to analysis. You strengthen critical thinking by asking your own questions and testing possible explanations. You also improve problem-solving as you work with data sets that do not always give straightforward answers.

Completing a project in this field can also add strength to your academic profile. It shows evidence of sustained interest in data science and demonstrates that you are capable of independent work outside the classroom. Research experience can make your CV or college applications stronger by highlighting initiative, persistence, and intellectual curiosity.

To help you out, we’ve put together 20 of the best data science research topics for high school students!

1. Socio-Cultural Data Analysis

This area of data science looks at how societies and cultures shape human behavior. By analyzing both numbers and stories, also known as quantitative and qualitative data, you can uncover how large social trends or cultural differences influence the decisions people make in everyday life.

For example, research here can explain why certain clothing styles suddenly go out of fashion while others make a comeback years later. It can also show why some social service programs succeed in helping people while others fail to make an impact. Working in this space helps you build useful skills in data analysis, research, and critical thinking, all of which are valuable for problem-solving and innovation.

Some directions you could explore include:

1. Exploring online communities and group behavior

Online forums and communities have existed for decades. A project could look into how these groups form, how they grow, and how they interact with each other over time.

2. Studying attitudes toward mental health over time

Public perception of mental health has shifted a lot in recent years. You can research how different age groups think about it, and how this influences policy, research, and awareness.

3. Tracking online language patterns and their evolution

Internet language changes quickly, and often in ways that do not match offline communication. You can study how slang spreads, shifts, or disappears, and what this tells us about online culture.

2. Financial Data Analysis

Money affects almost every part of life, which is why financial data is such an important area to research. You can approach it from a broad level, such as studying entire economies and how countries grow, or from a very detailed level, such as looking at the spending choices of individuals. Financial data analysis gives you the tools to see how decisions about money shape the world around us.

One example is studying cryptocurrency. A research project here might look at how digital currencies have grown, what patterns are visible in their rise, and how different groups of people have responded to them. This kind of research does not just help us understand what happened in the past but also helps guide decisions about how financial systems could grow in the future in ways that are stable and sustainable.

Here are a few research directions you could take:

1. Comparing economic growth between countries

You could look at how different nations are performing in the global economy and what factors contribute to their success or struggles. These comparisons highlight patterns in development and policy that affect millions of people.

2. Exploring personal spending trends by age group

Survey data can reveal a lot about how people of different ages spend their money. For instance, younger people might prioritize technology or experiences, while older groups might focus on savings or healthcare.

3. Studying the impact of online shopping

E-commerce has changed how people buy and sell, and it is now a major part of the economy. A project could measure how big this shift has become, who is adopting it fastest, and how it is changing traditional spending habits.

3. Health Science Data Analysis

Health science is one of the most important areas of study because medical research has directly saved millions of lives. Once deadly illnesses are now treatable thanks to advances in medicine. When you combine health science with data science, you can analyze medical information over time, across generations, and between regions to uncover patterns that improve care and guide future innovations.

For high school students, working with health data can be especially rewarding. It gives you a chance to learn about biostatistics, health technology, and ways to optimize care systems. By exploring this area, you also gain skills in research and analysis that apply to medicine, public health, and technology.

Here are a few directions you could take with a project in health science data analysis:

1. Studying the relationship between activity and sleep quality

Sleep is something everyone experiences daily, and its quality is closely tied to overall life quality. Research in this area can reveal how different patterns of exercise or movement affect rest, which in turn affects health outcomes.

2. Exploring the impact of air quality on asthma rates

With climate change at the center of global concern, large datasets already exist that show how air pollution affects human health. You could focus on asthma as a specific condition to study how air quality differences across regions connect to rising or falling case rates.

3. Analyzing childhood obesity rates by region

Institutions like the CDC and WHO provide open data on childhood obesity. By comparing regions, you can identify patterns and explore why some areas face higher rates than others. These patterns can inform public health strategies and provide a deeper understanding of global health trends.

4. Educational Data Analysis

Education shapes how societies grow because it passes knowledge from one generation to the next. What we teach, and how effectively we teach, determines not only individual success but also the overall progress of communities. With data science, you can study these patterns and discover ways to improve teaching methods, curriculum design, and student learning experiences.

Educational data analysis is broad and gives you many possible directions. You can study habits, attendance, test scores, or even how extracurriculars affect grades. By working in this area, you gain skills in interpreting statistics while also engaging with questions that matter directly to students, teachers, and policymakers.

Here are some project ideas in educational data analysis:

1. Investigating the impact of sleep on test scores

Sleep connects closely to performance in school. By studying how the amount of sleep students get influences their test results, you can shed light on how rest affects concentration and achievement.

2. Exploring technology use and learning outcomes

From chalkboards to tablets, technology has always played a role in education. Today’s digital tools open up new opportunities but also raise questions about effectiveness. Research in this area can help figure out whether certain technologies actually improve student learning.

3. Studying the relationship between extracurricular participation and academic performance

Students often juggle sports, music, clubs, or volunteering alongside schoolwork. By analyzing how extracurricular involvement relates to grades, you can uncover whether being active outside class supports or challenges academic success.

5. Environmental Data Analysis

The environment is one of the most urgent areas where data science can make a difference. From climate change to biodiversity loss, data helps us understand what is happening and how human actions affect ecosystems. Environmental data analysis gives you a chance to connect science with real-world challenges and explore how communities can live more sustainably.

This kind of research also allows you to see the link between daily choices and larger environmental outcomes. Whether you study waste, green space, or awareness, the results can help inform policies, school programs, or even grassroots campaigns.

Here are some project ideas in environmental data analysis:

1. Plastic waste in schools or communities

Plastic pollution has long been recognized as harmful to ecosystems. You can study how much plastic waste your school or neighborhood produces, sort it into categories, and suggest ways to reduce or recycle it. Tracking the data is the first step toward making real change.

2. Green spaces and community well-being

Eco-friendly spaces are not only good for the planet but also improve people’s quality of life. Researching how the presence of parks, gardens, or other green areas affects community health and social connections can give insights into both environmental and social benefits.

3. Climate change awareness among students

For large-scale change to happen, people first need to understand the issue. A project that surveys students about their knowledge of climate change can highlight gaps in awareness and help guide education campaigns or school initiatives.

6. Political Data Analysis

Politics might feel like a heavy subject to study, but it plays a big role in how societies work. When you combine political studies with data science, you can start asking questions about how people make decisions, how communities engage with issues, and how information spreads. This kind of research can show patterns in elections, campaigns, and political discussions.

Here are some ideas you can explore:

1. Investigating youth political engagement through social media

You can study how students and young people use platforms like Instagram or X to talk about political issues. Instead of attending rallies or debates, many young people are using social media to share views or spread information. Your research could measure how effective this type of engagement is compared to traditional forms.

2. Studying election turnout by age group

You can look at voter participation numbers to see which age groups are more active in elections. For example, do younger voters participate less than older ones? Research like this can help explain gaps in civic involvement and what strategies might increase participation.

3. Analyzing trends in political campaign messaging

Campaigns use a very different style of language compared to everyday communication. By collecting and examining slogans, speeches, and posters, you can find patterns in what candidates choose to highlight. This might show you which issues different groups or regions care about most.

Some additional topics:

1. Analyzing music streaming trends

You can look at platforms like Spotify to see which songs, genres, or artists are trending over time. Your research could reveal how tastes change between different age groups or regions. This type of project helps you practice working with large datasets and spotting patterns.

2. Surveying screen use and academics

Collect data from students on how much time they spend on phones, tablets, or computers each day. Then, see if there’s a link between screen time and grades or learning habits. This project helps you practice designing surveys, organizing data, and interpreting correlations.

3. Predicting sports team performance

Using past game stats, you can try to predict how teams might perform in upcoming matches. This project teaches you how to apply models, calculate averages, and spot trends in numerical data.

4. Analyzing purchasing habits

Look at datasets about what people buy and when. You can figure out which items are most popular, what times of year sales spike, or how spending patterns differ by age or income. This helps you practice data cleaning, categorizing information, and presenting findings clearly.

5. Tracking food waste

Observe households or schools to see how much food gets thrown away and why. You can suggest ways to reduce waste. This kind of project combines data collection, analysis, and problem-solving skills with practical impact.

6. Studying college enrollment trends

Use public datasets to see which majors are growing or declining in popularity over time. You’ll learn how to organize historical data and understand trends in education.

7. Analyzing fashion trends

Explore datasets from e-commerce sites to study how certain brands, colors, or styles gain or lose popularity. You can examine the factors that drive these changes. This project helps you learn pattern recognition and the impact of consumer behavior on markets.

8. Comparing online and in-person learning outcomes

Collect data from peers to see how learning differs in virtual classrooms versus in-person classes. This teaches you to interpret performance metrics and understand how the environment affects learning outcomes.

One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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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