14 History Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 5 hours ago
- 9 min read
If you’re a high school student interested in history, participating in a history-focused program can be a wise choice. These programs offer a glimpse into college-level academics and college life, helping you develop research and critical-thinking skills. Offered by universities and organizations, they also help you establish relationships with mentors and peers.
What are the benefits of attending a history program?
History programs allow you to work on historical research, archival tasks, analyze primary sources, and work alongside experts. You’ll also learn how to interpret evidence, write analytically, and form arguments based on historical materials. These programs can help you build your profile and network, helping you prepare for future opportunities.
Below, we’ve put together 14 history programs for high school students.
If you are looking for online research programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Stipend: Paid (GS-01/01 federal salary); transit benefits and possible leave eligibility
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not disclosed; ongoing application pool
Dates: Appointments are negotiable; up to one year, ending June 30 of the student’s graduation year
Application Deadline: Rolling until April 24
Eligibility: U.S. citizens at least 16 years old, enrolled in a local high school within a 45-minute commute; juniors or seniors; part-time availability during the school year required
This year-long, part-time program offers high school juniors and seniors in the D.C. area paid federal employment at the Library of Congress. You'll gain practical office experience through structured career development and on-the-job training. The schedule is designed to accommodate school hours, typically in the afternoons, Monday through Friday. Although not focused solely on history, the opportunity to work at one of the nation’s most important historical institutions can provide insight into archival work, federal service, and research support. It's a rare way to explore a professional setting tied to U.S. history and public service while still in high school.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; Need-based financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 12-week program; Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3+
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research-focused opportunity designed for high school students who want to explore academic topics in depth. You work 1-on-1 with a Ph.D. mentor on an independent project in a subject area you choose. Over the course of twelve weeks, you learn how to form a research question, gather information, and develop your ideas into a full research paper. You can select from fields including history, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more.
Location: High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA
Stipend: Paid position (exact amount not specified)
Acceptance rate or cohort size: 15 students selected annually
Dates: Summer Intensive: June 2 – July 25; year-round engagement through school year
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors enrolled full-time for the upcoming school year
As a Teen Team member, you'll join a small, selective group that works closely with museum staff to design and implement teen-focused events and public programming. The experience starts with an eight-week summer intensive, where you'll explore the museum’s exhibitions and collections, collaborate on a group project, and learn about careers in the arts and museum sectors. Throughout the school year, you’ll continue meeting regularly and serve as an ambassador for the museum. The role blends leadership, arts education, and civic engagement in a hands-on, community-oriented setting.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September)
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
Location: Hosted at various U.S. college campuses (e.g., Cornell University)
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; includes tuition, housing, meals, books, field trips, and travel assistance
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Extremely selective; exact cohort size not published, but historically competitive
Dates: June 21 – July 25
Application Deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (ages 15–17) in the U.S. and abroad; specific age and grade criteria apply
TASS is a five-week residential seminar that immerses you in college-level humanities coursework focused on history, power, and social structures. You can choose between two tracks: TASS-CBS, which centers on the history and culture of people of African descent, or TASS-AOS, which explores broader themes of power and privilege across societies. Beyond academic study, you’ll participate in a democratic community, lead group activities, and practice restorative justice with peers. With no grades assigned, the program emphasizes growth, critical thinking, and intellectual collaboration. Everything from books to travel is fully funded, making it one of the most accessible and respected history programs for high school students.
Location: New-York Historical Society, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; $700 stipend upon completion
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Around 25 students per cohort; 150–200 applicants (academic year)
Dates: October 29 – June 24
Application Deadline: August 24
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12 who live in and attend school in the NYC metro area (includes parts of NY, NJ, and CT)
This academic-year internship lets you dive deep into American history through research and digital storytelling. You'll work with the museum’s archives, meet with professionals in the history and museum fields, and develop communication and digital media skills. Interns collaborate on creative digital humanities projects that are published as public educational resources. The program highlights the importance of historical analysis and writing, with a focus on themes such as Frederick Douglass’ America. It’s designed for students who want a serious, hands-on role in documenting and presenting history.
Location: Chauncey Conference Center, Princeton, NJ (off-campus housing with visits to Princeton University)
Cost: $350; includes room, board, and course materials
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not published; selective academic program
Dates: July 12 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Upper-level high school students and rising college freshmen
This one-week seminar focuses on foundational ideas in American political thought, particularly the principles of equality and liberty. Through close reading and discussion of primary texts like The Federalist Papers and Democracy in America, you’ll explore how Americans have understood these values from the founding era to today. Faculty lead seminar-style sessions that emphasize deep textual analysis and philosophical inquiry. The program is residential, with students housed off-campus and given opportunities to visit historic Princeton and the university. It offers an intensive, text-based study of American constitutionalism, suitable for students with a strong interest in political theory or U.S. history.
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,100 stipend upon completion
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified; selective with group interviews
Dates: Summer (exact dates vary yearly)
Application Deadline: Opens in early February (exact date TBA)
Eligibility: Students in grade 10 or 11 (or pursuing a high school equivalency) who attend school and live in NY, NJ, or CT
This summer internship offers you the chance to explore careers in museums while developing professional skills and building your network. You'll work in small cohorts with museum staff across departments such as curatorial, imaging, education, and digital media. Interns engage in workshops and collaborative projects, gaining insight into behind-the-scenes museum operations. The program is designed to support your personal and career growth while introducing you to one of the country's most prestigious cultural institutions.
Location: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Cost: Free (includes tuition, housing, and meals)
Acceptance rate or cohort size: ~150 students admitted each year
Dates: July 18 – July 29
Application Deadline: Opens October 15; exact deadline not listed
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors only (students currently in 11th grade)
This 10-day residential program invites academically strong students to explore leadership and critical issues through a humanities-based lens. Courses cover topics such as liberty in American political thought, global conflict and peacebuilding, and socioeconomic inequality in the U.S. Faculty-led seminars combine reading, discussion, field experience (like a visit to Chicago-based peacebuilding groups), and research. You'll engage in Socratic dialogue, analyze primary texts, and examine modern challenges through a historical framework. With college credit available and all expenses covered, the program offers a rigorous, humanities-focused exploration of civic and ethical leadership.
Location: Various National Archives facilities across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid; eligible for academic credit
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified; varies by site and department
Dates: Spring: Late January – April | Summer: Late May – August | Fall: September – early December
Application Deadline: Spring: Opens December 8; Summer: Opens March 16; Fall: Closed July 18
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are high school students (at least 18 years old), recent graduates, or current college students
This voluntary internship allows you to work in areas like archival processing, education, digitization, museum exhibits, and public history. Interns must complete at least 100 hours over 10–12 weeks and spend at least half their time on-site. While the internship is unpaid, you can potentially earn academic credit and gain practical experience working with original historical records and materials. You’ll collaborate with professionals in fields like conservation, communications, and legislative archives, depending on placement. For students interested in history, archives, or museum work, this is a valuable entry point into the federal heritage sector.
Location: St. John’s College, Annapolis, MD and Santa Fe, NM, with online options
Cost: $1,250 per week (includes room, board, books, and activities); need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Weekly sessions from June 21 – July 24 (in-person) | June 15 – 18 (online)
Application Deadline: Rolling admission; early application recommended
Eligibility: Students aged 15–18; typically rising sophomores through graduating seniors
At St. John’s Summer Academy, you’ll explore history and literature through immersive, discussion-based seminars led by college faculty. Each session centers on a core theme such as equality and inequality, courage, or wilderness, and features readings of classic works by authors like Rousseau, Aristotle, and Austen. Participants engage in interdisciplinary classes that blend philosophy, mathematics, and poetry, and may also include site visits or outdoor activities, depending on the location. The program aims to strengthen your critical thinking and communication skills while providing a glimpse into life at a liberal arts college. Online seminars are also available, allowing flexibility if you can’t attend in person.
Location: James Madison’s Montpelier, Montpelier Station, VA
Cost/Stipend: $950 for the week (includes instruction, excavation, lab access); $300 deposit required; free for descendants and African-American community members
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Limited capacity; sessions can sell out quickly
Dates: July 13 – 18 (Mid-July session); other sessions also available, e.g., July 6 – 11
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled; early application recommended
Eligibility: High school students and undergraduates; no prior experience required; parents may also participate
This week-long program gives high school students an immersive introduction to archaeology through hands-on excavation at historically significant sites on the Montpelier estate. Participants work alongside professional archaeologists, uncovering artifacts at sites associated with enslaved families and historic structures. In addition to fieldwork, students receive lab training in artifact processing and historical analysis at Montpelier’s new Community Archaeology Lab. This program blends rigorous academic exploration with hands-on skill development in historical preservation and interpretation.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $8,850; financial aid available based on need
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective; exact cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Session 1: June 21 – July 10 | Session 2: July 12 – July 31
Application Deadline: Application opens mid-December; financial aid due February 9
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (typically ages 15–17)
This three-week residential program offers college-level humanities seminars led by Stanford faculty. You’ll explore topics such as Ancient Rome, racial identity, revolutions, and cultural repatriation through lectures, small-group discussions, and guided research. The experience includes daily coursework, writing assignments, and weekend field trips across the Bay Area. During the final week, you'll develop and present an independent research project with support from faculty and teaching assistants. If you're passionate about understanding global history, philosophy, or literature in a rigorous academic setting, this program provides both structure and freedom to explore.
Location: Middleburg, VA (Foxcroft School campus), with travel across D.C., VA, MD, PA, and WV
Cost: $9,995; full and partial need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified; selective admissions process
Dates: June 28 – July 24
Application Deadline: Early: February 1; Final: April 15 (rolling admissions after)
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th-grade students from the U.S.
This four-week residential program combines classroom learning with immersive site visits to explore key themes in American history and government. You’ll travel to landmark locations like Gettysburg, the National Archives, and Montpelier, then connect those experiences to debates, lectures, and case studies from the Case Method Institute. Each week focuses on a major topic such as the Constitution, secession, women’s rights, or civil rights. In the classroom, you'll take part in parliamentary debates, analyze historical decisions, and engage with guest speakers. This program is designed for those passionate about civics, democracy, and exploring the history of the American experiment.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. 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 - Princeton University logo