15 Math Programs for High School Students in Rhode Island
- Stephen Turban
- 3 hours ago
- 11 min read
If you are looking for ways to explore your academic interests, structured programs can be a practical starting point. Many high school programs offer exposure to advanced coursework, research environments, and mentorship while allowing you to live at home or access financial support. You can gain practical experience, build technical skills, and connect with professors and industry professionals. Math programs can introduce you to proof-based reasoning, data analysis, and applied problem-solving beyond the typical school curriculum.
Why should I do a math program in high school?
Participating in math programs for high school students can help you move beyond textbook exercises and into applied or research-based work. You may learn how to construct formal proofs, analyze data sets, or use programming tools to solve quantitative problems. These experiences can strengthen your college applications by showing sustained academic interest, initiative, and readiness for advanced coursework. If you are considering STEM majors, competitive scholarships, or selective colleges, structured math enrichment can help you demonstrate both commitment and capability. You will also gain exposure to university classrooms and faculty expectations, which can make the transition to college-level math less intimidating.
If you are a high schooler searching for math programs in Rhode Island, you will find that several institutions in the state host selective, fully funded options. Here are the 15 best math programs for high school students in Rhode Island. We narrowed this list based on academic rigor, strong mentorship structures, access to professional networks, and highly competitive acceptance rates.
Location: Virtual, hosted by Lumiere Education
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
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 such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and several others. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: Free of charge; breakfast and lunch provided
Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: First-come, first-served enrollment until full
Dates: July 6–July 24
Application Deadline: Rolling until full or the first day of class
Eligibility: Local students entering grades 9–12; must be at least 14 years old by September 1 and live within commuting distance of Brown University
Brown Summer High School (BSHS) is a three-week academic program held on Brown University’s campus, where you take two project-based classes each weekday. Course offerings span English, Math, Science, and Social Studies, with the math course focusing on how algebraic and geometric concepts appear in nature. You engage in problem-solving activities, small group discussions, and applied projects designed to connect academic content to real-world themes. Teams of Master of Arts in Teaching candidates teach the classes, guided by experienced mentor teachers and faculty from Brown’s Department of Education. You also have the option to participate in supervised enrichment activities in the afternoon, giving you additional academic and community-building opportunities during the program.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September)
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders!
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as psychology, politics, economics, 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. Apply here!
Location: University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Limited spots available; cohort size not specified
Dates: June 30–July 3
Application Deadline: Not specified; apply early due to limited space
Eligibility: High school students; no prior experience required
The URI Quantum Computing & AI Summer Camp is a free day program hosted by the AI Lab within the Institute for AI & Computational Research at the University of Rhode Island. During the camp, you will be introduced to foundational concepts in quantum computing, including qubits, superposition, and entanglement, as well as core ideas in artificial intelligence, such as machine learning and neural networks. The program includes hands-on coding activities using quantum simulators and AI tools, allowing you to experiment with emerging technologies in a guided setting. Faculty and researchers from URI’s Department of Physics and AI Lab lead sessions and supervise collaborative projects and team challenges. If you are interested in advanced math applications in computing and data science, this camp provides early exposure to fields that rely heavily on quantitative reasoning.
Location: Community College of Rhode Island (West Warwick High School site), West Warwick, RI
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 10-week program (after school; specific dates vary by term)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The CCRI After-School High School Math Readiness Program is a free, 10-week program designed to help you prepare for credit-bearing math courses at the Community College of Rhode Island. You will receive focused instruction aimed at strengthening your math skills so that you can improve your ACCUPLACER placement scores. The placement exam is administered both before and after the program, and testing fees are waived. The goal is to help you qualify for grade-bearing, transcripted, and transferable college-level courses at CCRI. If you are planning to enroll in college coursework and want to strengthen your quantitative foundation, this program provides structured academic preparation in an after-school format.
Location: Rhode Island College, Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Approximately 70 students are selected each year
Dates: Six-week summer residential program
Application Deadline: Not specified; admission is competitive and limited
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents in grades 9–11 from designated target high schools; must be low-income, first-generation college-bound, demonstrate academic need, and be no older than 19 at selection
The RIC Upward Bound Summer Program is part of the federally funded Upward Bound initiative and provides a six-week residential academic experience on the Rhode Island College campus. During the summer component, you live in a supervised campus setting from Sunday evening through Friday afternoon, participating in structured academic classes, tutoring, advising, and enrichment activities. The program emphasizes college preparation through rigorous instruction, small-group support, and individualized counseling. Throughout the school year, you also attend Saturday sessions and receive academic guidance to strengthen your readiness for postsecondary education. If you meet eligibility requirements, this program offers sustained support designed to help you graduate from high school and pursue a college degree.
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: $100 tuition; full financial aid available; daily lunch included
Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: 20–25 students
Dates: August 10–August 14
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Rising 10th or 11th graders who live in or near the greater Providence, RI area; must not have previously attended GoGetMath@ICERM; one math teacher recommendation required
GoGetMath@ICERM is a five-day summer math camp hosted at the Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics (ICERM) on Brown University’s campus. You spend the week engaging in interactive lectures, hands-on activities, computer labs, and mathematical games designed to strengthen your understanding of quantitative concepts. Topics include cryptography, the mathematics of voting, image processing, fractals, matrices, vectors, prime numbers and factoring, and introductory data science. Each day includes structured programming sessions that introduce you to coding and computational tools. The program is led by faculty, including Amalia Culiuc of Brown University, along with undergraduate and graduate teaching fellows who serve as mentors and role models in STEM fields.
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: Program cost varies. Financial aid available for eligible students.
Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Over 6,000 students enrolled annually across programs
Dates: June 15–July 25 (varies by session; 1–6 week options available)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; priority consideration typically in the spring
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9–12; ages 14–18 by June 14
Through Summer@Brown, you can choose from courses such as Number Theory, Game Theory, Algorithms, Mathematical Modeling of Finance, Statistics, and Computational Mathematics. You attend class for three hours daily, five days a week, with additional independent or collaborative work outside of class. Courses emphasize discussion, modeling, and applied problem-solving rather than formal grades, and after completing a course, you’ll receive a Digital Certificate of Completion, with longer courses including a Course Performance Report. Outside the classroom, you participate in structured student life programming that mirrors aspects of undergraduate study, giving you exposure to academic expectations and time management in a university setting.
Location: University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
Cost/Stipend: Tuition charged per credit (Undergraduate: $278 per credit in-state; $487 regional; $520 out-of-state) plus fees; financial aid and Pell Grant support available
Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Open enrollment; capacity varies by course
Dates: Summer Session 1: May 18–June 18 | Summer Session 2: June 22–July 24 | Summer Session 3: May 18–July 24
Application Deadline: Registration opens February 16; courses remain open until filled
Eligibility: High school students eligible to enroll in college-level courses (typically through dual enrollment or special permission); also open to current URI and visiting college students
URI Summer Sessions allow you to take college-level mathematics and statistics courses for academic credit during the summer term. Offerings include classes such as Precalculus (MTH 111), Calculus I and II (MTH 141, MTH 142), Differential Equations (MTH 244), Mathematical Tools for Computing (MTH 180), and Statistical Methods (STA 307, STA 409). Courses are available on campus in Kingston and online in synchronous, asynchronous, or blended formats, giving you flexibility in how you complete your work. If you are prepared for advanced coursework, this option allows you to earn transferable college credits while strengthening your quantitative background. Tuition is discounted compared to the fall and spring semesters, and financial aid options may help offset costs.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (remote for students outside the Greater Boston area)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Approximately 47 students, highly selective
Dates: January 1–December 31 (year-long program)
Application Deadline: Typically late fall
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (or homeschooled students of the same age) residing in the United States outside the Greater Boston area
MIT PRIMES-USA is a year-long, research-focused mathematics program in which you work on unsolved problems under the mentorship of MIT graduate students and faculty or university-affiliated mentors. The program unfolds in four phases: an advanced reading period, a research phase, a flexible summer independent study period, and a formal write-up and presentation stage. You meet weekly with your mentor via teleconferencing and are expected to commit at least 10 hours per week during the main research phases. By the end of the program, you present your findings at a fall conference and submit a formal research paper that may be eligible for submission to competitions or professional journals. Admission is highly competitive and intended for students with a strong background in proof-based mathematics and independent study.
Location: Online (Institute for Mathematics and Democracy)
Cost/Stipend: Not specified; no tuition information listed on program page
Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Approximately 15–20 students in recent cohorts
Dates: Late June–Early August (six weeks)
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Advanced high school students
The IMD High School Summer Research Program is a six-week online research experience where you work in small groups on mathematically driven projects related to elections, redistricting, and democratic systems. Most projects involve hands-on analysis of real-world data from sources such as the U.S. Census or election results. You typically meet twice per week with a mentor and collaborate regularly with your peers, building both technical and analytical skills. Weekly guest lectures from mathematicians and democracy reformers provide additional context and exposure to current research questions. The program concludes with formal presentations of your findings, and participants also receive guidance on the college application process during one of the sessions.
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD (online summer program)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Approximately 10 students per cohort
Dates: Summer (approximately 2 weeks; exact dates announced annually)
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: High school students
The MathQuantum High School Fellowship is part of the University of Maryland’s Research Training Group focused on the intersection of mathematics and quantum information science (QIS). During the approximately two-week online summer program, you participate in lectures, seminars, professional development workshops, discussions, and hands-on quantum computing activities. The fellowship includes mentored training and requires you to complete and present a mini-project related to mathematical tools used in QIS. Coursework and discussions may touch on topics such as algebra, representation theory, scientific computing, data science, and quantum algorithms. In some years, fellows also receive paid attendance at the Qubit by Qubit High School Summer Camp; otherwise, the program provides its own structured quantum computing activities.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA (Online and Residential options)
Cost/Stipend: Online: $3,750; Residential: $8,950. Financial aid is available. $65 application fee (fee waivers available).
Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: 40 residential students; 64 online students
Dates: Online Session One: June 15–July 3 | Online Session Two: July 6–July 24 | Residential Session: June 21–July 17
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 or 11 at the time of application
Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) is an intensive enrichment program for students ready to study advanced mathematics beyond the high school curriculum. You will enroll in either Program I (Abstract Algebra & Number Theory) or Program II (Algebraic Topology), both of which emphasize proof-writing, theoretical reasoning, and deep conceptual understanding. The program includes daily lectures, structured problem-solving sessions, and a final research-style project presentation. Online participants attend live synchronous sessions, while residential students live on Stanford’s campus and participate in organized weekend activities and field trips. Admission is competitive and based on academic records, teacher recommendation, essays, and performance on a proof-based admission exam.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA (Online and In-Person options)
Cost/Stipend: $500 (online) or $525 (in-person) per quarter
Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Enrollment is first-come, first-served, and sections fill quickly
Dates: March 30–June 4 (Spring quarter example; also offered Fall and Winter)
Application Deadline: Registration opens 1–2 months before each quarter
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
Stanford Math Circle is a quarter-long enrichment program designed for students who want to explore mathematics beyond the standard school curriculum. You attend weekly sessions led by mathematicians and educators, with each meeting focused on creative or challenging topics not typically covered in high school classes. In the Advanced Math Circle (grades 9–12), guest lecturers frequently guide discussions that emphasize problem solving and higher-level mathematical thinking. You work collaboratively with peers, engaging in reasoning-based exploration rather than test preparation or competition training. Sessions are offered both online and in person, allowing you to choose a format that fits your schedule while still participating in a rigorous mathematical community.
Location: Online (hosted by AwesomeMath)
Cost/Stipend: Tuition varies by application round (early applicants receive discounted rates)
Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Not publicly specified
Dates: Session 1: June 8–June 26 | Session 2: June 29–July 17 | Session 3: July 20–August 7
Application Deadline: Early Round: January 14 | Regular Round 1: February 18 | Regular Round 2: March 25 | Late Round 1: April 22 | Late Round 2 (Final): May 26
Eligibility: Middle and high school students ages 12–18; readiness determined by performance on admission test (returning students and USA(J)MO qualifiers exempt from testing)
The AwesomeMath Summer Program is a three-week intensive online math camp designed for students who want to strengthen proof-writing and competition problem-solving skills. You will attend live, instructor-led classes, with a 90-minute lecture followed by a 60-minute problem-solving session each day. Coursework is offered in Algebra, Geometry, Combinatorics, and Number Theory across four difficulty levels, and you can enroll in one or multiple sessions. Daily homework is submitted for grading and feedback, and assessment tests are given during the first two Saturdays of each session. The curriculum is structured to help you prepare for contests such as AMC 10/12, AIME, and USA(J)MO while engaging with peers who share a strong interest in mathematics.
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.
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