15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Dallas, TX
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 11 min read
If you’re a high school student trying to figure out how to use your summer well, a program is a great way to explore subjects that interest you, develop new skills, and meet peers.
Why should I participate in a summer program in high school?
Summer programs for high schoolers give you structured time to focus on one subject, explore new fields, and see what careers you might eventually want to pursue. Taking part in a summer program gives you concrete evidence of commitment to your subject that can strengthen your college applications. You will learn from instructors who know the field, helping you understand what day-to-day work would look like.
Dallas has a wide range of summer programs for high schoolers run by colleges, universities, and local organizations. You might study science, engineering, media, aviation, architecture, or journalism, often in campus settings.
Below is a list of 15 summer programs for high school students in Dallas, TX!
Location: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Typically 30 students per camp
Program Dates: Vary based on camp type (check schedule here)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students (current 8th–11th graders)
UT Southwestern Medical Center’s STARS Science Camps give you time in classrooms and labs while you explore science beyond the regular school schedule. Based on your grade level and the courses you are taking next year, you can choose from biology, chemistry, physics, or anatomy and physiology camps. You attend classroom sessions, take part in lab activities, and learn directly from UT Southwestern staff and faculty guest speakers. The experience lets you see how science is taught and used in a medical setting and helps you understand what different roles in health and research actually involve.
Location: Remote, you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type, with full financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 1:1 student to mentor ratio
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring; options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
High school students who are keen to pursue a summer research program could consider the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. The rigorous program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: SMU Simmons School of Education & Human Development, Dallas, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in target schools planning to attend a college or university; should be from low-income families or from families in which neither parent has earned a bachelor’s degree (check eligibility requirements here)
If you are a Dallas high school student thinking ahead to college, SMU’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development runs an Upward Bound program with both year-round support and a summer academy. During the school year, you will receive tutoring in core subjects, focused help with writing and study habits, and guidance on staying on track academically. You also take part in college visits and cultural activities with other students in the program. In the summer, the program becomes more intensive. You attend workshops on college options and career paths, get hands-on academic support to help raise your GPA, and work on exam preparation, including tests like the SAT.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type, with full financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: Multiple 12 – 15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
High school students passionate about artificial intelligence could consider pursuing the Veritas AI Scholars Program. Founded and run by Harvard graduate students, Veritas AI offers programs for high school students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science. The AI Scholars program is a 10-session boot camp. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of AI and data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that you get access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: Nasher Sculpture Center, Architecture and Design Exchange, Dallas, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: July 15 – 16 at Nasher Sculpture Center, July 17 – 18 at AD EX
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students
The Nasher Sculpture Center’s Summer Architecture Workshop is designed for high school students interested in architecture and the built environment. You work with a professional architect and educator to understand how architectural design decisions are made, then step outside the classroom through city tours that focus on buildings and public spaces. The program also includes visits to a local architecture firm, giving you a direct look at how architects work day to day. Through group discussions and hands-on activities, you build design thinking and learn how to analyze spaces the way architects do.
Location: Southwest Airlines Corporate Headquarters– Wings Building, Dallas, TX
Cost: $150 application fee with need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 30
Program Dates: July 14 – 18
Application Deadline: June 29 (applications typically open on February 1)
Eligibility: Middle and high school students; should be ages 14 – 18 years with a general interest in aviation
The Aviation Career Education Academy’s School Aircraft Maintenance Program, run by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, gives you a hands-on introduction to aviation and aerospace. You will learn how aircrafts work through topics like aerodynamics, aircraft design, maintenance basics, air traffic control, and aerospace technology, with the focus staying practical rather than theoretical. You take part in field trips to aviation sites, use flight simulators, and may even get the chance to fly in an aircraft. Along the way, you see what different aviation roles actually involve, including engineers, pilots, air traffic controllers, and airport operations staff.
Location: Frontiers of Flight Museum, Dallas, TX
Cost: Cost varies for members and non-members and is based on the type of camp (check details here)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Adult-to-student ratio is at least 1:12
Program Dates: Dates vary based on the type of camp (June – July), with 5 or 3-day options
Application Deadline: Till spots fill
Eligibility: Grades 1 – 10
The Frontiers of Flight Museum (FOFM) Summer Camp is an educational program designed for children with options of a 5-day camp or a STEM mini-camp. You will participate in informative experiences with peers of your age level, led by teachers, museum staff, or upper-level college students. Through hands-on activities, you will dive into diverse aspects of aviation and space. You will explore the science and technology behind flight and space travel while building models and participating in experiments. Earlier cohorts have developed coding skills and built robots, explored the life of an astronaut, analyzed an aviation mishap, and more.
Location: Addison Marriott Quorum, Dallas, TX
Cost: $140 registration fee; $20 per person for the bonus camp; $75 for an individual session with a scholastic journalism educator; scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 29 – July 3 (bonus camp on June 28)
Application Deadline: June 20 or till spots fill
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
The Gloria Shields National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) Media Workshop offers over a dozen course options for high school students to explore media careers. You will attend sessions led by journalism instructors, freelance photographers, and other media professionals, as well as NSPA top management. You can select from the wide array of media-related courses, including feature writing, video storytelling, photography, publication design, and more. You will enhance collaboration and interpersonal skills, as well as technical expertise relevant to the field, such as software programming, social media content, reporting and editing techniques, news writing, and the like.
Location: Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
Cost: Starts at $1,349 (Day camp), $2,400 (Overnight camp), with need-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 1:12 staff-to-student ratio
Program Dates: June 15 – 19 (Day camp), June 14 – 20 (Overnight camp)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students and high school students; ages 11-17 for beginner camps and ages 13-17 for advanced camps
SMU’s High School Model UN camps offer beginner and advanced tracks where you build skills in public speaking, debate, and diplomacy. You will learn how to research topics, write resolutions, deliver speeches, and communicate your position clearly while staying diplomatic. The focus is on practice, so you spend time speaking, thinking on your feet, and responding to others. You work with peers through group activities, projects, and social events, then apply everything in a full Model UN simulation on the final day by representing a country and giving a formal speech. At the end of the camp, you receive an official MUN Institute certificate that reflects the work you completed.
Location: University of Dallas, Irving, TX
Cost: $945
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 7 – 20
Application Deadline: March 1, with a rolling basis post the deadline
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, high school seniors, and recently graduated seniors
The University of Dallas Arete program is a two-week residential summer experience where you study classic texts from Western literature and examine works of art and film. You read short stories and poetry, take part in small seminars led by UD faculty, and work closely on writing through one-on-one tutorials with seminar leaders. The focus stays on reading carefully, writing clearly, and learning how to discuss ideas in depth. Outside the classroom, you join film screenings on campus, visit art museums, and attend a performance at Shakespeare in the Park. The program ends with you presenting an individual paper on one of the texts you studied. You can also earn three hours of college credit.
Location: Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, TX, with some course requirements online
Cost: $850 ($700 for students from PCA partner schools)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 8 – 13
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in high school with a 3.0 GPA or higher; should have at least four completed high school courses
Dallas Baptist University’s Pre-College Academy Summer Institute lets you take a college course while still in high school and earn dual credit taught by DBU faculty. You can choose from subjects like creative writing, American national government, psychology, or an introductory fine arts course, and experience what a college classroom feels like. Alongside the course, you spend time on campus with other students and take part in planned activities and educational field trips.
Location: Dallas College Cedar Valley/Richland campus with virtual options available
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: June 10 – July 19 (on campus); virtual option February – May
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Middle and high school students in grades 6 – 12 who have demonstrated mathematical ability at school
Dallas College’s Texas Pre-Freshman Engineering Program, or TexPREP, is a multi-year summer program that helps you build a strong foundation in STEM before college. Each year, you will take four classes in subjects like computer science, engineering, physics, algebra, statistics, and technical writing, while attending career-focused seminars tied to STEM fields. You work with peers on team projects, give class presentations, and hear from guest speakers who talk about different technical careers. The program also includes special events and field trips, giving you good exposure to what studying and working in STEM actually looks like over time.
Location: The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Varies each year (30 in an earlier cohort)
Program Dates: June 3 - August 1
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10 – 12
The George A. Jeffrey NanoExplorers Program at the University of Texas at Dallas lets you work inside a university lab and explore nanotechnology through research. After training in lab safety and research methods, you are placed in a lab that matches your interests and learn how research teams actually operate. You take part in ongoing work, follow lab procedures, and develop your own research questions over time. The program ends with a symposium where you present your work and explain what you learned through the research process.
Location: Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas, Dallas, TX
Cost: $150 with scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: Typically 4 weeks in June
Application Deadline: Typically in April
Eligibility: Girls currently in 7th or 8th grade with an interest in STEM; should commit to the 5-year program
The Eureka! by Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas is a long-term program for high school girls who want to build confidence in STEM and explore future careers in these fields. The program runs for five years and combines summer camps hosted at colleges or universities with monthly meetings during the school year. Along the way, you also take part in sessions focused on personal development, college planning, and scholarship support. During the summer camps, you work on hands-on STEM projects in areas like engineering, environmental science, and coding, while also attending workshops, going on field trips, and taking part in sports and fitness activities with peers.
Location: The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, with a virtual option available
Cost: $700 (in-person), $600 (virtual), with scholarships for low-income families available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: 2 months in the summer (typically starts June 9)
Application Deadline: Till spots fill
Eligibility: Highly motivated advanced-level high school students (ideally finishing 10th and 11th grade); should be age 16 or higher by the start date for in-person workshops
The Summer Research Workshops at the University of Texas at Dallas give you a short but focused introduction to academic research in technical fields. You can join up to two workshops based on your interests, with past topics including quantum computing, natural language processing, cybersecurity, and computational biology. The sessions are structured around learning how research questions are framed and explored, not just absorbing content. By the end of each workshop, you work toward a final research paper or project and present what you have done. You receive a completion certificate and an experience letter, and strong papers or presentations are recognized separately.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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