15 Summer Programs for High School Students in San Jose, CA
- Stephen Turban
- 4 days ago
- 11 min read
If you are a high school student in San Jose looking for a productive way to spend your summer, then a summer program in the region is an option you can consider!
San Jose is home to many universities and institutions offering summer programs for high school students. As a participant, you will get early exposure to career and college-related guidance, personal growth, and academic enrichment. Summer programs help you explore a subject you like in detail and pick up practical skills for pursuing that field in the future.
Engaging in such experiences can also give you insights into a range of industries and career paths, and help you build connections with peers as well as professionals. Summer programs also look good on your college applications, highlighting your willingness to learn beyond the classroom, take initiative, and get a head start in your career.
To help you get started, in this blog, we have listed 15 summer programs for high school students in San Jose.
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Multiple 12- to 15-week cohorts throughout the year | The Summer cohort typically runs between June and August
Application deadline: Applications for the Summer Cohort II are due on June 23.
Eligibility: High school students with a high level of academic achievement
Lumiere Education offers high schoolers opportunities to get hands-on research experience through its Research Scholar Program. As a participant, you will get to conduct independent research while having access to one-on-one mentorship offered by a PhD researcher. You can choose the Individual Research format, which is a 12-week program offering nine individual sessions with a researcher and two individual sessions with a writing coach. Here, you will also have access to workshops that help you learn about the research process to successfully conduct research and draft a 15-page research paper.
Alternatively, you can choose the 15-week Premium Research and Publication Program, which offers mentorship, writing coach sessions, and workshops, along with four sessions with a publication specialist, and a personalized plan created by the Lumiere publication team. You can customize your research area/topic or choose from various STEM and non-STEM subjects available under the program.
You can also check out the fully-funded version of the research program—Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program, which is offered by the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation.
Location: Virtual
Program dates: Dates vary based on the cohort. Multiple cohorts are scheduled throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application deadline: June 23 for the upcoming summer cohort
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8 to 12 weeks
Ladder Internships offers high schoolers opportunities to work with international high-growth start-ups. Here, you will be paired with such an organization and engage in work that will add value to the start-up. You can find opportunities in a range of STEM and non-STEM industries, including journalism, marketing, health tech, AI/ML, consulting, deep tech, and psychology. You will work on projects under the guidance of the company’s manager and get one-on-one support from a Ladder Coach who will closely assist and guide you throughout the program. The global nature of the organisation can offer valuable exposure to cross-cultural working environments and what working at a start-up is like.
Location: San José State University, San Jose, CA
Program dates: July 7 – 25
Application deadline: May 16
Eligibility: High school students from the Bay Area who have a minimum 2.0 GPA and have completed Algebra 1 and (Freshman) Science 1
Cost: None
Mineta Summer Transportation Academy (MiSTA) is a free program that can introduce you to the various careers in the transportation industry. Here, you will get a sneak peek into businesses and activities associated with transportation. The program also includes projects, academic lectures, and field trips to local businesses and transit agencies to give you a comprehensive understanding of how the transportation system functions. During the program, you will gain first-hand exposure to university life. You will also get to explore key concepts related to construction, business management, transportation development, intermodal systems, technology, and the environmental impact of the industry.
Location: Adrian Wilcox High School, Santa Clara, CA (under 15 minutes away from San Jose, CA)
Program dates: June 23 – July 3
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
Cost: $775 through May 15 and $875 starting May 16 | San Jose Jazz Supporters receive a $50 discount on tuition
If you are looking for music-based summer programs for high school students in San Jose, the Summer Jazz Camp organized by San Jose Jazz may be worth considering. Running since 1997, the camp offers a deep dive into the world of jazz to students of all skill levels every year. Before the camp begins, you will be placed into an appropriate band and get a customized schedule with classes that meet your learning objectives. Through private classes led by established jazz musicians based in the Bay Area, you will get to sharpen your composition, improvisation, music theory, and arranging skills. You will also pick up skills like ear training, sight reading, and performance from combos and big bands.
Location: Notre Dame High School, San Jose, CA
Program dates: June 9 – 13 for grades 9 – 12 | June 16 – July 3 for grades 6 – 12
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: All students entering grades 6 - 12
Cost: Depends on the courses, but 5-credit courses typically cost $50 and 10-credit courses cost $100.
Notre Dame offers a wide range of summer programs for high school students in San Jose. Here, you can find a course or program that aligns with your interests and preferred learning outcomes. You can find course options that cover various subjects, including public speaking, ceramic art, drama, yoga, literacy, and organisation skill development. The program has multiple STEAM and non-STEM options; you can view the schedule to gain a better understanding of their catalogue. You can also choose from full-time and part-time schedules. This experience can help you learn a new skill and/or boost your academic knowledge.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA (about 30 minutes away from San Jose, CA)
Application deadline: February 22
Program dates: June 9 – July 31
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are 16 or older
Cost/Stipend: A minimum stipend of $500 is offered
Conducted just 30 minutes from San Jose, SIMR is an opportunity for high school students to engage in research and collaborate one-on-one with mentors, who will either be a Stanford graduate student or a postdoctoral fellow. You can choose from multiple areas of research. During the program, you will engage in morning lectures, lab work, special joint lectures, and project work. The program ends with a poster presentation where you will share your research experience with family, teachers, and Stanford community members. This experience can help you explore a biomedical field as well as the research process.
Location: Virtual and in-person at Stanford University campus, Stanford, CA (about 30 minutes away from San Jose, CA)
Program dates: Session 1 (in-person): July 14 – 25 | Session 2 (virtual): July 28 – August 8
Application deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and undergraduate pre-medical students who are 16 years or older
Cost: $95 application fee + $6,380 program fee (on campus) and $35 application fee + $4,380 program fee (virtual) | Fees may be waived for U.S citizens or permanent residents whose household income is less than $80,000 annually
The Clinical Summer Internship program offered by Stanford Medicine is an opportunity to get valuable insights into careers in medicine. Through interactive lectures, skills sessions, and hands-on activities, you will get to explore different medical specialties, techniques, and roles during the program. You will learn from medical simulations that reflect real cases, and get to access sessions with residents, current medical students, and medical school admissions officers. The program also offers visits to emergency Life Flight stations and Stanford clinics, in addition to practical dissection sessions under the guidance of Stanford faculty and doctors. You can choose between two formats. The two-week on-campus session will help you learn about clinical settings in Sanford’s state-of-the-art facilities. Meanwhile, the virtual session will allow you to pick up practical skills from the comfort of your home.
Location: San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter School, San Jose, CA
Program dates: Session 1: June 16 – July 11 | Session 2: July 14 – August 8
Application deadline: March 28
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 or 17 years old and attending school in Santa Clara County with a minimum 2.0 GPA and an interest in environmental studies | A valid work permit is also required
Cost/Stipend: No cost | A $19/hour stipend is offered
Youth Climate Corps is a summer program for high school students interested in contributing to real-world environmental projects and climate action. Here, you will participate in environmental education and explore the unique ecology and natural communities in California. You will also get to collaborate with your peers and build a supportive network of like-minded individuals. The program can help you gain career skills and explore career pathways in environmental stewardship. You will also participate in meaningful work as you collaborate with organizations and professionals, including Grassroots Ecology and Veggielution.
Location: California College of the Arts (CCA), San Francisco, CA (about 50 minutes away from San Jose)
Program dates: July 7 – August 1
Application deadline: June 10
Eligibility: Current high school students between 15 and 18 years of age
Cost: $55 application fee | Residential fee: $8,075 (includes tuition, fees, meals, and housing) | Commuter fee: $5,615 (includes tuition, fees, lunch meal plan) | Scholarships are available.
CCA’s Pre-College program is a residential opportunity to interact and collaborate with a diverse group of creative people. Open to those with little experience and more advanced creatives, the program can help you build or sharpen your skills in art and design. During the program, you will take college-level, studio-focused courses that will encourage you to create portfolio-worthy works. You will also earn three college credits in the process! You can choose from a wide range of options, including 3D digital animation, 2D animation and drawing, comics, architecture and interior design, fashion design, film and photography, illustration, jewelry making, and UI/UX design.
10. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Program dates: June 16 – 27
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are 14 or older, U.S. citizens/permanent residents/those with valid visa documentation
Cost: $40 application fee + $850 program participation fee | Financial aid is available
Stanford’s AIMI internship is an opportunity to explore the clinical and technical aspects of the role of AI in healthcare. The program offers mentoring activities led by Stanford Student Leads and researchers and introductory and technical lectures that cover the fundamentals of AI in healthcare. You will also engage in social activities and group work sessions during the program. A key part of the experience is the Virtual Career Lunch and Learns series, which provides networking opportunities with guest speakers who represent non-profit, government, academia, and industry. When the program ends, you can also pursue an extended research internship opportunity.
Location: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA (10 minutes away from San Jose, CA)
Program dates: June 18 – July 25
Application deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Cost: $632/unit | You can choose one or two courses worth up to five units
Santa Clara University’s Young Scholars Program is a pre-college experience for high schoolers interested in getting early exposure to university-level academics. Here, you will attend classes alongside university students based on your chosen course. The program offers courses in various disciplines, including anthropology, engineering, art, computer science, and math. During the program, you will have access to the program director and college advisor if you need assistance with coursework and college selection or application. This experience can help you become better equipped to handle a university-level workload.
Location: Virtual or in-person at NASA facilities across the country
Program dates: 10 to 16 weeks internships | Summer internships run from late May/early June to August
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA who are at least 16 years old and U.S. citizens
Cost: None. Stipends are offered based on session duration and academic level.
NASA offers various summer programs for high school students, including virtual internship opportunities. You can find available options here. NASA’s programs can give you hands-on exposure to space science, engineering, space tech, and even non-STEM areas crucial to the agency’s work. Your tasks as a NASA intern may include data analysis, technical writing, and other mission-related duties. You will work alongside engineers, scientists, and other professionals in the space science industry. The program also offers mentorship training, networking opportunities, and activities to improve your presentation skills and gain practical experience. For example, a California-based opportunity to consider includes the AI & ML for Air Traffic Management internship. Here, you will explore emerging applications of AI/ML and get to digitize and analyze heritage air traffic management datasets.
Location: Virtual
Program dates: Flexible | Half-time internships: 2 – 8 weeks, 20 hours/week in the summer | Quarter-time internships: 1 – 9 months available throughout the year
Application deadline: Applications are open year-round
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with at least one honors science/English class and a minimum GPA of 3.25
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid
EnergyMag offers virtual internships to high schoolers who want to engage in real-world projects in the fields of energy and environmental sustainability. As an intern, you will conduct research and develop your scientific research writing and analytical skills that are essential for pursuing careers in research and reporting. You will also have the opportunity to work on tasks personalized to your academic background and career interests. You will be guided by a mentor throughout the program and can seek their advice while gathering, synthesizing, and analyzing your research findings. You will also write a draft analysis report that may be published on the organization’s website!
Location: Harker School, San Jose, CA
Program dates: Session 1: June 9 – 27 | Session 2: June 30 – July 18
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students enrolled in an accredited high school entering grades 9 to 12 in the fall | Individual courses may have other prerequisites
Cost: Varies based on the course
The Harker Summer Institute offers various summer programs for school students in San Jose, including a swim school, speech and debate coaching, and a summer at the Conservatory program. Its Upper School program allows high schoolers to choose from various academic options, including for-credit and non-credit options, offering opportunities for academic enrichment and personal growth. The for-credit courses use the same materials and texts as those offered during the academic year, and the small classes ensure a high quality of instruction. Course subjects include geometry, algebra, economics, programming, driver education, and more. On the other hand, enrichment courses allow you to explore interests beyond academics, offering courses like creative writing workshops, expository writing, pottery, game and simulation design, introduction to philosophical thinking, life skills for teens, and more.
Location: Remote internships available for San Jose students
Program dates: June – August
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students with U.S. work authorization
Cost: None | A stipend may be provided based on financial need
The FPRI’s summer programs offer high schoolers internship opportunities in various departments, including national security, international relations, and regional studies. These opportunities will help you explore multiple aspects of foreign policy while you engage in meaningful work under the supervision of an industry professional or scholar. You will also get to learn how foreign policy is debated and shaped, and work in various departments, including operations, communications, research, and special events/development.
The internship will engage you in different aspects of foreign policy work. You will also attend foreign policy seminars, career panels, and other events that will allow you to interact with experts in the field.
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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