13 Winter Break Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 6 minutes ago
- 10 min read
If you're a high school student looking to make use of winter break beyond a typical vacation, a structured program can be a good option to explore. Since the break is shorter than summer, many of these programs are designed to be more compact, letting you gain research experience, earn college credit, or build technical skills without a multi-month commitment. Whether your interests lie in research, mathematics, engineering, or the arts, winter programs can help you make progress on an interest during a period that would otherwise go unused.
What are the benefits of a winter break program?
A winter break program can give you access to research, coursework, or skill-building opportunities during a season when most programs aren't running. Depending on the program you choose, you could conduct mentored research, take an accelerated college-level course, or build skills in math, coding, or design. Because these sessions run in January rather than during the busy summer cycle, they can also be easier to fit around other plans or commitments.
To help you get started, below is a curated list of 13 winter break programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These programs span biomedical research, AI, mathematics, engineering, bioengineering, art and design, construction, and college-level coursework, so students with a wide range of interests can find a relevant winter break opportunity.
Several programs are free, including Fox Chase ISP, Girls Garage Construction and Community, and California Winter Enrichment Camps, while Lumiere and Veritas AI offer need-based financial aid and programs, such as Cornell Online and SCAD Joint Enrollment, offer transferable college credit.
Most programs run in January or span December through March, making them well-suited for students who want to build skills or research experience during a period when summer programs are not available.
Several programs, such as Lumiere, Veritas AI, Cornell Online Precollege, and AoPS, run year-round or offer multiple cohorts, so students can apply at nearly any time rather than waiting for a fixed annual deadline.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. 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, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 16 students accepted per winter session
Dates: Early January–mid-March (11-week winter session)
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in October and close in early November
Eligibility: High school students age 16+ who have completed biology and chemistry courses
The Immersion Science Program (ISP) at Fox Chase Cancer Center is a competitive biomedical research enrichment program that introduces high school students to cancer biology, laboratory research, and scientific inquiry through hands-on, mentor-guided experiences. During the 11-week winter session, you work alongside scientists and researchers as you explore pathways commonly studied in cancer research and the biological effects of dietary and environmental factors. The program combines laboratory-based activities, research discussions, and collaborative learning with structured mentorship from scientific and educational professionals affiliated with Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University, and Drexel University. Participants strengthen scientific literacy and communication skills through research-based coursework and a final student presentation experience at the conclusion of the program.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & 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, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have 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 and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
Location: California school district campuses
Cost: Free for eligible participants
Acceptance Rate: Open enrollment with priority registration for eligible students
Dates: January 4 – January 8
Application Deadline: Registration dates to be announced
Eligibility: TK–12 students | Priority registration available for qualifying students under California’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P)
The Winter Enrichment Camps program offers hands-on educational experiences designed to help students stay engaged during winter break through collaborative learning, creativity, and physical activity. Through interactive workshops and project-based activities, you participate in programs that foster teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking outside the traditional classroom. The camps are part of the district’s Expanded Learning initiatives and focus on supporting both academic enrichment and social development through structured group activities and experiential learning opportunities. In addition to winter programming, the district offers related enrichment initiatives, including after-school programs, summer academies, and credit-recovery opportunities for students across multiple grade levels.
Location: Oakland/Piedmont, Berkeley, and Lafayette, California
Cost: Half-day: $300/week | Full-day: $480/week | Discounts available for siblings and multiple sessions
Acceptance Rate: Open enrollment | Placement-based instruction
Dates: December 22–26 (excluding December 25) and December 29–January 2 (excluding January 1)
Application Deadline: Rolling registration based on availability
Eligibility: Students ages 6–16
The Firecracker Math Winter Camp is a mathematics enrichment program designed to help students strengthen advanced problem-solving, logical reasoning, and quantitative thinking skills during winter break. Through interactive morning classes, you explore topics such as number theory, algebra, geometry, combinatorics, graph theory, logic, and introductory computer science while participating in collaborative exercises and guided mathematical investigations. The curriculum incorporates puzzles, math games, competitions, paradoxes, and math-based magic tricks to make advanced concepts more engaging and accessible while encouraging analytical and creative thinking.
Location: AlphaStar Academy, Santa Clara, CA (in person) | Virtual (live online)
Cost: Online: $950 | In-person: $1,250 | Early registration discounts available
Acceptance Rate: Selective placement based on diagnostic testing
Dates: December 26–31
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment | Super early registration by October 30 | Early registration by November 15
Eligibility: Advanced middle and high school students interested in competitive mathematics
The AlphaStar Academy Winter Math Camps are intensive mathematics enrichment programs designed to help students strengthen advanced problem-solving skills and prepare for competitive math exams during winter break. Through rigorous coursework and instructor-led problem-solving sessions, you explore advanced topics connected to competitions such as AMC 8, MathCounts, AIME, ARML, and other national mathematics contests. The camp offers multiple levels, including AMC 8 Advanced, AIME Basic, and AIME Advanced courses, allowing students to participate in programs matched to their mathematical background and competition experience. Daily instruction combines concept review, exam-strategy sessions, practice tests, and collaborative problem-solving exercises to improve both technical accuracy and competition performance.
Location: University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
Cost: Tuition varies by course selection | Scholarships available
Acceptance Rate: Open to students who meet UMBC’s concurrent enrollment requirements
Dates: January 4 – January 22
Application Deadline: December 16 for visiting students
Eligibility: Academically strong high school juniors and seniors meeting UMBC concurrent enrollment requirements
The UMBC Winter Session allows academically advanced high school students to enroll in college-level winter courses and earn transferable academic credit while still in high school. Through concurrent enrollment, you can take university classes alongside college students during the accelerated January term, gaining exposure to college academics, independent coursework, and university expectations in a condensed format. Credits earned during the session may apply toward future degree programs at UMBC or transfer to other colleges and universities, depending on institutional policies. The program is designed for students prepared for rigorous academic work and provides an opportunity to strengthen subject knowledge while building familiarity with college-level schedules, assignments, and grading systems.
Location: Girls Garage, California
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 12 students per cohort
Dates: January 20–March 10 (winter session)
Application Deadline: Applications reopen in the fall
Eligibility: Girls and gender-expansive students in grades 9–12
The Construction + Community program is a hands-on course in construction and design that introduces high school students to architecture, engineering, fabrication, and construction trades through community-focused projects. During the eight-week winter session, you learn technical construction skills while working on collaborative service-based building projects designed to support local community organizations and mutual aid initiatives. The curriculum combines practical training in carpentry, fabrication, and design with discussions focused on collaboration, equity, inclusion, and leadership within the construction and STEM industries. You will work closely with experienced instructors who have professional backgrounds in construction, teaching, and metal fabrication, while gaining exposure to tools, building techniques, and project development processes.
Location: Live Online
Cost: $2,700
Acceptance Rate: Selective enrollment
Dates: January 10–March 1
Application Deadline: December 18
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
The Bioengineering Broad Overview and Techniques (BE-BOAT) program introduces high school students to foundational concepts in bioengineering through a combination of live instruction, hands-on experimentation, and scientific data analysis. As part of the BE-BOAT series, the BioImaging & 3D Printing (BI3DP) course focuses on biomedical imaging technologies and 3D printing applications used in biological sciences and biomedical engineering. During the course, you learn how two-dimensional and three-dimensional biological image data are acquired, stored, visualized, and manipulated while also exploring how medical and anatomical models can be converted into 3D-printable designs. The curriculum combines lectures, guided laboratory activities, home-based experimentation with custom lab kits, and collaborative discussions to strengthen technical and scientific communication skills.
Location: Stevens Park
Cost: Tuition varies by session length
Acceptance Rate: Open enrollment based on availability
Dates: December 22 | December 23 | December 29–January 2 | January 5 | January 6 | February 13 | February 16
Application Deadline: Rolling registration
Eligibility: Children aged 3–12 | Teen leadership opportunities available for ages 13–15 | Counselor-in-Training opportunities for ages 15–18
The Peak2Pacific Camp Adventures Winter Camp is an outdoor enrichment program that helps you to stay active while developing teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills through experiential learning and adventure-based activities. During the camp, you participate in hiking, creek and terrestrial ecology exploration, bouldering, climbing, and collaborative team-building exercises that encourage environmental awareness and physical engagement. The curriculum emphasizes confidence-building, communication, resilience, and social-emotional growth through challenge-based activities and guided outdoor experiences. Younger campers take part in structured nature-focused adventures that support coordination, collaboration, and adaptability, while older participants can develop leadership skills through teen leader and counselor-in-training opportunities that involve mentoring younger campers and assisting with activities.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Typically ranges from $155–$895, depending on course type and duration
Acceptance Rate: Open enrollment
Dates: Multiple sessions available
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment until sections fill
Eligibility: Middle and high school students | Placement depends on course level and prerequisites
The Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) Online Courses program offers advanced virtual instruction in mathematics, computer science, and physics for students interested in rigorous problem-solving and competition-style learning. Through live online classes and self-paced formats, you can study subjects such as pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, number theory, counting and probability, calculus, Python programming, physics, and Olympiad-level mathematics. The curriculum emphasizes analytical thinking, proof-based reasoning, and challenging multi-step problem solving through interactive instruction, collaborative discussions, homework assignments, and contest-style practice problems.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Tuition varies by course and session | Financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate: Selective enrollment based on academic readiness
Dates: Three-week, online courses during January | Exact dates to be released in September
Application Deadline: Varies by session and course
Eligibility: High school students who meet Cornell Precollege admission requirements
The Cornell Online Precollege Programs allow high school students to take undergraduate-level Cornell courses online while earning college credit and an official Cornell transcript. During the Winter Session, students enroll in accelerated courses taught by Cornell faculty across disciplines such as business, economics, engineering, psychology, data science, humanities, and the natural sciences. Participants experience the pace and expectations of college-level academics as they interact with instructors and classmates in a university learning environment. In addition to developing subject-specific knowledge, students strengthen their academic writing, time management, and critical thinking skills through intensive coursework. Because the program awards transferable college credit, it is well-suited for students looking to explore an academic field before applying to college.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Tuition varies by course load and quarter
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: January 5–March 12 (winter quarter)
Application Deadline: Varies by quarter
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors age 16 or older
The SCAD Joint Enrollment Program allows academically motivated high school students to take college-level creative courses online while earning transferable college credit from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Through the program, you can enroll in up to two courses per quarter and explore subjects such as advertising, drawing, design thinking, digital communication, photography, storytelling, business, psychology, and visual culture while learning directly from SCAD faculty. The curriculum introduces students to professional creative practices and college-level coursework through virtual instruction, collaborative projects, discussions, and portfolio-based assignments.
Frequently asked questions
What winter break programs are available for high school students?
Options include research programs, such as Lumiere Research Scholar Program and Fox Chase ISP, AI and technology programs, such as Veritas AI, mathematics programs, such as AlphaStar Academy Winter Math Camps, Firecracker Math Winter Camp, and AoPS Online Courses, bioengineering programs, such as BE-BOAT, college credit programs, such as UMBC Winter Session, Cornell Online Precollege, and SCAD Joint Enrollment, and hands-on skill programs, such as Girls Garage Construction and Community.
Are there free winter break programs for high school students?
Yes, Fox Chase Cancer Center ISP is free and accepts approximately 16 students per winter session. Girls Garage Construction and Community is free for eligible students. California Winter Enrichment Camps are free for qualifying district students. Lumiere Research Scholar Program and Veritas AI charge tuition but offer full need-based financial aid.
Which winter break programs offer college credit for high school students?
UMBC Winter Session allows high school juniors and seniors to earn transferable college credit through concurrent enrollment. Cornell Online Precollege Programs award an official Cornell transcript with college credit upon completion. SCAD Joint Enrollment allows students to earn transferable SCAD credit through up to two courses per quarter.
When should I apply to winter break programs for high school students?
Fox Chase ISP applications typically open in October and close in early November. AlphaStar Academy early registration closes November 15. UMBC Winter Session closes December 16 and BE-BOAT closes December 18. Programs, such as Lumiere, Veritas AI, AoPS, and Cornell Online, accept rolling applications throughout the year, so students can apply at any time without waiting for a fixed cycle.
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.