Everything You Need to Know About the Girls Who Code Pathways Program as a High Schooler

Updated October 2026

TL;DR

Girls Who Code Pathways is a free virtual program for high school girls and nonbinary students who want to learn to code. You pick a track in data science and AI, cybersecurity, web development, AI and society, or game design, then work through the courses at your own pace over seven weeks. This guide covers the tracks, who can apply, the dates for each cohort, how to apply, and what you get when you finish. If you want to use your coding skills in a research project with a professor or PhD mentor, you can explore the Horizon Academic Research Program.

If you want to learn to code and are unsure where to start, a short program gives you projects to build, a group of peers, and a look at how technology companies work. Girls Who Code runs Pathways for this purpose, and it takes place online so you can join from anywhere. For other options to compare it with, read our list of free computer science programs for high school students.

What is Girls Who Code Pathways?

Pathways is a virtual program for high school students run by Girls Who Code, a nonprofit that works to close the gender gap in technology. The program lasts seven consecutive weeks, and you complete courses on your own schedule. Girls Who Code describes it in its Pathways overview as an online program where you design personalized projects and learn to use emerging technology for good.

Pathways runs three times a year, in summer, fall, and spring, so you have more than one chance to join.

Quick facts:

• Location: Virtual, with courses you complete at your own pace
• Length: Seven weeks
• Cost: Free, according to the Girls Who Code cost page
• Cohorts: Summer, fall, and spring
• Tracks: Data Science + AI, Cybersecurity, Web Development, AI + Society, and Game Design
• Application page: girlswhocode.com/pathwaysapply

When does Pathways run, and when are applications due?

Girls Who Code lists the cohort dates on its Pathways schedule page and in the program overview. This table shows the cohorts at a glance.

The fall 2026 application window has closed. The next cohort is spring 2027, and the application page lists the deadline once Girls Who Code posts it. The eligibility page lists the full requirements for each cohort.

Who can apply to Pathways?

Pathways is open to girls and nonbinary high school students. Eligibility depends on where you live and the cohort you pick:

• If you live in the United States, you must be in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade during the school year of your cohort.
• If you live outside the United States, you must be 14 to 18 years old on the first day of the program.
• You must be able to finish your coursework by the end date of your cohort.

Summer cohorts also include rising 9th graders and graduating seniors, according to the Pathways flyer.

What do you learn in Pathways?

You choose from five tracks. Girls Who Code lists the tracks and the programming languages they use in the program overview:

• Data Science + AI: You work in Python.
• Cybersecurity: You work in Python.
• Web Development: You work in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• AI + Society: You study how AI affects people and communities.
• Game Design: You work in JavaScript.

Each course in a track takes about three to six hours, and you follow step-by-step video tutorials. As you finish coursework, you earn beginner, intermediate, and advanced level certificates. For other places to build coding skills online, see our list of online coding programs for high school students.

What do you do during the program?

You spend most of your time on your own courses and projects. Around that, Pathways gives you live ways to get help and meet other students:

• Partner Events: Technology organizations host live virtual sessions, and you are expected to attend at least one.
• Advisor Events: Girls Who Code strongly encourages you to attend these live sessions.
• Student Hours: You can join optional live sessions to get support and work with others.
• Discord: You can join a private community with other participants.

What do you get after you finish?

Girls Who Code says participants who complete any of its programs can use alumni benefits and career support. These include the Upskill Series, workforce development and leadership opportunities, events sponsored by corporate partners, and workshops on career tips. You can read the full list in the Pathways overview.

For more programs you can take next, see our list of tech programs for high school students.

Is Pathways right fit for you?

Pathways fits you if you want to start coding and prefer to set your own schedule. It also fits you if you want to pick a track in an area such as cybersecurity or data science, and if you want a group of peers and a few live events with technology organizations.

It may not fit you if you want live classes every day, a project with a mentor, or a stay on a campus. Pathways runs online, and you work through courses on your own. If you want those things, our guide to computer science programs for high school students lists programs that offer them.

One more option: the Horizon Academic Research Program

If you want to use what you learn in Pathways for a research project, the Horizon Academic Research Program matches you with a professor or PhD researcher from a top university. Computer science course options include Data Science and Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, and Algorithms and Data Structures. You work with your mentor from your first question to a finished research paper. Our guide on how to apply to Horizon explains the process.

Quick answers about Girls Who Code Pathways

Image source: Girls Who Code