If you are a high school student in New York City who is interested in computer science, local coding programs give you access to an incredible tech ecosystem right in your backyard. These programs help you develop practical skills in programming, data analysis, and problem-solving.
Why do a coding program in NYC? What will I get as a high school student?
New York City is home to leading universities, tech startups, and community organizations that run coding programs throughout the year. Many of these programs focus on hands-on learning, where you work on collaborative projects and receive guidance from experienced mentors. You often get to code in languages like Python, Java, or JavaScript while learning how those skills are applied to real-world challenges such as app development, ethical hacking, and machine learning.
Below, we have curated a list of 14 coding programs for high school students in NYC that stand out for their technical depth, mentorship, and accessibility. You can also check out our blog on online coding camps for high school students.
14 Coding Programs for High School Students in NYC
1. Code Next by Google – Chelsea, New York, NY
Location: Google Code Next Labs, Chelsea, New York City, NY
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Mid-August
Dates: Typically after school and weekend sessions during the academic year (October – June)
Eligibility: High school students in NYC (grades 9–12); the program is explicitly designed to cultivate tech leaders from Black, Latinx, and Native American populations
Code Next is a free program that engages high school students in computer science and coding through hands-on projects and workshops. You will learn programming languages and development tools by building websites, applications, and digital projects. The program also provides access to mentorship from Google engineers and opportunities to participate in hackathons and community events. It emphasizes community building, diversity in tech, and preparing students for college and tech careers by providing real-world coding experience in a supportive environment.
2. NYU’s Computer Science for Cyber Security (CS4CS)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free; fully funded
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: 4 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: NYC students in grades 10 and 11
CS4CS is a free, four-week summer program that introduces high school students to cybersecurity and computer science. You’ll explore topics such as ethical hacking, cryptography, steganography, digital forensics, and privacy through interactive projects that use real-world cybersecurity tools to identify and address simulated threats. The program also includes sessions on behavioral science, where you’ll learn how social engineering, phishing, and identity theft affect online security. In collaboration with the Irondale program, you’ll take part in activities that use theater and improvisation to strengthen communication, teamwork, and public speaking skills.
3. NYU’s SPARC: Summer Program for Automation, Robotics, and Coding (SPARC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $3,300 total (includes $2,800 tuition, $250 materials, $100 NYU events, $50 application fee, $100 NYU service fee); additional housing and meal plan fees for residential students
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school students aged 15+ who have completed Algebra II and Trigonometry. Preference for students who have taken Pre-Calculus and are enrolled in AP Stats or Calculus
SPARC is a two-week summer program that helps high school students learn the basics of robotics, mechatronics, and programming. During the program, you’ll design, build, and program robotic devices using kits that incorporate sensors, actuators, and microcontrollers to understand how different engineering systems work together. You will explore important concepts in programming, electrical circuits, and mechanical design while engaging in robot-related challenges and teamwork activities. Prior experience with robotics is not necessary for the program, but a strong foundation in math and science is expected.
4. Pre-College NYC Residential Summer Program — Columbia University
Location: Columbia University, New York City, NY
Cost: $12,764 per 3-week session (includes tuition, housing, dining, health services, activities, and tech fees)
Application Deadline: Not specified; apply early as spots are limited and competitive
Dates: Session A: June 30 – July 18; Session B: July 22 – August 8
Eligibility: High school students aged 15+ (must turn 16 by December 31); open to both U.S. and international students
Columbia University’s NYC Residential Summer Program allows high school students to experience college life on the Morningside Heights campus. You can select from over 70 courses across various fields, including computer science, engineering, and the humanities. Outside of class, the program includes residential activities, campus events, and organized trips around New York City. If you’re interested in computer science, you can take courses like Introduction to Programming with Python, which covers fundamental coding concepts, or explore areas such as Rust programming and cyber-threat intelligence. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a Certificate of Participation along with an evaluation letter.
5. Coding for Game Design High School Summer Program | CREATE
Location: NYU Steinhardt, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $2,745 tuition + additional fees; scholarships are available for commuter students based in New York
Application Deadline: Rolling until May 31
Dates: Session 1: July 7 – July 18 | Session 2: July 28 – August 8
Eligibility: Students entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school in the Fall. Must have intermediate coding skills and at least one formal coding class completed with a B+ or higher grade.
This program offers two in-person sessions focused on game design principles and coding using C# and Unity. Over two weeks, you collaborate with peers and mentors, working both individually and as part of a team to create 2D games. The first week is dedicated to foundational learning, combining conceptual sessions on aesthetics, rules, and audio design with hands-on, structured coding exercises. The second week shifts the focus to collaborative production, where students will work in teams to develop and refine a 2D game using the Unity platform. The program ends with a showcase where you present your developed game to peers and faculty.
6. Kode with Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual and in-person at multiple locations, including NYC
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Dates: Multiple 2-week sessions from June – August
Eligibility: Girls, gender nonconforming, and trans students between the ages of 13 – 18
Kode With Klossy Summer Camps are free, two-week programs open to high school students from underrepresented genders in STEM. The camps focus on helping participants build a foundation in coding while connecting with a supportive learning community. You can select from various study tracks, including Web Development, Machine Learning, Mobile App Development, and Data Science. The Web Development track teaches building websites with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, emphasizing responsive design, accessibility, and user-focused features. The Machine Learning track covers AI basics like algorithms, data processing, and natural language processing, with projects such as creating chatbots in Python. The Mobile App Development track guides you in designing and coding iOS apps using Swift and SwiftUI. In the Data Science track, you’ll analyze real-world data with SQL, Python, and visualization tools to generate reports and visual projects.
7. Girls Who Code
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free | Summer Immersion Program: $300 need-based grant for eligible students in the U.S.
Application Deadline: April 16
Dates: Summer Immersion Program: July 7 – 18; July 28 – August 8 | Pathways: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: Girls and non-binary students in 9th-11th grade (Summer Immersion Program) | 9th-12th grade (Pathways). Read here for more details
Girls Who Code offers two summer programs for high school students to build computer science skills and explore technology. The Summer Immersion Program (SIP) is a two-week online course that focuses on game design and coding, teaching essential concepts in computer science and UX design. The Self-Paced Program lasts six weeks, allowing you to learn independently in fields such as web development, cybersecurity, data science, or AI. You’ll use languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python to complete projects and connect with mentors online. Both programs provide technical training, professional connections, and financial support, and are open to students at any experience level.
8. NYU’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: NYC high school students aged 15+
NYU’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC) program introduces high school students to the intersection of technology, engineering, and urban development. Throughout the program, you’ll take part in hands-on activities involving coding, microcontrollers, sensors, and circuit design while learning how these tools help build smarter cities. In addition to technical skills, you’ll explore the business aspects of innovation, including product design, project management, economics, and intellectual property. By the end of the program, you’ll create and present a prototype that demonstrates how your work can address real-world urban challenges. The program also includes sessions with the Irondale theater group, which focuses on improving communication and public speaking skills through interactive exercises.
9. NYU’s Machine Learning Summer Program
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $3,050; $638 (housing fee) + $398 (mandatory meal plan with housing) if applicable
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: NYC high school students aged 15+ who have taken precalculus and have some programming experience
This program offers high school students an opportunity to learn foundational concepts and techniques in machine learning. You will engage in coursework covering algorithms, data processing, and model building, designed to deepen your understanding of how machine learning applies to real-world problems. The program combines theoretical lessons with practical exercises and projects to help develop your skills in this rapidly evolving field. The program is designed to prepare students for further studies in artificial intelligence and data science at the college level.
10. FreeCodeCamp
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
FreeCodeCamp is an online learning platform that helps you develop web development skills through a structured, self-paced curriculum. You’ll study core topics such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and move on to backend development with tools like Node.js. The platform includes coding exercises and projects that let you apply what you learn and create examples for your portfolio. Because you can work at your own pace, it’s a flexible option for high school students interested in improving their coding skills outside of class. FreeCodeCamp also offers an active online community where learners can share questions, feedback, and project ideas.
11. The Odin Project
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Odin Project is a free, open-source program focused on full-stack web development. You’ll learn key technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Ruby on Rails while working on hands-on projects that let you create websites and applications as you go. The curriculum is structured to guide you through each step of learning, and the program has an active online community where learners can collaborate and share feedback. This practical approach helps high school students build coding skills and experience that can be useful for resumes, portfolios, or college applications.
12. MIT OpenCourseWare: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Python
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
MIT OpenCourseWare provides free access to the course “Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Python,” which is suitable for high school students looking to build a foundation in programming. In this course, you’ll learn basic programming concepts, problem-solving strategies, and how to develop algorithms using Python. The course includes lecture notes, assignments, and exams, allowing you to study at your own pace while following college-level instruction. It offers an opportunity to strengthen your understanding of computer science and prepare for more advanced courses or future work in technology.
13. General Assembly Dash
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Dash is an online platform that teaches the basics of web development through short, interactive lessons in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You can complete all activities directly in your browser, with no software installation required. As you work through the lessons, you’ll create small web projects that help reinforce your learning. The program is a practical option if you’re just starting with coding or want a straightforward introduction to how websites are built before moving on to more advanced courses.
14. EDIT ML Summer Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 15
Dates: June 13 – August 31
Eligibility: High school students with a background in computer science
The EDIT ML Internship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center gives high school students the chance to explore how artificial intelligence is applied in healthcare. During the internship, you’ll work with real datasets in areas such as medical imaging, natural language processing (NLP), and healthcare analytics to build and evaluate machine learning models used in clinical settings. You’ll use tools like Python and R, collaborate with medical professionals, and present your findings to both peers and experts. This experience allows you to develop technical skills while gaining practice in communicating complex ideas in a healthcare context.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
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