High school is all about exploring new and engaging topics, and every year a new wave of students learns about the wonderful world of computer science.
By diving into computer science, students join a field that is not only technology-focused but allows them to create innovative solutions, build critical thinking skills, and better understand the technology that helps shape our world. Computer science is a constantly growing industry. Investing in a course is ultimately investing in your future. From coding and software development to cybersecurity and data analysis, many roles are directly related to this subject, opening up a wide range of potential careers once you’ve graduated.
A high school student’s schedule is much less flexible during class sessions. This article focuses on high school-friendly summer programming that can help you develop computer science skills while taking advantage of summer break. Programs like NextGen Bootcamp’s Computer Science Summer Certificate Program, or even their Java Summer Course, are the perfect way to get a head start. We’re here to guide you through your options so that by the end of the summer, you’ll be better prepared to tackle more advanced Computer Science topics during the school year, or as you transition into college. Check out our list of highly recommended programs. You can also skip directly to a program by clicking its name in the list below:
- NextGen Bootcamp: Computer Science Summer Certificate Program
- NextGen Bootcamp: Python Data Science & AI Machine Learning
- NextGen Bootcamp: Java Programming Summer Program
- Noble Desktop: Data Science Certificate
- Practical Programming: Python for Data Science Immersive
- Emagination Tech Camps: Summer Coding Camp
Types of Computer Science Programs for High School Students
A wide range of programs are available for students interested in learning Computer Science. Though they may not be marketed for Computer Science, many courses that teach programming languages like Java and Python, are suitable replacements, as both are used heavily in this subject. These courses can provide a foundation in coding principles and technology-based problem-solving that are essential for future computer scientists. Many of these programs will also offer hands-on projects with real-world applications.
Most summer programs are offered in two formats: in-person and online. Virtual classes are incredibly convenient for students who live in remote areas, may have trouble commuting, or who learn better in the comfort of their own homes. Similarly, for those who have summer obligations, an online course helps them better manage their schedules. In-person courses are just as valuable in different ways. They have a high social component and excel at providing face-to-face interactions with the instructor and your peers.
Programs are offered by a variety of agencies. That may be a private company, a university, or even a non-profit organization dedicated to STEM research. Pre-college programs are particularly popular among high school students who intend to go to college for computer science, as they occasionally double as college credits. They can provide you with a first-hand experience of college life. All program courses vary in length and intensity, meaning that some are more spread out over extended periods, but as summer courses, they are generally only a few weeks long.
Not all programs are summer programs. Though this article covers the options you have for taking advantage of your summer break, certain opportunities are designed to be taken during the school year and run concurrently with your classes to provide extra support. Summer courses are ideal for students who don’t have much free time during the school year and would rather learn a more challenging concept over the summer.
#1: NextGen Bootcamp: Computer Science Summer Certificate Program
What is taught in this program?
NextGen’s Computer Science Summer Certificate Program is a great way to get started on your computer science education. This course covers two of the most common programming languages, Java and Python, to help you learn more about data science, AI Machine learning, and computing in general. You’ll learn how to write code, programs, and algorithms, and input, clean, and wrangle data. These skills are highly transferable to the professional workplace. By the time you leave, you’ll be thinking like a programmer, and handling both large and small programs.
What Level of Difficulty is this program?
This program does not have any prerequisites. You will need to know how to comfortably use a computer, but in terms of software and specific computer science-related knowledge, foundational concepts will be provided during the course.
Where Does This Program Take Place?
This program is offered in two formats. The first is live online, which is remote and can be accessed from anywhere. This class takes place on weekdays from 10 am-1 pm ET. The second is on-campus live online, which is the face-to-face equivalent of the course that takes place on the NYC campus. This course goes on weekdays from 10 am-4 pm ET with a live online option for those who want to attend remotely at this time.
How Long Does This Program Last?
If you take the live online weekday courses from 10 am-1 pm ET, your classes will last 6 weeks. If you take the longer in-person weekday courses from 10 am-4 pm, your classes will last 4 weeks. You can also attend the in-person courses remotely if that timeframe works better for you, but you can not attend the live online weekday courses in person.
What is the Recommended Age Range?
There is no specific age range attached to these courses, though they are tailored towards a beginner audience with a specific highlight toward high school and early college students.
How Much Does This Program Cost?
This program is originally $3,995 with an early-bird discount to $3,695. This fee is due before the beginning of class and includes 95 hours of hands-on instruction, project-based learning, a small and manageable class size, and a certificate of completion. This is a further discounted price, as the program consists of two individual courses offered by NextGen.
#2: NextGen Bootcamp: Python Data Science & AI Machine Learning
What is taught in this program?
In this program, you can learn the fundamentals of programming with Python, the world’s leading programming language. This curriculum covers how to work with data through inputting, cleaning, and wrangling your information. The path to understanding complex data is being able to properly visualize it, so with the help of this course, you can make sense of data sets, as well as use machine learning algorithms to enhance your overall knowledge of AI machine learning. With the help of hands-on projects, you can gain real-world experience that’s transferable even outside of the classroom.
What Level of Difficulty is this program?
This program is beginner-friendly. The basics of Python programming are covered, as well as several packages like Pandas, Matplotlib, and Sci-Kit Learn. For those students who might be familiar with Python, this is a great course if you want to learn more about how this programming language can be applied to data and AI machine learning.
Where Does This Program Take Place?
This program is offered both live online and in person on NextGen’s campus in NYC. The schedule includes a 10 am-4 pm session every day both in person and live online, and a shorter live online-only session from 10 am-1 pm on weekdays.
How Long Does This Program Last?
This program offers 45 hours of instruction. This is spread over several weeks, with the 10 am-4 pm sessions covering 3 weeks, and the 10 am-1 pm sessions covering 6 weeks.
What is the Recommended Age Range?
The program is great for high school students with a strong interest in coding. Though there is no required age range, high school age generally falls between 13-18.
How Much Does This Program Cost?
The full tuition for this program is $2,199 with an early bird discount to $1,999. The full amount must be paid before class begins and covers the full 45 hours of hands-on instruction, project-based training, a supplemental workbook, and a digital certificate of completion upon graduation from the course.
#3: NextGen Bootcamp: Java Programming Summer Program
What is taught in this program?
NextGen Bootcamp offers a Java Summer Program for high school students where you can learn basic programming and coding concepts with the help of the popular programming language, Java. Though the course teaches fundamental topics like variables, data types, and operators, the course also teaches more advanced material. This includes object-oriented programming and recursive functions. By the time you leave this course, you’ll have plenty of projects to add to your portfolio, which is great for those who intend to go to college or join a career related to computer science.
What Level of Difficulty is this program?
NextGen’s Java program is perfect for students who have no prior experience in coding. As long as you have basic computer skills and a general knowledge of working with technology, you will be able to manage the workload.
Where Does This Program Take Place?
This course is taught both on campus and online at NextGen’s New York City campus, just blocks from New York University. Students can also join remotely via Zoom during the scheduled class time.
How Long Does This Program Last?
This course lasts for two-three weeks depending on your format. Classes for in-person take place Monday-Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, while the fully remote version goes on weekdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
What is the Recommended Age Range?
The NextGen Summer Course is a great option for both high school and college students. As it teaches fundamental Java skills, it is especially valuable for those high school students who intend to go to college or later seek out a career in computer science, programming, coding, or any related field.
How Much Does This Program Cost?
Tuition for this program is $1,999, with the total amount due before classes start. This amount includes a hands-on learning experience with supplemental materials that students can use even outside of the course. Additionally, NextGen offers a one-year free retake for any program to ensure that students have a solid understanding of the material. After the course, you will have a certificate of completion that can be added to your social media, professional portfolios, and other profiles.
Students who take the course remotely will need access to a computer and may need to purchase additional software. Java is a free, open-source language, so this need is expected to be minimal. NextGen staff will provide all necessary support to make sure your computer is ready for class.
#4: Noble Desktop: Data Science Certificate
What is taught in this program?
This program is a collection of highly valuable courses related to Python, SQL, automation, and machine learning. These skills are all transferable to computer science. You can learn more about how to handle multiple types of data, reuse and simplify code with object-oriented programming, create graphs and visualizations, and make data-based predictions. Your Python skills will be used for automating browser interactions, reporting, and messaging. Alongside your technical skills, you’ll grow your theoretical knowledge about important data-related concepts. This curriculum also covers how to retrieve, filter, group, and sort data, with the help of SQL queries. Overall, this class is a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of Python for both data and machine learning.
What Level of Difficulty is this program?
This program is beginner-friendly but is a more intensive option than some of the other listed courses. Though you will not need to be an expert in Python, a basic understanding of the programming language can help you keep up with course requirements, and make the transition between Python and SQL portions of the course more smooth.
Where Does This Program Take Place?
This class is offered both online and in person. Noble Desktop’s Midtown Manhattan campus is centrally located in New York City. The live online program can be taken remotely from anywhere. Students can connect with their teachers and peers via Zoom at the scheduled class time.
How Long Does This Program Last?
Because this is a certificate program, you can take this course over 4 weeks full-time during the weekdays, or 20 weeks part-time in the evenings and on Saturdays.
What is the Recommended Age Range?
There is no strict age range for this course. It is geared towards individuals looking to break into data science with Python, machine learning, data visualization, and SQL skills. It’s also perfect for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge of Python and SQL.
How Much Does This Program Cost?
As there are several courses filled into this certificate program, the cost of the course is steeply discounted. For $3,995, you will have access to the full certificate program. For those who need more flexibility, financing is available. Included in this price is 114 hours of instruction, project-based training, a free retake within 1 year of the course, and a verified certificate of completion upon graduation. The class sizes are small, and there’s 1-on-1 mentoring available to you outside of class.
#5: Practical Programming: Python for Data Science Immersive
What is taught in this program?
Python and other programming languages are a vital part of computer science. In Practical Programming’s Python for Data Science Immersive, you can learn all of the foundational skills to use it confidently. This includes objects, loops, and functions. This is the perfect course to learn more about object-oriented programming, and working with data to predict outcomes. This curriculum introduces the Python libraries NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib to guide you through your Python proficiency.
What Level of Difficulty is this program?
This program is geared towards Python beginners. If you have never coded before, this is the perfect place to start. This is also a great place for students to break into data science, machine learning, and technology at large. All of these topics are transferable to computer science.
Where Does This Program Take Place?
This 30-hour course is offered both live online and in person in New York City. The live online course is offered through Zoom and can provide additional comfort and flexibility. The in-person course is offered on the NYC campus in Midtown Manhattan and comes with the computer and software provided.
How Long Does This Program Last?
This program can go anywhere from one week to multiple weeks depending on whether you are signed up for the weekday, or weekend and evening sessions. Weekday sessions can include Tuesday and Thursday classes from 6 PM-9 PM, in which case the course is one month long, Monday through Friday classes from 10 am-5 pm, which are one week long, or Saturdays from 10 am-5 pm which are six weeks long.
What is the Recommended Age Range?
There is no specific age range outlined for this course, though it was created with beginners in mind. Those who need a refresher in Python might also find it useful. As a high schooler or early college student, this is a great course to kickstart the journey to computer science skills, especially as Python is so prominent in the field.
How Much Does This Program Cost?
The full tuition for this program is $1,495 which includes 30 hours of hands-on instruction, a free retake within one year, and a digital certificate of completion. With the project-based training, you’ll leave this course with several items to add to your portfolio and professional profile, which significantly enhances the value of this opportunity.
#6: Emagination Tech Camps: Summer Coding Camp
What is taught in this program?
At Emagination Tech Camps, students can take a Summer Coding Camp that will prepare them for the AP Computer Science program. In this camp, students will learn how to use Java Programming skills to build a variety of programs. Projects include creating servers, Windows applications, and XML web services. Emagination supplements their technical coding knowledge with plenty of tangible activities, providing outdoor games for students to play in their off hours.
What Level of Difficulty is this program?
This is a beginner-friendly program.
Where Does This Program Take Place?
Emagination Tech Camps are available in person only and have been offered in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
How Long Does This Program Last?
This camp is two weeks long. There is a unique component to Emagination’s programs in that there is an overnight option for out-of-state students and a day camp option for students who live locally and are comfortable with the commute.
What is the Recommended Age Range?
This program accepts students between the ages of 13-17.
How Much Does This Program Cost?
The prices for Emagination camps vary slightly by state, but the overnight camp is approximately $3,249 and the day camp is approximately $1,695. This program also offers up to $850 in assistance to students with a financial need.
Why Learn Computer Science During Summer?
Learning computer science over a single summer may sound impossible, but it’s a valuable skill that can be picked up fairly quickly with the right guidance and a good opportunity to practice. Programming languages like Java and Python are relatively easy to learn, and most classes will cover these at a fundamental level. With a solid curriculum and a few good hands-on projects, you can pick up a great deal of computer science skills within the break. This isn’t to say that you can learn all there is to know about computer science over a few months, but you can certainly gain a solid understanding of the necessary skills that will help you prepare for college admissions or a professional career in computer science.
Computer science is also used in many industries. Some of the most common applications are in technology, where numerous applications, websites, and platforms depend on programming and coding to run. In the last decade, the world has seen a boom in technology and digital advancements, with areas like machine learning, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing all but transforming some of the world’s biggest industries. This includes education, healthcare, travel, finance, and anything that regularly uses computers. As technology continues to evolve, the need for computer scientists will continue to rise, and with an open gap in your schedule, taking on computer science is the perfect way to invest in your future without interrupting your busy school schedule.
There is an active and robust community of hobby programmers and coders who use free platforms like YouTube, Pinterest, or other social media to share their projects. Working on computer science for fun is a great way to strengthen your problem-solving skills while also challenging yourself on a versatile topic. Community members who are also in high school and college are likely to be more active, so you’ll find a lot more content creation during this time. Similarly, there are a lot of summer events available. Coding competitions, hackathons, and coding clubs can help you build a valuable network. These are ways to accelerate your learning without compromising your school obligations during the year.
Attending a computer science course during the summer is a great way to show initiative with your interests. Because they are not a required part of your curriculum, adding a certificate of completion to your accomplishments is a great way to show others that you are committed to learning this skill, and that can make a world of difference when it comes to applying for university or looking for a job out of high school. A summer course is a great way to show that you are proactive about your learning and that you are a dedicated student. It can highlight your interests while helping you gain confidence at the same time.
What Will You Learn in a Computer Science Summer Program?
A computer science curriculum will often begin with programming languages, with Java and Python being two of the more popular ones. These serve as the building blocks of software development and software engineering which are prominent topics in computer science. You’ll learn how to write and debug code, while also learning more about algorithms and data structures. These fundamental lessons can help you develop problem-solving for computer-based challenges. They are also the foundation for learning more about up-and-coming areas like machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science.
Alongside important technical skills are the soft skills you can learn from not only your instructors and your peers but also your projects. It’s easy to think of computer science as a solo venture, but it can require quite a bit of collaboration and teamwork. A summer class will give you access to that. With the help of presentations and other assignments, you’ll learn how to explain complex computer-related problems and solutions. Although you likely get plenty of practice with time management and organization during the school year, there is always an opportunity to practice.
Which Computer Science Summer Program is Right for Me?
Now that you have a list of available courses that can help you learn Computer Science, you might be wondering how to narrow your search and choose one. There are several important factors to consider when making that selection. For a lot of students, finances are at the top of that list. Although computer science skills often lead to high-paying jobs later in life, investing hundreds or even thousands of dollars into one of these programs can be a massive decision to make. It’s worth knowing whether the money you are putting into your education is worth the investment.
When considering the cost of a summer course, you can take a closer look at a few things. First, the curriculum. Make sure that it is aligned with your proficiency level to avoid wasting time and resources on a class that’s too easy or too difficult. Another thing to check is the additional resources provided. If a class comes with access to facilities, like a computer lab, then that can save you money on buying your electronics for the course. Gaining additional access to software and applications can prevent you from having to buy subscriptions. Overall, considering the larger picture and comparing that to how much it would cost you to not only buy those items individually but learn all of the basic concepts on your own, will allow you to better understand which classes are worth it.
It’s also important to recognize your current comfort level with computer science to make sure you choose a program that will challenge you without being confusing. While most of our recommended classes are for beginners, many of these schools also offer intermediate and advanced options. For example, if you’re already well-seasoned in Java, the Python course might be more bang for your buck, because it’s new content that can help you learn more about computer science without repeating content. There’s also the added consideration of your learning style. While virtual learning is highly convenient in terms of commute, comfort, and flexibility, it often lacks a face-to-face component that some students need to be successful.
Even if it is highly advantageous, preparing to learn computer science over the summer can be a daunting commitment. Luckily, there are a variety of programs that can accommodate many academic and financial needs. Examining your priorities as well as what a class offers will help you find the one that’s most appropriate for you.