The best data science and Python classes for high school students

Tandon’s summer programming course focuses on a wide range of valuable tech skills like machine learning, network architecture, software engineering, and UX design. You’ll learn how computer engineering skills can create sustainable solutions to real-world problems as you explore the fundamentals of developing fields like cybersecurity, computer science, data analyses, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). The program teaches high school students the essential skills in computer science, machine learning, and data analysis, which are rapidly defining the open career fields in the tech industry.

Learn how to make data speak for you in this visualization summer program. Here, you’ll learn the foundations of Python and build a range of working applications, from data analysis tools to real, playable games, while you master the basics of coding. The course covers topics like writing queries and building databases as well as the practical application of those queries in things like AI games or data visualization programs. Regardless of whether you are new to programming or already have some experience, this class will help you develop your coding skills and as you spend time designing and realizing your own project.

In this course, offered by the Wharton School, you’ll learn the fundamentals of data science and Python programming. During the course, you'll develop important statistical skills and critical thinking abilities as you attend lectures, work on hands-on projects, and explore real-world case studies. The course aims to emphasize problem-solving and communication with lessons that will empower you to approach real-world data science challenges with confidence. The course covers everything from Python and SQL to data visualization applications and R, providing students with a complete overview of the field.

Data science is impacting virtually every field and institution in the modern economic landscape, so no matter what career path you pursue, learning the basics of data science can be incredibly beneficial. In this program, you’ll explore both the practical and ethical issues that arise when undertaking data science projects. With the help of hands-on exercises in R programming, you’ll work with a range of different kinds of computer algorithms to get a better understanding of how professionals undertake and approach data science tasks. By the time you complete the program, you’ll feel comfortable with your coding skills and you’ll have begun to develop the scientific mindset needed to navigate and interpret any dataset effectively and ethically.

Experience college life firsthand with Introduction to Data Science with a Focus on Visualization in Harvard's Pre-College Program, a dynamic two-week summer initiative for high school students. During your stay on Harvard's campus, you'll engage in a college-level course alongside peers from the Pre-College Program community. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to data science, with a strong emphasis on data visualization techniques. Divided into two parts, the program begins with Python-based data compilation and visualization exercises, culminating in a guided project centered on COVID-19 data analysis. The second phase delves deeper into visualization strategies, employing JavaScript to create dynamic and intricate visual representations. Throughout the course, you’ll actively participate in computational data analysis tasks, mastering concepts like web scraping, data cleaning, and advanced visualization methods. The program encourages you to deeply explore computational data analysis and programming principles by fostering a collaborative learning environment.

The DSI Summer Lab at The University of Chicago Data Science Institute offers a unique research opportunity for undergraduate and Chicago-area high school students, focusing on applied data science research in an interdisciplinary setting. This immersive eight-week program provides a paid research position alongside experienced data science mentors, where you’ll collaborate across diverse domains like computer science, social science, public policy, and biomedical research. Through hands-on engagement, you’ll refine your research skills, learn methodologies, and cultivate teamwork abilities. The program fosters a supportive cohort community, empowering students to explore and contribute to cutting-edge data science projects.

You’ll explore the basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning in AI Scholars at Veritas AI. You’ll develop proficiency in the basics of Python and AI and learn to execute data science projects. Gain insight into AI concepts like regression, neural networks, and natural language processing to set the stage for deeper learning, and delve into more complex topics like image classification, deep learning, sentiment analysis, and the significance of AI ethics. You’ll be prepared for future data science endeavors with hands-on group projects that apply your newfound knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Data Visualization and Analysis at Syracuse University is for anyone wanting to convert raw data to meaningful visual information. Using Microsoft Excel, you’ll learn to capture data, assess its quality, and clean it. Then, create informative data views that extract valuable insights. You’ll begin by grasping the fundamental concept of data and its role in generating insights. Then, progress to advanced tools like Tableau. You’ll explore design principles for dashboards, choosing the right charts, and storytelling methods using data. By the end of the course, you'll be ready to handle unknown datasets, visually explore and clean data, conduct basic statistics, and present your findings to stakeholders for informed decision-making.

In the Girls Who Code Summer Programs, you’ll develop valuable skills through hands-on projects spanning game design, cybersecurity, data science, web development, and artificial intelligence. You’ll join a vibrant community of learners and forge lasting connections while you expand your professional network with tech industry leaders. If you opt for the Summer Immersion Program, you’ll dive into technology and game design with computer science concepts, step-by-step design processes, and UX design fundamentals. In the Self-Paced Program, you’ll explore web development, cybersecurity, data science, and artificial intelligence while learning coding languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python. Girls Who Code offers live events that foster community-building opportunities and collaborative learning experiences.

Pre-College Summer Session gives high school students the unique opportunity to take summer courses like Methods for Statistics and Data Science offered by Carnegie Mellon University for credit. You’ll receive the same rigorous, college-level work as an undergraduate studying at Carnegie Mellon. This course covers simple and multiple regression, basic analysis of variance methods, logistic regression, and an introduction to data mining, including classification and clustering. Students will also learn the principles of overfitting, training vs testing, ensemble methods, variable selection, and bootstrapping. You’ll apply the basic principles and methods that underlie statistical practice and empirical research to real data sets and interdisciplinary problems. When you successfully complete the course, you’ll receive college credit at Carnegie Mellon University.

The Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Summer Residential track at the University of California Berkeley invites high school students from around the globe to live on campus, earn college credit, and immerse themselves in university life. You’ll engage in two Berkeley Summer Sessions courses and can partake in extracurricular activities, excursions, and workshops led by experienced admissions professionals. Possible courses include Foundations of Data Science, which will teach you about data science from three perspectives: inferential thinking, computational thinking, and real-world relevance. The course teaches critical concepts and skills in computer programming and statistical inference in conjunction with hands-on analysis of real-world datasets.

The Data Sciences Lab summer program at Quinnipiac University is designed for high school students intrigued by problem-solving, pattern recognition, and using technology for real-world issues. Over two weeks, you’ll explore the vast realm of data science and learn to analyze data, detect patterns, and make impactful decisions using math, statistics, and programming. From advising businesses to aiding medical diagnoses, students will uncover the diverse applications of data science across various sectors. By the program's end, you’ll gain foundational knowledge of Big Data, hands-on experience analyzing datasets, and insight into the potential career paths within data science.

In Data Analytics for STEM College Success at Rice Elite Tech, developed by Rice University’s Center for Engineering Leadership, you’ll learn how to apply a data-based mindset to plan for college, with an emphasis on careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. This dynamic week-long program is tailored for high school students eager to explore STEM and engineering challenges. You’ll engage in immersive, hands-on activities where you apply technical, scientific, and analytical principles to tackle authentic, real-world problems. The camp is led by experienced instructors who provide college-level instruction in engineering and technology fundamentals, empowering you with essential skills for your future educational and career pursuits.

Learn, understand, and practice big data analytics and machine learning in Introduction to Machine Learning and AI with Python at Brown Pre-College Programs. You'll focus on industry applications for big data technologies and machine learning techniques. This course explores the functionality of the algorithm and theory without relying on complex math, so you can master the fundamental theories of machine learning, understand the latest developments, and learn to design algorithms for specific problems. By the end of the class, you'll have a solid grasp of AI concepts and understand how to apply data science in various disciplines. You'll be able to use machine learning techniques and algorithms and be ready to tackle scientific research challenges for a college education in data science.

Pathways in Data Science at The University of Chicago Summer Session provides an overview of data science in business, government, and scientific research. Using data science and machine learning, you’ll learn how to glean meaning from complex data sets and see how researchers apply it to various scientific fields. You’ll understand the life cycle of data, from collection and storage to how it’s explored, visualized, and communicated. Use Python for classification, prediction, inference, and regression, then study a data science problem of your choice in small groups. Visiting guest lecturers will broaden your view of how data science is used in diverse fields, from business applications to biology. 

Gateway Computing: Python at Johns Hopkins University Summer at Hopkins program introduces fundamental programming concepts and techniques. You'll use Python to design and implement algorithms using variables, control structures, arrays, functions, files, testing, debugging, and structured program design. Use your new skills for object-oriented programming and data visualization, and develop working solutions that address problems in engineering, science, and other areas. Summer at Hopkins offers a fast-paced college-level learning experience, a chance to engage with like-minded peers, and an unrivaled opportunity to learn from Hopkins’ world-renowned instructors. Use your summer to broaden your knowledge, enhance your college application, and earn academic credit.

The Yale Summer Session Data Exploration and Analysis program offers an immersive learning opportunity for students eager to explore the realm of data analysis. You’ll acquire essential data science skills such as data collection, cleaning, exploratory analysis, statistical techniques, and visualization. With a strong focus on hands-on learning, you’ll engage with real datasets and practice data manipulation and analysis using Python to gain practical expertise in the field. The program culminates in a data analysis project, where you’ll tackle real-world problems or inquiries. This program is an excellent fit for high school students who want to expand their data science knowledge and explore the practical applications of data analysis across various academic and professional fields.

Data science (and associated fields like data analytics) is becoming more and more ubiquitous across all industries. While its presence is obvious in fields like finance and scientific research, it is also common in healthcare (both in terms of diagnostics and hospital management), education, sports and marketing. No matter what kind of work you are hoping to pursue, it is likely that, by the time you graduate from college, that industry will have adopted new data science practices (if it hasn’t already).

In addition, data science is a field defined by statistical analyses, mathematical interpretation and the use of data as rhetoric. This means that learning data science will teach you to see numbers and data in new ways and approach problems with a different kind of logic and focus. You’ll learn how to see problems as data problems and how to use data as a tool of rhetoric, either though specific queries or with the help of visualization tools (as charts of data are far more persuasive than piles of unrefined data). This mode of thinking can help you even if you don’t pursue data science as a primary profession (for example, entrepreneurs may want to learn how to see their business projects as data science projects).

Data Science summer programs offer hands-on experience with basic concepts in programming, statistics, and data analysis. You’ll learn to use popular programming languages like Python and R to manipulate, visualize, and interpret data. You may also delve into the exciting new world of machine learning and artificial intelligence, where you’ll see how algorithms can be trained to find patterns and make predictions from large datasets.

You’ll also get to apply your new knowledge to real-world scenarios. You’ll work with your classmates on projects like analyzing social media trends, predicting stock market behavior,  studying environmental patterns, or exploring healthcare data. Hands-on projects help bring data science concepts to life for you and build your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Data science can appear daunting at first, but it's a field ripe for high school students. Summer programs offer plenty of learning support and break down complex concepts into manageable chunks. You’ll gradually learn to understand data science principles, algorithms, and tools by doing hands-on projects and interactive exercises. These programs often provide mentorship and peer support to help you get past challenges and build confidence in your abilities.

Mastering data science does require dedication and practice, but it’s also a lot of fun. Structured summer program curricula ensure you’ll have a gradual learning curve -- starting with basic concepts, you’ll gradually progress to more advanced topics so you can build your skills in small steps. Real-life data science problems, such as analyzing datasets and solving problems, make classes engaging and fun. By the end of the program, you’ll have a solid foundation in data science to prepare you for further studies.

Data science is used in almost every industry. Many high-growth sectors, including technology, finance, healthcare, and marketing, rely heavily on data analysis to make informed decisions and drive innovation. In the tech industry, data scientists play a crucial role in developing cutting-edge algorithms, artificial intelligence models, and predictive analytics systems. Similarly, financial institutions leverage data science to optimize trading strategies, detect fraud, and manage risks.

Data science is vital in healthcare, where it’s used to improve patient care, develop personalized treatments, and streamline operations. In marketing, data scientists help companies understand consumer behavior, target audiences more effectively, and measure the impact of marketing campaigns. Data science skills are also in demand in fields like education, transportation, government, and environmental science.

Since data science is such a varied and diverse field of study, you’ll want to consider your own goals and experience level before you choose a course. For example, some subsets of data science are incredibly math and statistics heavy, so if you aren’t comfortable working with large amounts of numbers and complex calculations, you may want to focus your attention elsewhere. In addition, almost all data science programs will require you to learn to code. While most of them are perfectly fine for beginners, you’ll want to consider whether you want to learn just enough Python to write some simple queries or enough R to build your own applications.

On a practical level, you may want to know if enrolling in a data science summer program will help you get into college, since your time is limited and you want to maximize your opportunities. As a general rule, admissions offices like to see students dedicated to their own learning and willing to pursue training outside of the classroom, especially if it is relevant to the program to which they are applying. In addition, some summer bootcamps, including many offered by universities, offer introductory credit, which will demonstrate to admission boards that you are in it for the long haul.

Moreover, a data science summer bootcamp equips you with technical skills and experiences that will demonstrate your initial proficiency. It pays to know that you will be comfortable in an introductory college-level course and, having a bootcamp on your application will signal this to admissions boards. This can give you a leg up on other applicants and it can demonstrate your commitment to your education and the overall state of the field.