Topics We Cover:
- Why Do Internships in High School?
- How to Find Computer Science Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles
- 10 Computer Science Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles
- Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Computer Science Internships
- Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
A computer science internship for high school students in Los Angeles can help put Southern California teens on the path to success—allowing them to explore careers in fields ranging from coding to AI to cybersecurity while building skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork.
Why Do Internships in High School?
High school internships, such as computer science internships for high school students in Los Angeles, offer numerous benefits, notably in college admissions. According to the consultancy PRISM, nearly three-quarters of students at U.S. News Top 50 universities engage in at least one internship in high school. It also allows them to build their resume, develop hard and soft skills, and connect with professionals—all of which can make a student stand out in the admissions process.
The benefits of high school internships don’t stop there. Participating in a high school internship can also provide an advantage when trying to secure a college internship or help gain admission to pre-professional groups and organizations, like coding and ethical hacking clubs or programming and robotics teams.
How to Find Computer Science Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles
A proven strategy for discovering computer science internships for high school students in Los Angeles (and everywhere else) is through online search tools and lists. StandOutSearch is one such tool. StandOutSearch is the largest free online database of internship programs for high school-age students. The database is searchable using several filters, including location, format (in-person, remote, hybrid), and compensation (paid and unpaid). Another helpful resource is a list of high school internships and summer programs provided by MIT Admissions.
While there are many advantages to official internship programs, a major drawback is that they are typically extremely competitive. Consequently, students committed to earning a high school computer science internship in LA will want to form a cold outreach strategy.
Cold outreach is a strategy for contacting potential internship providers with the goal of securing an internship. At the end of this article, we share tips for building an effective cold outreach plan and provide templates for reaching out to professionals and professors who might host an internship.
10 Computer Science Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles
In general, the computer science internships for high school students in LA below are very competitive—most have acceptance rates below 20%. With that in mind, we recommend students apply to at least five opportunities.
If you see an internship that excites you, take a minute to mark its deadline on your calendar so you don’t miss out on a life-changing opportunity.
1. StandOut Connect
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: November 23, 2026 (Winter cohort)
StandOut Connect is a program that helps match gifted high school students with online internships in their industry of interest. Potential sectors include finance, STEM, medicine, law, arts, and more. StandOut Connect is funded by StandOutSearch, the largest free database for high school internships. The program has been featured in Forbes and was created with the help of investment from The University of Chicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
2. America on Tech - TECH360 Intro to AI
Ages: Sophomores and Juniors
Location: Los Angeles, CA; New York City, NY; Miami, FL; and Atlanta, GA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (May 24 in 2026)
The TECH360 Intro to AI is an intensive, three-week program where students learn about AI—what it is and how it’s changing the world. The hybrid program (part virtual, part in-person) explores the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, developing the knowledge, skills, and mindsets required to effectively and confidently use AI tools.
The program culminates with a group project and pitching an AI-powered tool to mock clients.
3. National Security Agency | High School Work Study Program
Ages: Juniors
Location: Locations nationwide
Timeline: Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring
Deadline: Not yet announced
This part-time program allows high schoolers to learn about the NSA, deepen their knowledge of careers in the field, and earn a paycheck or scholarship money. The program is open to students who plan to participate in a school-sponsored work experience program during their senior year. Positions vary by site, but include jobs in fields including computer/engineering technology, printing/graphic arts, and facilities/logistics.
4. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs
Ages: 18 (graduating seniors)
Location: Locations across the country
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 1, 2027
The NASA OSTEM (Office of STEM Engagement) high school internship program offers opportunities for students across a range of fields, with many of them in tech, computer science, and engineering. These internship programs are tailored to provide hands-on experiences in tech fields, allowing you to engage with state-of-the-art technologies used in space exploration, satellite communication, and aerospace engineering.
The NASA OSTEM High School Internship Program is one of several opportunities NASA makes available to high schoolers. Check out our guide to NASA internships for everything you need to know about interning with NASA.
5. The Intern Project Summer Program
Ages: Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (March 15 in 2026)
The Intern Project (TIP) places Los Angeles County students in internships in fields including engineering and tech, which covers computer science. Run by LA Promise Fund, this paid program is open to 10th, 11th and 12th graders who attend school in the county, and the eight-week summer session runs from June to August. Other placements cover business, arts, media and entertainment, government and healthcare. Interns earn a stipend, can receive one free college credit and a work-readiness certification, and attend workshops on resumes, LinkedIn, networking and public speaking. GPA does not affect whether an application is considered, and TIP also runs Fall and Spring programs during the school year.
6. Stanford’s SHTEM: Summer Internship
Ages: Juniors and Seniors
Location: Stanford, CA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: February 21, 2027
Stanford’s SHTEM—short for Science, Humanities, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—is an eight-week summer internship that explores computer science and technological innovation. Participants engage in cutting-edge projects and tackle themes including:
- Arts
- Computer science
- Design
- Engineering
- Psychology
- Technology
The program was formerly virtual, but is now held in Stanford, CA. While not Los Angeles, it’s still a program any California high schooler interested in computer science internships will want to consider.
7. Department of Navy Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Ages: 16-18
Location: Locations nationwide
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: November 30, 2026
The Department of Navy Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is a great paid opportunity that provides students with hands-on, practical experience in the field of science and engineering. Interns explore projects in cybersecurity, software development, algorithm design, or data analysis—allowing students to apply their classroom knowledge to practical scenarios and gain exposure to new and emerging technologies and methodologies in the field.
Internships are available at Department of Navy labs across the country, including near Los Angeles locations like Port Hueneme and Corona.
8. Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) Internship
Ages: 17-18
Location: Locations nationwide
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Rolling
Whether you’re passionate about technology, media, or the intersection of both, the EBF Internship offers a launchpad for your career. Participants can explore roles such as software engineer, web developer, data analyst, digital producer, journalist, business strategist, PR specialist, or sales representative.
Interns gain hands-on experience working with leading organizations—learning from professionals, developing real-world skills, and fast-tracking their path to success in the tech and media careers.
9. USC Viterbi K-12 STEM Center CS@SC Summer Camps
Ages: Grades 6-12
Location: Los Angeles, CA, or Virtual
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (May 13 in 2026)
The USC Viterbi K-12 STEM Center runs CS@SC Summer Camps, short computer science classes for kindergarten through 12th grade, with beginner to advanced levels for grades 6 to 12. Teens can take Python, Java or web development, or topics such as Arduino robotics in C++, game design in Unity, mobile apps, drones, cybersecurity and AI with Zumi robots. In-person classes meet on the USC campus for one week, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, with lunch, while virtual classes meet on Zoom for 90 minutes a day over two weeks. In 2026, camps ran July 6 to July 31 and cost $600 per in-person class or $200 per virtual class, with limited need-based scholarships. Small classes give Los Angeles students a focused way to build coding skills at USC.
10. Cal State LA | LAunchPad Summer Program
Ages: Freshmen-Seniors
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (April 10 in 2026)
Cal State LA's College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology opens its campus to high schoolers for LAunchPad, a free, one-week summer program sponsored by Boeing. Each day begins with a faculty presentation, moves into a hands-on project and closes with a talk from an industry professional, and teams build a group project they present at the end of the week. Computer science is one of six fields students explore, along with several branches of engineering. The program has one session for 9th and 10th graders and another for 11th and 12th graders (most recently, June 15 to 18 and June 22 to 26, 2026), and meals are included. Any high school student interested in STEM may apply.
For more options beyond Los Angeles, see our list of coding internships for high school students.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Computer Science Internships
If none of the opportunities above are the right fit, the next step in finding computer science internships for high school students in Los Angeles is to launch a cold outreach strategy. The prospect of cold outreach can be intimidating, but the guide below makes the process more straightforward and less nerve-racking.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
LinkedIn is a fantastic tool for learning about companies that might host a computer science internship. Smaller companies are great targets—they’re commonly understaffed and more willing to take on a high schooler to help with tasks like writing code, troubleshooting software, designing web pages, or updating websites.
When reaching out to professionals, try to connect on a personal level—for example, over a shared passion for a favorite sports team, hobby, or something like coming from the same hometown or neighborhood. Remember to use caution when reaching out to professionals you don’t know; it’s safest to meet or interview virtually.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
Use online university directories to identify professors for potential research positions. Remote research positions are rare for high school interns—as they often assist with manual tasks—however computational research positions are the exception.
Computational research positions normally require a fundamental knowledge of Python or R to parse large data sets. If you don’t know either of these languages, you can learn them for free within a few months using resources like Coursera’s Python for Everybody and R Programming.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
The more professionals you contact about hosting a computer science internship, the better your chances are of securing a position. Aim to send out at least 50 emails to potential internship providers.
When reaching out about potential internships, make sure to include your resume (no longer than one page) as a Google Drive link, as Docs and PDFs can negatively impact deliverability. Make sure the link’s share setting allows anyone with it to view its contents and include any relevant work samples—for example a website or app you designed.
If you don’t have a resume, no worries! Our resume template and tips make crafting an internship-earning resume easy. Another helpful resource is the University of Chicago’s resume and cover letter toolkit.
Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
If you are unsure how to structure your outreach emails to potential internship providers, here are some basic templates you can customize to your needs.
Template for Finding an Internship
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Mr./Ms.____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I read about your company on LinkedIn and found the concept quite interesting. For context, [briefly state how the company relates to your interests or experience].
I was wondering if you might be looking for interns. I know I would have a great deal to learn from working with you, and I would love to contribute in any way I can. I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Template for Finding a Research Position
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Professor/Dr. ____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I recently read your paper on [restate the abstract] in [name of publication] and was quite intrigued by [part you found interesting]. I was wondering if I might be able to intern for you over this summer. [Elaborate on your relevant skills and experience and why you are passionate about the field].
I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Conclusion
Whether you’re applying to established programs or launching your own cold outreach strategy, perseverance is key when searching for computer science internships for high school students in Los Angeles. These opportunities can be highly competitive, but most students find the effort worthwhile for the chance to get a head start on their careers. If you found this article helpful, be sure to save it for later or share it with a friend.
Good luck with your internship search!
