Technical foundations
Learn to build
“I made something this week that did not exist last week.”
You learn JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, then APIs that connect your work to live data. You leave with a portfolio project.
Summer Intensive
Applications for the 2027 Summer Intensive open January 31, 2027. Tuition free, and no experience required.
Scholars closed the 2026 Summer Intensive by presenting their projects at Google in New York City.
What you will learn
The Summer Intensive is our flagship program for high school students. You learn through live instruction and team projects, with mentors from the tech industry.
The tools in tech keep changing, and AI is changing how software gets written. What you learn about how the technology works underneath applies to the next tool you pick up. The software engineers at our partner companies know how to code, and if you want a career in tech, you should too.
Code is the base. It lets you see what a tool is doing and judge what AI hands you, and it lets you build something of your own. You also work the way tech teams work, with professional tools, real data, deadlines, and teammates.
Technical foundations
“I made something this week that did not exist last week.”
You learn JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, then APIs that connect your work to live data. You leave with a portfolio project.
AI fluency and judgment
“I know how to use AI to learn, build, and solve problems.”
You use AI to learn, generate ideas, and solve problems. You also check its sources and keep the thinking your own.
Durable professional skills
“I can explain my ideas and work effectively with others.”
You practice communication, teamwork, and networking, and you present your work to people in the industry.
Week by week
The weeks below come from the 2026 program. Every week has a build, an AI lesson, a professional skill, and a milestone you hand in.
Week 1
“I belong here.”
You build: your first JavaScript project, starting from the basics of programming.
AI: what AI is, how it works, and how to use it for learning.
You practice: a growth mindset, asking for help, and sticking with a hard problem.
Milestone: complete your first coding project.
Week 2
“I can confidently introduce myself and my ideas.”
You build: your first interactive game, from your own idea.
AI: using AI to spark ideas, and building your own AI second brain.
You practice: introducing yourself professionally and pitching an idea.
Milestone: build a game and share it.
Week 3
“This is challenging, and I am growing through it.”
You build: your own website, designed to show who you are.
AI: using AI without losing your own voice.
You practice: telling your story and working as a team.
Milestone: launch your first website.
Week 4
“I can confidently share what I have built and learned.”
You build: interactive, responsive features for your site.
AI: checking sources and questioning what AI tells you.
You practice: networking and showing your work to professionals.
Milestone: launch a dynamic website, then take feedback and apply it.
Week 5
“My project solves a real problem for people I know.”
You build: app features that pull in real-world data through APIs.
AI: how AI shows up in everyday life, and building with real users in mind.
You practice: entrepreneurship, designing for a need people actually have.
Milestone: pitch your team's Demo Day project.
Week 6
“I built this.”
You build: the finished capstone and your Demo Day presentation.
AI: using AI to refine your work, and showing that you used it responsibly.
You practice: presenting with confidence and reflecting on the summer.
Milestone: present at Demo Day.
Each team builds a capstone that draws on the technical, AI, and professional skills from the summer, then presents it. Teams pick a challenge that means something to them. Past themes include education, health, personal finance, community, the environment, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and the arts.
A day in the life
You join a morning or an afternoon cohort. Both cover the same material. A typical day in a morning cohort:
The career hour
What we expect from you
What we give you
The tools you will use: Google Classroom, Zoom, Slack, GitHub, Visual Studio Code, and ChatGPT and other AI tools.
More than code
When August comes, you have a portfolio project, experience on a technical team, new friends and mentors, and a clearer picture of your future in tech.
The summer is grounded in our three pillars: Celebrate Failure, Dare Greatly, and Tell Your Story. Guest speakers and plenary sessions show students that setbacks and reflection are part of every career.
Engineers, executives, and other professionals from partner companies teach and coach throughout the summer, and some give talks. 40 volunteers worked with Scholars in 2025.
Finishing the Summer Intensive makes you a Scholar, and a Scholar is part of a peer and alumni network for life.
The Summer Intensive bridges Tech Exposure and Tech Pathways, the first two stages of Launching Digital Futures, and completing it is how a student becomes a Scholar. Scholars can go on to the Tech Entrepreneurship Incubator, where Demo Day projects have grown into real apps, and to Signal Studio in college. Coaching, internships, and training continue after a first job to keep their skills current.
2025 Impact Report
174 Scholars completed 90+ hours of coding instruction and 20+ hours of leadership development, and presented 60 capstone projects.
When I first came in, I only knew a little Python and wasn't really sure what coding was. But after three weeks, I started understanding HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, and now I feel confident pursuing a field like software engineering or cybersecurity. At first, I wasn't sure if tech was for me, but All Star Code made me realize it definitely is.
I feel like I am much more versed in coding, I am better at communication, I gained connections, I am better at asking for help and networking, and plenty more. It was a large growth experience.
This program exceeded my expectations! I thought this was just a boring coding program but in reality it was so much fun working on the creative projects and talking to my peers. I also want to thank the program for providing me with so much support, especially with my tech issues.
I am so grateful Gio and I had this opportunity to meet you and your team. You made a kid with an IEP believe that he is worth it, and that alone makes it a blessing!
Quick answers for students and families. See every FAQ
The Summer Intensive is open to male identifying students in high school, anywhere in the United States.
No. Week 1 starts with the basics of programming.
Nothing. The Summer Intensive has been tuition free since 2013, and all software is provided at no cost.
A desktop or laptop computer, a stable internet connection, headphones, and a quiet place to work. If a computer or internet access is a problem, say so when you apply.
Classes run live online every weekday, in a morning or afternoon cohort on Eastern Time, with in person programming where available. Both cohorts cover the same material.
Applications for the 2027 Summer Intensive open January 31, 2027. Join the interest list and we will email you when they do.
Finishing the program makes you a Scholar. Scholars stay connected to coaching, to each other, and to programs like the Tech Entrepreneurship Incubator and Signal Studio.
Write to admissions@allstarcode.org.
Join the interest list and we will email you when they open.
Join the interest list