12 Education Internships for High School Students
If you're a high school student interested in the field of education, an internship can be a solid way to gain experience while building practical skills and strengthening your college applications. This blog covers the top 12 internships that offer high schoolers an insight into education, whether through working with students, developing curriculum, or learning how policy and administration shape the field.
Some programs emphasize direct teaching, while others focus more on research or educational outreach. Either way, the list can help you explore the field and figure out if its a good fit for you!
1. Student Volunteer Trainee Program – U.S. Department of Education
Location: Washington, D.C. | virtual placements (varies)
Dates: 8–10 weeks (Fall, Winter/Spring, or Summer sessions)
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Be at least 16 years of age; Attend an accredited educational institution, including but not limited to high school, trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or graduate school
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid (volunteer-based)
If you’re looking to get your foot in the door of the public sector, the Student Volunteer Trainee program at the U.S. Department of Education lets you work in policy, data, communications, IT, and more. Over 8 to 10 weeks, you’ll build skills, work alongside professionals, and see how education policy plays out at the federal level. This is a solid option if you’re interested in government work and education. The details, like timing and availability, can differ based on what different offices need, but there are opportunities throughout the year!
2. Freedom Schools Literacy Academy (FSLA) Tutor Apprenticeship
Location: Virtual | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dates: June 30 – August 1 (5 weeks)
Application deadline: Applications are open now
Eligibility: High school and college students interested in education and social justice
Cost/Stipend: Stipend available; eligibility for the Future Teachers of Excellence Fellowship
Through the FSLA apprenticeship, you’ll step into a teaching role supporting early literacy and cultural affirmation. Working with rising 1st to 3rd graders, you’ll support students in building reading skills while helping them embrace their racial identity in a space grounded in Black history, culture, and educational traditions. Apprentices can also apply for the Future Teachers of Excellence Fellowship, which includes professional development, scholarships, and retention stipends for those planning to stay in the field. This is a meaningful place to start if you're drawn to education as a tool for equity and justice.
3. Breakthrough AmeriCorps Summer Teaching Fellowship
Location: Various sites nationwide
Dates: June 3 – August 2 (9 weeks)
Application deadline: Early Action Deadline: January 16; Regular Decision Deadline: February 27; Early Action Rollover 2/Regular Decision Rollover 1: Mar 20; Early Action Final Rollover/Regular Decision Rollover 2: Apr 10; Regular Decision Final Rollover: May 1
Eligibility: High school and college students interested in teaching
Stipend: $4,250 living stipend (additional $250 for returning fellows) | $1,824.07 Segal Education Award (upon completion of 450 service hours) | Up to $250 for gas and $150 relocation stipend | Housing support provided
Through the Breakthrough AmeriCorps Summer Teaching Fellowship, you’ll step into the role of a middle school teacher, leading your own classroom, mentoring students, and helping first-generation college students build the skills and confidence they need. Throughout the summer, you’ll get support from veteran educators, develop your leadership and communication abilities, and participate in professional development. This teaching experience also offers financial support and mentorship, making it ideal for anyone drawn to education, social impact work, or youth advocacy.
4. Smithsonian Science Education Center Internships
Location: Virtual and in-person options (Washington, DC)
Dates: 10 weeks between May-August, with a flexible schedule for virtual internships.
Application deadline: Applications typically close March-end.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old can apply.
Stipend: Students will receive a modest stipend.
The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) aims to improve K-12 education in collaboration with communities across the globe. The SSEC develops new STEM curriculum and digital resources, conducts professional development for STEM teachers, and fosters STEM education leadership among school and community leaders. They have multiple internship positions open every year, covering communications, marketing, and public relations work at the center. As an intern, you will work with the SSEC team to create communications and marketing materials, assist in communications dissemination, strategy, and asset management. You will learn how a communications team functions every day, and how to apply developed marketing materials to enhance the SSEC brand.
5. Meaningful Teams Teaching Programs
Location: Online
Dates: Volunteer experiences are open throughout the year.
Application Deadline: Registration is open year-round.
Eligibility: All high school students can apply.
Cost/Stipend: None.
Remote learning has opened up a host of opportunities for students and professionals across the globe. Meaningful Teens offers internships and volunteer opportunities for high school students across its welfare and education programs that run in different parts of the world. A few programs that you can contribute to are Project Speak Together, Project Diversidad, Project Ying Wen, and Project Udaan. These projects reach women, children, and members of underrepresented and under-resourced communities, and assist them with grammar, speaking exercises, literacy workshops, and tutoring lessons. You can contribute to any of these projects (as well as multiple upcoming ones) for a few hours every week.
Location: Virtual
Dates: Usually 3 months from June to August. If the intern is keen, the internship can be extended!
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines; it is recommended that you apply as soon as possible.
Eligibility: All high school students can apply.
Cost/Stipend: No cost, unpaid opportunity.
Building-U is an entirely remote non-profit centered around assisting high school students in their journey. The organization is looking for interns to assist in the administrative/business aspect of the organization. This internship position is for three months, and as an intern, you will be required to cover a vast range of duties. Once selected, you join one of their teams – these include R&D roles, student ambassador roles, Business Development roles, and other profiles, more details of which you can read about here. Each role offers a range of experiences and responsibilities, and will give you the chance to contribute towards the organization’s larger goals.
7. Pathways Internship Programs at the U.S. Department of State
Location: Varies, students can opt for programs close to their location. Check available options here.
Dates: While the dates of the internship will vary from post to post, those under the Internship Experience Program (IEP) are expected to last the length of the academic program for which the intern is enrolled, and those under the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP) will run during seasonal and holiday breaks as well as year-round.
Application Deadline: Varies from location to location
Eligibility: Students applying must be at least 16 years old by the closing date of the post you’re applying to. Students must also have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the time of application and throughout the internship appointment.
Stipend: This varies from post to post.
These internships allow students to explore federal careers in various offices of the government. Students will get firsthand experience in various aspects of foreign affairs, public policy, and international affairs by working as an intern at offices such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Structured Finance and Insurance, Office of the General Counsel, and Environmental Protection Agency, among others. If you’re interested in education, you can choose a federal department/agency accordingly and explore the policies and laws related to education.
There are two types of internships under this program: the Internship Experience Program (IEP) and the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP). IEP interns, while in the program, are eligible for non-competitive promotions and federal employee benefits. ITEP interns are appointed to temporary appointments, which will not exceed one year or their projected graduation date (whichever is shorter), and extensions may be made in one-year increments.
Note: All vacancies part of this internship program are posted on USAJobs.gov. So details such as the application deadline and internship dates will vary from role to role, and will be available on each specific posting. Check out current vacancies here.
Location: The College of New Jersey, New Jersey (NJ)
Dates/Duration: One week
Application Deadline: Applications open in February of each year.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors. This program aims to recruit students from marginalized and underrepresented groups, although any qualified student from an NJ public high school may apply
Cost/Stipend: No information available
The Future Educators Academy at The College of New Jersey is a week-long residential summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors from NJ public schools. This intensive program focuses on social justice in education and highlights the importance of teaching and the impact of educators in and beyond the classroom. Students engage in individual and group learning experiences, receive insights from education professionals, take field trips, and apply new concepts in practical settings. Participants also gain classroom experience from a teacher’s perspective, including planning and delivering mini-lessons to elementary school children. Coursework includes pre-assignments, a portfolio of work that will culminate in a capstone presentation, and written reflections.
9. Kearney School District Education Internship Program
Location: Kearney School District, 425 W. Washington St., Kearney, Missouri
Dates/Duration: Not mentioned on the website
Application Deadline: Early February
Eligibility: High school students
Cost/Stipend: No information available
The Education Internship Program pairs high school students with teachers: participants can choose to work with elementary (K-5th grade) or secondary (6th-9th grade) students. Here, you will develop essential skills in communication, collaboration, time management, leadership, teaching techniques, and the importance of being a good role model. Interns meet once a week and are assigned to a classroom for the remainder of the week.
10. GVHS Cooperative Education Internship
Location: Great Valley Community Organization, Pennsylvania
Dates/Duration: The internship will last throughout the school year.
Application Deadline: No information available
Eligibility: High school seniors with enough credits to attend school for only part of the day
Stipend: $12.00 per hour
A GVHS Cooperative Education internship offers a unique structure compared to typical after-school internships, with a tailored daily schedule and increased responsibilities. Interns focus on three key areas: community service programming, the internship program, and youth sports programming. The internship aims to expose interns to the business side of a non-profit. Responsibilities will include assisting with programming, marketing, and administrative tasks.
11. TEACH Academy Juniors Tutoring Internship Program
Location: Madison Elementary School in Santa Ana, California
Dates/Duration: Throughout the sophomore, junior, and senior year
Application Deadline: No information available
Eligibility: High school juniors
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
The TEACH Academy at Century High School is a school-within-a-school program for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in teaching careers. The program is a recognized California Partnership Academy and serves the Santa Ana Unified School District students. The program aims to prepare college-bound students to become educators and community role models. In their junior year, students take the Professional Internship Course, engaging in job shadowing, teaching internships, and tutoring at Madison Elementary on Tuesdays through Fridays. Junior TEACH students tutor K-6th graders in Language Arts and Mathematics and also take classes in advanced lesson planning and educational pedagogy, conduct service-learning projects, and visit local colleges to explore the college experience. Participants earn around 120 hours of community service through this component of the TEACH Academy.
12. Learning Club Teaching Internship Program
Location: Learning Club, Kansas City, Kansas
Duration: Interns begin their internship program working with students in mid-September
Application Deadline: Rolling applications
Eligibility: High school students
Stipend: $20 stipend per session and/or three community service hours per session during the academic school year
The Learning Club Teaching Internship in Kansas City is designed for high school students interested in teaching and mentoring children in the local community. Interns tutor younger students one day a week on homework, reading, writing, and math, while also serving as mentors to inspire and support them. Interns receive personal and professional development training that covers topics like financial literacy, career exploration, community service, college applications, resume building, interview skills, and self-care. The program also provides transportation and a weekly stipend!
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries, with a large number of them in tech. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!