15 Internships for High School Students in Brooklyn
If you’re a high school student, an internship can give you a structured way to learn practical skills, see how a field works in real settings, and connect with people already working in it. If you’re based in or around Brooklyn, you can find many local programs in various fields, including STEM, the arts, law, and urban agriculture.
Participating in high school internship programs locally offers super accessible opportunities to work in research laboratories, engage in engineering design projects, or gain insight into the legal system. These experiences will enhance your resume and provide greater clarity regarding your intended college major or career path.
In this list, we cover 15 Internships for high school students in Brooklyn.
15 Internships for High School Students in Brooklyn
1. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $1,000
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are NYC residents attending NYC schools
While not formally designated as an internship, the ARISE program provides practical research experience and related activities that are comparable to an internship. For the first four weeks, you’ll train in lab safety and build research and college writing skills. In the following six weeks, you will assist NYU Tandon faculty and researchers in research labs for ongoing projects. You will present your research project at Colloquium to the NYU Tandon community, ending with a Poster Symposium at the American Museum of Natural History.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students
Ladder Internships is an eight-week-long, selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students. During the program, you’ll work with a high-growth start-up that, on average, is raising over a million dollars on an internship. These start-ups usually offer internships that range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. As an intern, you’ll work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company.
3. NASA’s GISS Climate Change Research Initiative Internship
Location: CUNY City College of Technology, New York City, NY
Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Six weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: U.S. high school students aged 16+
The Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI) is a six-week summer STEM internship offered by NASA’s Earth Science Division (ESD) Early Career Research (ECR) Program. As a participant, you will conduct research in a comprehensive team of high school educators, graduate students, and undergraduate interns, and will be guided by NASA scientists. Previous research projects include Monitoring and Studying Lakes from Space in a Changing Climate and Characterizing the Urban Land Surface Temperature. Finally, you’ll present a scientific poster and a research paper at the closing symposium at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and at other science conferences and symposia.
4. Brooklyn Interns for Arts and Culture (BIAC)
Location: Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
Stipend: Summer: $275; Fall: $325; Spring: $500
Cohort Size: 15 students
Dates: Multiple sessions in a year
Application Deadline: June 6
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors attending high school in five New York City boroughs (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island, Queens, and The Bronx) with a GPA of 2.0 or higher and an interest in the arts
The Brooklyn Interns for Arts & Culture (BIAC) is a year-long after-school internship for high school students interested in arts management. As a participant, you will learn directly from the professional staff at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Throughout the sessions spaced out in summer, fall, and spring, you’ll work on college and career planning and practice public speaking and interviewing. The program includes one-on-one support with college applications, plus waivers for application and test fees. You’ll leave with practices to help manage your transition after high school.
5. NYC’s Summer Youth Employment Program
Location: Worksites vary throughout Brooklyn
Cost/Stipend: 14-15 years: Up to $700; 16+ years: $16.50/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 8 – August 16
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: NYC High school students aged 14+
The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is an internship program run by NYC’s Department of Youth and Community Development for high school students willing to prepare for future career opportunities through paid experiences. The program gives you the chance to participate in project-based learning, develop financial literacy, and gain hands-on work experience. As an NYC Teen (14-15 years), you’ll be assigned a project by your provider. Expect to work 12.5 hours a week for 6 weeks. For NYC Youth (16+), you will be placed at a worksite based on your interests. Expect to commit 25 hours per week for six weeks.
6. Brooklyn Museum Creative Practice Program
Location: Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: September – June
Application Deadline: Opens in June
Eligibility: NYC high school students entering grades 10-12
The Creative Practice program at the Brooklyn Museum is a paid internship program for high school students interested in careers in art and museum education. You’ll collaborate with peers on creative projects for museum exhibitions, and explore the intersection of art, fashion, design, and social justice. You’ll assist in a Studio Art Program, where you’ll prepare materials, learn to plan lessons, and manage a classroom. You will also be expected to assist in an art class for three hours per semester.
7. Biorocket Research Internship Program
Location: Genspace, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $2,000
Cohort Size: 12 students
Dates: Spring: February 27 – May 22; Summer: June 30 – August 15
Application Deadline: Opens November 1
Eligibility: NYC public or charter high school students (16+); Must live or attend school within ~45 minutes of Genspace (exceptions considered)
The Biorocket Research Internship Program by Genspace is a six-month science research internship for high school students interested in genetic engineering. You’ll learn biology and genetic engineering lab techniques, and build science communication skills. You’ll also design a summer research project, working in a small team of 12, guided by professionals from science, technology, and design. During the program, you’ll get to tour other research labs and biotech companies and get career guidance from experts.
8. Pathfinders Internship Program
Location: Remote and in-person worksites across Brooklyn
Stipend: Paid bi-weekly ($16.50/hour for the duration of this internship)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Spring cohort: March – June
Application Deadline: December 27
Eligibility: NYC high school students
The Pathfinders Internship Program, run as part of NYC’s CS4All initiative, offers high school students a four-month internship in computer science. You’ll be assigned to intern in web development, social media strategy, data entry, or online research projects. Expect to work 5-15 hours per week, including weekends, totaling 70 hours. You’ll be expected to work at host sites for 60 hours and attend 10 hours of unpaid career workshops.
9. Brooklyn Scholar Athletes with Academic Goals Program (BK-SWAG)
Location: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 25 and June 26 (virtual evening sessions); June 30 – July 25 (in-person full day sessions)
Application Deadline: February 2 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Current high school students
The BK-SWAG Program at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is a summer opportunity for underrepresented high school student-athletes interested in healthcare careers connected to sports and medicine. The program includes hands-on experiences like clinical shadowing, basic first aid training, mental health awareness sessions, and field trips. You will also receive CPR certification. You will attend college readiness workshops, meet healthcare professionals, and work on a group research project. For more details, check here.
10. Brooklyn Navy Yard Internship Programs
Location: Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple 8-week sessions in a year
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: College-bound high school seniors
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) offers paid internship programs to high school seniors as part of its mission to offer career pathways in the Yard. You’ll intern with businesses within the Brooklyn Navy Yard. These include sectors like Industrial, Manufacturing, Hospitality, Design, and Sales, among others. You can choose from eight-week sessions in the spring, summer, and fall. Based on your future career interests and relevant skills, you’ll be placed at Yard-based businesses and departments for paid work experience.
11. Brooklyn Museum Apprentice Program
Location: Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: First-year apprentice: $16.50/hour; Second-year apprentice: $17.50/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: November – August
Application Deadline: October 5
Eligibility: High school students
The Brooklyn Museum Apprentice Program is a paid internship for high school students interested in art history and museum education. You will have the opportunity to explore the Brooklyn Museum’s collections with guidance from curators and artists, while developing teaching and lesson planning skills. Additionally, you will assist in organizing family workshops and leading summer camp tours. As a participant, you will engage in discussions regarding the intersection of museums with education and social issues. You can expect to commit to a fully packed schedule throughout weekly meetings, pop-up talks, family events, and field trips.
12. The Health Scholars Program at Maimonides Medical Center
Location: Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple rotation shifts through the year; June 16 – September 1 (summer)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11 and 12
The Maimonides Health Scholars Program is an opportunity for you to volunteer in the Emergency Department at one of Brooklyn’s busiest hospitals. You will spend three months helping patients, shadowing doctors and nurses, and getting a close look at how a hospital really works. Each week, there are virtual sessions where you will learn about medical topics and hear from professionals working in the field. You also have optional hands-on sessions in CPR, suturing, and other emergency medicine skills. At the end, you submit a creative capstone reflecting on your rotation experience. Expect to commit to at least one five-hour shift a week.
13. Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office Internships
Location: Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Downtown Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $150/week (tentative)
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: Winter: February 18 – 21; Spring: April 14 – 18
Application Deadline: January 17
Eligibility: Brooklyn high school juniors and seniors
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office offers paid internships for high school students interested in careers in law. You’ll be assigned either to a general trial zone or to a specialized bureau/unit, including Violent Criminal Enterprises (VCE), Crime Strategies, and Homicide. You’ll assist in investigations, attend trials, prepare documents, conduct legal research, and support community outreach programs. As an intern, you will gain valuable insights into legal careers through this comprehensive program.
14. Garden Apprentice Program (GAP) at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Location: Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Stipend: Tiers 1-3: $600 – $800; Tier 4: $16.50/hour
Cohort Size: 12-14 apprentices per tier
Dates: March – November
Application Deadline: December 8
Eligibility: Tier 1: 9th graders; Tier 2: 10th graders or Tier 1 graduates; Tier 3: 11th graders or Tier 2 graduates; Tier 4: Only open to returning Tier 3 apprentices.
The Garden Apprentice Program (GAP) at Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an on-site, nine-month commitment for high school students interested in urban agriculture and the environment. You’ll work in the Children’s Garden, learn about botany and environmentalism, and design lessons for younger students. The program is divided into four tiers. In Tier 1, you’ll be guided by an adult instructor and a Tier 4 apprentice in basic gardening and cooking. As you move to higher tiers, you’ll explore horticultural approaches, teach visitors about botany in the Discovery Garden, conduct science experiments, and work in teams to research, design, and lead stations at the garden. As a returning apprentice, if you complete Tier 4, you’ll be onboarded as BBG staff.
15. BKLYN BookMatch Teen
Location: Brooklyn Public Library's Central Library, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: November – June
Application Deadline: September 22
Eligibility: High school students
BKLYN BookMatch Teen is an internship at the Brooklyn Public Library for high school students interested in libraries, books, and other media. You’ll learn to create a readers’ advisory—book recommendations for other teen readers. You will participate in weekly sessions led by librarians, authors, and publishers to gain insight into the publishing industry. Additionally, you will represent BPL at various public events. This opportunity provides a stipend and volunteer hours, while also allowing you to connect with professionals in publishing, writing, and library services.
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