15 Leadership Internships for High School Students
Internships can help you test what leadership looks like outside the classroom. Through leadership internships for high school students, you can learn how teams make decisions, how organizations solve problems, and how professionals communicate under real deadlines.
What do leadership internships for high school students involve?
These experiences can also help you connect your academic interests to practical work, whether you are interested in business, public service, nonprofit work, policy, museums, or community programs. The strongest leadership internships usually give you real responsibilities, structured mentorship, and a chance to reflect on what kind of leader you want to become.
Why pursue a leadership internship in high school?
You may support a nonprofit, work with a public agency, build a startup project, or contribute to a professional team. These opportunities can strengthen your communication, project management, research, and decision-making skills while helping you understand possible career paths earlier.
Here are 15 leadership internships for high school students. For related opportunities, check out our guides on startups offering internships for high school students and business internships for high school students in California.
Quick Look
10 paid internships: TIP at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum internship, NYC Ladders for Leaders, the Met's High School Internship Program, and several city-run programs in Seattle, Austin, and Dallas.
1 fully virtual, entrepreneurship-focused option: Young Founders Lab, best suited if you want to practice leadership through venture-building and pitching rather than joining an existing organization.
6 city-specific, residency-restricted programs: including internships in Boston, NYC, Seattle, Austin, Washington DC, and Dallas, each limited to local residents.
2 free internships: DOROT's Summer Teen Internship and Monterey County's Leadership in Civic Engagement program, both offering community service hours instead of pay.
Ladder Internships is the most selective option on paper, with over 700 applicants competing for 70 spots in a recent cohort.
15 Leadership Internships for High School Students
1. Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) Program
Location: Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: Summer, with possible year-round extension
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Boston Public Schools students who have completed their sophomore year
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) Program is a paid work-and-learning internship for eligible Boston Public Schools students. You begin with a summer work experience that includes job coaching, skill-building workshops, and exposure to the operations of a major public financial institution. Depending on openings, performance, and interest, you may be invited to continue in a year-round internship that can last through high school and into the early postsecondary years. The program is especially relevant if you are interested in finance, technology, economic policy, community development, or public service. You can build workplace communication, problem-solving, financial literacy, and professional collaboration skills while learning how a Federal Reserve Bank functions.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: 100% virtual, with live interactive workshops
Cost/Stipend: $2,900; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: 4-week program starting tentatively June 5
Application Deadline: Early Decision: March | Regular Admission 1: April | Regular Admission 2: May
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a real-world startup bootcamp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. You work toward building a revenue-generating startup that addresses a real-world problem, with mentorship from established entrepreneurs and professionals from companies such as Google, Microsoft, and X. Alongside your startup work, you participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals, ideation, workshops, skill-building sessions, case studies, and panel discussions. The program gives you a structured space to explore both theoretical and practical frameworks for building a business. If you are comparing leadership internships for high school students with entrepreneurship programs, YFL is most relevant if you want to practice leadership through venture-building, teamwork, problem selection, and pitching.
3. National Museum of Natural History Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Washington, DC
Cost/Stipend: $5,600 stipend; lunch, field trip transportation, and SmarTrip cards may be provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: June 23-August 14
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Current high school students in grades 9-12, ages 15-18, who can commute from the DC, Maryland, or Virginia area
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History offers an internship where you can explore museum work through science and non-science departments. You may contribute to projects in areas such as exhibits, communications, botany, anthropology, paleobiology, or science education, depending on the available placements. The internship includes project work with supervisors as well as enrichment activities, field trips, and behind-the-scenes tours. You can develop research, writing, public communication, audience engagement, and professional workplace skills. This is one of the more structured leadership internships for high school students if you want to see how museums combine research, public education, and community-facing communication.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote; work from anywhere in the world
Cost/Stipend: Starting at $2,490; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; past summer cohort example: 700+ applicants for 70 spots
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; 8-week internships
Application Deadline: Spring, summer, fall, and winter deadlines vary by cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective startup internship program for ambitious students. You work with a high-growth startup on real projects across fields such as technology, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s startup partners include companies connected to founders and professionals from organizations such as Y Combinator, Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. During the internship, you work closely with a startup manager and a Ladder Coach, then present your work to the company at the end of the program. This option is best suited if you are looking for leadership internships for high school students that emphasize startup execution, independent work, project ownership, and remote collaboration.
5. NYC Ladders for Leaders
Location: New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid summer internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: Summer; six-week internship format through NYC youth employment partners
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: NYC youth ages 16-24 who are enrolled in high school or college, live in one of the five boroughs, have prior paid or volunteer work experience, and are legally allowed to work in the U.S.
NYC Ladders for Leaders connects qualified high school and college students with paid professional summer internships at businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. Before you are matched with an employer, you complete a competitive application process and 30 hours of pre-employment training. Your placement can vary by employer, but the program is designed to help you build workplace readiness, professionalism, communication, and career exploration skills. Because you may work in corporate, civic, nonprofit, or public-sector environments, the experience can help you understand which leadership settings fit your interests. This is a strong local option if you live in New York City and want a structured paid internship with professional preparation built in.
6. Summer Internships for High School Students
Location: New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $1,100 stipend after completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: July 1-August 7, including bootcamp, departmental placement, Teen Fridays, check-ins, and final celebration
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 or 11 who reside in and attend high school or homeschool in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut; working papers and SSN or ITIN required
The Met’s High School Internship Program gives you a paid opportunity to explore museum careers while developing professional skills. You do not need prior art or art history experience, but you should be interested in learning how a large cultural institution works. You may connect with professionals in areas such as curatorial work, social media, education, imaging, design, and other museum departments. The program includes a bootcamp, departmental placement hours, Teen Fridays, cohort check-ins, and a final celebration. If you are interested in cultural leadership, public programming, or creative-sector careers, this internship can help you understand how museums organize teams, serve audiences, and manage public-facing projects.
7. Summer Teen Internship
Location: Manhattan, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; travel assistance may be available if needed
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; DOROT reports receiving over 300 applications
Program Dates: July 21-August 13
Application Deadline: Rolling from December through April; early application encouraged
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
DOROT’s Summer Teen Internship is a four-week, in-person program focused on intergenerational service and community leadership. You work with older adults through home visits, technology assistance, discussion groups, creative arts activities, games, and other structured programs. The internship includes leadership training, group reflection, and weekly themes that help you understand social connection, aging, and nonprofit service. You can earn more than 100 community service hours and are expected to volunteer at least 15 additional hours with DOROT during the following academic year. This is a useful option among leadership internships for high school students if you want hands-on nonprofit experience and direct service responsibilities.
8. The Internship Program
Location: New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; interns earn at least $17/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: School-year internships run September-June; summer internships run July-August
Application Deadline: Not specified; application availability varies
Eligibility: New York City high school juniors and seniors
Futures and Options provides paid, mentored internships and career-readiness workshops for New York City high school juniors and seniors. If accepted, you may be matched with a small business, nonprofit, government agency, or corporation based on your interests, skills, and available placements. The program includes orientations, workplace hours, career-readiness workshops, and field trips with employer partners. You also receive support from a program coordinator who helps you prepare for interviews, communicate with supervisors, and navigate workplace expectations. This is one of the more practical leadership internships for high school students if you want paid work experience combined with coaching and professional development.
9. High School Internships
Location: Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: 100% of internships are paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: Summer; winter opportunities may also open
Application Deadline: Summer applications open in May; winter applications open in November
Eligibility: At least 16 before the internship begins; enrolled in high school, recently graduated within 12 months, or in a GED program; authorized to work in the U.S.
The Port of Seattle’s High School Internship Program places you in work connected to aviation operations, maritime operations, governance, community engagement, or green jobs. You work on real projects that affect local communities and the regional economy rather than general office tasks. The program is designed to help you learn workplace conduct, communications technology, diversity and inclusion, process improvement, project management, networking, public speaking, and leadership. You may also participate in career-awareness activities such as mentorship meetings, facility tours, LinkedIn workshops, and resume sessions. This internship is a good fit if you want to explore public infrastructure, transportation, government operations, or community-facing leadership.
10. High School Internship Opportunities
Location: Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: Paid; $13/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: June 1-July 10
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Austin residents attending an Austin-area high school; rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, or current seniors ages 15-18
The City of Austin’s High School Summer Internship Programs place Austin-area high school students in internships based on career interests and site accessibility. Through one application, you can indicate interest in programs such as the Emerging Leaders Summer Internship Program, STEAM-based Get Ready! internships, automotive and entrepreneurial placements, aviation department internships, and other city-connected placements. You work 20 hours per week for six weeks while learning how professional environments operate. The Emerging Leaders option specifically focuses on leadership skills and work experience, while other tracks expose you to areas such as airport operations, business, finance, customer service, and engineering-related settings. This is a useful local option if you want leadership internships for high school students connected to city departments and real workplace expectations.
11. High School Internship Program
Location: Washington, DC
Cost/Stipend: Paid; exact pay not specified on the program page
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Fall: October 1-January 29 | Spring: February 1-May 28
Application Deadline: August 1
Eligibility: DC youth; specific eligibility details should be confirmed through the DC program portal
The DC High School Internship Program provides work-readiness training, project-based learning, leadership development, life skills training, and work opportunities for District youth. You can use the program to gain workplace experience while exploring postsecondary education, advanced training, employment, or military career pathways. Depending on your placement, you may complete projects, attend orientation, and learn how to communicate in a professional setting. The program’s timeline includes a certification process before the fall and spring placements begin. If you live in Washington, DC, this can be a practical pathway to public-sector or community-based work experience during the school year.
12. Leadership in Civic Engagement: High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Salinas, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; community service hours, certificate, and letter of recommendation available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: June 17 orientation; June 22-June 26 internship sessions
Application Deadline: May 14
Eligibility: Incoming high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors living in Monterey County; teacher endorsement and parent/guardian consent required
Monterey County’s Leadership in Civic Engagement internship introduces you to local elections, civic participation, and youth-centered public service. During the program, you work with the Monterey County Elections Department and design a civic engagement program that can be shared with schools throughout the county. The experience includes professional training, guest speakers, and activities that help you understand how local elections operate. You can build leadership skills by creating a project intended to help other young people become more active in their communities.
13. Summer Civic Leadership Program
Location: Granville County, NC
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: June 10-July 31
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders who reside in Granville County
The Granville County Board of Commissioners’ Summer Civic Leadership Program gives you a hands-on look at county government. You work across departments such as Cooperative Extension, County Administration, Emergency Management, 911 Emergency Communications, and the Library System. The program includes an application and interview process, orientation, and 120 hours of work over 7.5 weeks. You also complete shorter visits to additional county departments, giving you a broader view of how local services are coordinated. If you are interested in public administration, emergency services, libraries, local policy, or civic leadership, this program can help you understand how county-level decisions affect daily life.
14. POWER Youth High School Internships
Location: Nashville, TN
Cost/Stipend: Paid; $15/hour for high school internships
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 1-July 17
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Ages 16-19 for high school internships
The POWER Youth Summer Employment Initiative connects Nashville youth with paid work experiences at private, public, nonprofit, and university job sites. As a high school intern, you work independently while receiving pre-training and coaching. Your exact role depends on the employer, but the program is designed to help you review job descriptions, understand workplace expectations, and choose placements that match your interests and availability. This can be a practical option if you want to build job readiness, communication, time management, and early leadership skills in a real work environment. For younger participants, the initiative also offers an “Experience Work” track, but the high school internship track is the one most relevant if you are seeking paid internship experience.
15. Dallas Works Summer Internship Program
Location: Dallas, TX
Cost/Stipend: Paid summer internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; recent program figures list 220+ youth placed in paid internships
Program Dates: June 29-August 7
Application Deadline: April 17
Eligibility: Dallas-area youth ages 16-21
Dallas Works is a youth development and workforce readiness program that connects eligible Dallas-area youth with paid internships at local businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. Before the internship begins, you participate in career-ready workshops and an internship prep bootcamp. The program is designed to help you build professional confidence, understand workplace expectations, and gain experience in a real organization. You may be placed with partners across sectors, giving you exposure to different leadership styles, team structures, and career paths. If you are looking for leadership internships for high school students in Texas, Dallas Works is worth reviewing because it combines paid work, preparation, and citywide employer partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there paid leadership internships for high school students?
Yes. Programs like TIP at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum internship, and several city-run programs in Seattle, Austin, and Dallas all offer paid positions.
2. Is there a leadership internship that doesn't require being tied to a specific city?
Young Founders Lab is fully virtual and open to all high school students nationwide, unlike most internships on this list, which are restricted to specific cities like Boston, NYC, or Seattle. It's best suited if you want to build leadership skills through venture creation and pitching rather than joining an existing organization.
3. Which internships focus on public service or civic leadership specifically?
Monterey County's Leadership in Civic Engagement program and the Granville County Summer Civic Leadership Program both center on local government and community service, giving you direct exposure to how public agencies operate.