Summer Learning Programs

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Diversifying the High School Experience

Students who want to advance their skills and deepen their studies have many options over summer break and even during the school year. Students can attend classes at a college or an alternative institution, in programs students actually compete to get into.

If your child is interested, there are many opportunities available to students who are willing to do a little research.

A Variety of Programs and Benefits

These days, summer programs exist for almost every type of student, whether your child wants to study academic subjects or work on developing skills, such as playing an instrument or a sport.

Pursue Interests

Your child can use a summer program to develop a talent or interest in the arts, humanities, or the sciences. For example, the California State Summer School for the Arts, held on the campus of the California Institute for the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia, has programs in film and video, creative writing, visual arts, animation, dance, music, and theater.

Meanwhile, the Michigan Tech Summer Youth Program allows students to participate in week-long "Explorations" in engineering, math, science and technology, ecology, outdoor adventure, and a variety of social sciences and humanities areas.

To stay closer to home, your child should check out local performing arts centers, science museums, and parks; many have summer programs where your child can get hands-on experience, ranging from set design to environmental education.

Gain Experience Outside of the Classroom

Summer school programs often involve a lot more hands-on learning than students experience in their regular classes. Many residential summer programs include sports, travel, and social activities. Personal development and leadership skills are also major themes.

For example, students at the University of Wyoming Summer High School Institute take a personal growth seminar in addition to academic classes.

Improving the High School Transcript

Attending a challenging summer school program can increase your child's chances of getting into a competitive college. In fact, some summer school programs are as competitive as colleges, requiring an extensive application complete with SAT® or PSAT/NMSQT® scores, teacher recommendations, and a personal essay.

While attendance at a high-powered summer school like Harvard's Secondary School Program (SSP) does not guarantee that your child will get into an Ivy League school, it does add a certain luster to college applications. Keep in mind though; a cutting-edge internship or a job that requires responsibility and leadership can look at least as good on your child's college applications.

Try Out Real College Work

If your child is craving in-depth study in a particular subject, and high school courses are not satisfying, college-level courses may be the answer. Or, if he simply wants to explore a particular school, or try out college classes, it's a great preview, and will give him a better sense of what college work requires.

Most colleges welcome anyone who wants to learn into their normal college-level classes. Of course, colleges give priority to students enrolled full-time, but more often than not, if your child is motivated, room may be available for him. He should call the colleges that interest him to ask if they have a summer semester and request a catalog.

If your child is interested, it's also possible for him to enroll in college classes during the normal school year. He should consult with his guidance counselor to ensure the extra workload doesn't interfere with his high school work. A great grade in a college class won't help your child if the rest of his high school grades start to drop.

The Cost

Private summer schools can be expensive, but the good news is that Governors' Schools and similar programs supported by state and federal education funding tend to be less so—some are even free of charge, and most offer financial aid based on need.

Students in low-income families, or who will be the first member of their family to attend college, may be eligible for an Upward Bound TRIO program, in which they spend part of their summer at a nearby university or college, essentially getting a preview of campus life while building skills and meeting other students from across the region.

Private summer schools like the program offered at Harvard also offer a limited amount of financial aid; so you and your child shouldn't cross them off the list just because they carry a hefty price tag.

Summer School Tips

When your child looks for a summer school program, here are some important factors you should both consider:

How much of the summer does your child want to commit to school? Programs range from five days to eight weeks.
What does your child want to get out of summer school? Boost academic skills? Act in a play? Teach young children? Learn how a political campaign is conducted? Polish up a second language? Work with engineers in the computer industry?
Where does your child want to live? A residential program where your child lives in dorms with other students, or living at home, attending school only during the day?
Can your child get high-school (or college) credit for summer school courses? Receiving credit depends both on the school where your child takes the course and on your child's home school.
How much can you spend on summer school? If the answer is nothing, are free programs available in your state or school district?

Bottom Line

In evaluating whether summer school is right for your child, the real question is what he aspires to learn and what type of summer program best matches his needs. For more advice and for information about specific programs, he should talk to his high school counselor.