Summer 2025 Early Application Deadline is May 15th at 12:00 AM EST. Apply today to secure your spot.
Summer 2025 Early Application Deadline is May 15th at 12:00 AM EST. Apply today to secure your spot.
Summer 2025 Early Application Deadline is May 15th at 12:00 AM EST. Apply today to secure your spot.
Applied AI For High School Students
We turn driven teens into award-winning AI builders
We turn driven teens into award-winning AI builders
Join 150+ high school students who've gone from basic programming to developing their own original AI projects and earning awards at national competitions!
Join 150+ high school students who've gone from basic programming to developing their own original AI projects and earning awards at national competitions!
2K+
Built by STEM Competition Winners & AI Researchers From
Built by STEM Competition Winners & AI Researchers From
Learn Real-World CS Skills
We teach practical data science and ML skills that you need to solve real-world problems. You'll learn industry standard techniques and tooling through our project-based programs.
Build A Unique Project
Use your new skills to create a unique project that aligns with your interests and showcases real-world impact.
Leverage Your Project For Tangible Results
Turn your project into tangible results by competing in research competitions, securing internships, or publishing your work. Our team has experience doing all these things and will guide you through it.
Lucid Academy bridges the gap between classroom learning and Real AI Achievement
Lucid Academy bridges the gap between classroom Coding and Real AI Research
22
Research awards won by our students in 2024
150+
Students Learned AI and built their first projects
5:1
Student to Mentor Ratio
100%
Of mentors are award winning AI researchers
THE GAP BETWEEN THEORY AND IMPACT
High school (and undergrad) CS education hasn't evolved with the AI revolution. While students learn basic syntax and algorithms in class, they're not equipped with the skillset to build the AI applications shaping the world today.
The result? Thousands of smart students with identical skills & experiences competing for the same few oversatured opportunities.
Meanwhile, AI is transforming every industry at lightning speed — creating once-in-a-generation opportunities for students who know how to actually build with it.
BRIDGING THE DIVIDE
Lucid Academy is the end-to-end launchpad for students who want to go beyond theory and actually build with AI.
We offer programs to bring students from basic programming to deploying real-world AI projects—step by step. Along the way, they learn data science, ML, LLMs, and agents through hands-on labs, industry-style mentorship, and projects that actually matter.
Our curriculum is designed and taught by mentors who’ve done it themselves—Finalists at Regeneron and ISEF, interns at CMU AI labs, and winners of top CS competitions. We know what it takes to break through the noise—and we help students do it, fast.
Most high school students interested in computer science follow a familiar path: Intro to Python, AP CS, YouTube and Coursera courses, generic projects…
Then, hit a wall.
There’s no roadmap for students to turn their classroom programming knowledge into meaningful real-world projects and achievements.
We're here to change that.
Lucid Academy is the end-to-end launchpad for students who want to go beyond theory and actually build with AI.
We are a community of AI engineers, researchers, and builders who help students master AI, develop impressive projects, and unlock opportunities that traditional education can't provide.
The Lucid AI Roadmap:
22
Research awards won by our students in 2024
150+
Students Learned AI and built their first projects
5:1
Student To Mentor Ratio
100%
Of Mentors are awards winning AI researchers
Learn Real-World CS Skills
We teach practical data science and ML skills that you need to solve real-world problems. You'll learn how to bring your ideas to life using the latest industry standard AI techniques and tooling through our project-based programs.
Build A Unique Project
Use your new skills to create a unique project that aligns with your interests and showcases real-world impact. We offer a 1-on-1 research mentorship program guiding students through this process!
Leverage Your Project For Tangible Results
Turn your project into tangible results by competing in research competitions like ISEF and STS, securing research internships, or publishing your work in journals. Our team has experience doing all these things and will guide you through it.
We've helped over 150 students learn AI and build their first project since 2022!
What our Students have to say:
Hear From Our Students:
We've helped over 110 students learn AI and build their first project since 2022!
Featured Projects:
Rishika (Pennsylvania)
"We always got to apply the skills on our own. It taught us how to figure things out for ourselves and make the models work. That hands-on approach was awesome."
Ayaan (Texas)
"I liked how the program was paced — a short lecture and then lots of hands-on coding and group work. It was a great way to learn."
Ryan (NYC)
This class was different because most of what we learned came from practicing writing code ourselves. It wasn’t just a bunch of teaching—it was also actually doing.
Neo (California)
The most important skill I got was learning to work with teammates to communicate and create a project together!
Rishika (Pennsylvania)
"We always got to apply the skills on our own. It taught us how to figure things out for ourselves and make the models work. That hands-on approach was awesome."
Ayaan (Texas)
"I liked how the program was paced — a short lecture and then lots of hands-on coding and group work. It was a great way to learn."
Ryan (NYC)
This class was different because most of what we learned came from practicing writing code ourselves. It wasn’t just a bunch of teaching—it was also actually doing.
Neo (California)
The most important skill I got was learning to work with teammates to communicate and create a project together!
Eva (MA)
I’d recommend this program to anyone interested in AI, machine learning, or data analytics. It helps you see where the future is heading and how to be part of it.
Tanvi (MA)
I got first place in environmental science at the regional fair, was nominated for the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovator Challenge, and advanced to the state fair. My mentor provided insights and feedback that helped me prepare, practice, and succeed.
Aarin (MA)
I got 3rd place award at MSEF! I would like to thank you again for all your help and support
Afshan (MA)
Thank you for teaching Sara programming and research. It was a wonderful learning opportunity. Thank you again fro your hard work and for making this camp a meaningful experience for her.
Eva (MA)
I’d recommend this program to anyone interested in AI, machine learning, or data analytics. It helps you see where the future is heading and how to be part of it.
Tanvi (MA)
I got first place in environmental science at the regional fair, was nominated for the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovator Challenge, and advanced to the state fair. My mentor provided insights and feedback that helped me prepare, practice, and succeed.
Aarin (MA)
I got 3rd place award at MSEF! I would like to thank you again for all your help and support
Afshan (MA)
Thank you for teaching Sara programming and research. It was a wonderful learning opportunity. Thank you again fro your hard work and for making this camp a meaningful experience for her.
1 on 1 Program Alumni
Prathyush
Prathyush built an AI-powered healthy eating app after his grandpa passed away early due to poor dietary choices.
1 on 1 Program Alumni
Tanvi
Tanvi researched novel carbon capture methods & won 5 Science Fair awards, including 1st for Environmental Science in Massachusetts
1 on 1 Program Alumni
Prathyush
Prathyush built an AI-powered healthy eating app after his grandpa passed away early due to poor dietary choices.
1 on 1 Program Alumni
Tanvi
Tanvi researched novel carbon capture methods & won 5 Science Fair awards, including 1st for Environmental Science in Massachusetts
Programs
We believe in close mentorship and project-based learning. That's why we keep our cohorts small (5:1 ratio) and focus on applying the theory students learn from day one. All programs are taught through weekly virtual sessions with our team.
Python for AI
Python for AI
Upcoming Dates:
Spring 2025: March 2nd - March 23rd. Sundays 6-8pm &
Spring 2025: April 2nd - April 23rd. Sundays 6-8pm EST
This isn't just Python basics—it's your foundation for building with AI. In one month, you'll go from complete beginner to writing comprehensive Python code and learning to use AI tools. Perfect for students who want to build actual projects, not just follow tutorials.
This isn't just Python basics—it's your foundation for building with AI. In one month, you'll go from complete beginner to writing comprehensive Python code and learning to use cutting-edge AI tools. Perfect for students who want a fun introduction to programming while building interesting projects, not just doing completing and following tutorials.
See Python For AI Dates & Curriculum
AI Innovators
AI Innovators
Summer 2025 Cohort Dates:
Upcoming Dates:
June 22 - August 15:
Meetings weekly on Sunday, Wednesday, Friday at 7pm-9pm EST
Summer 2025: Jun 22 - Aug 8:
Meetings Weekly on Sunday, Wednesday, Friday from 7pm-9pm EST
An 8-week project-based boot camp that takes students from programming basics to shipping AI products. Build a foundation in data science and supervised ML, then level-up with GenAI, LLMs, and agents—and apply all these skills by building an AI capstone project that solves a real problem. We end with a demo day with parents/friends for everyone to show off their projects which parents/friends are invited!
See AI Innovator Details & Curriculum
An 8-week project-based boot camp that takes students from programming basics to shipping AI products. Build a foundation in data science and supervised ML, then level-up with GenAI, LLMs, and agents—and apply all these skills by building an AI capstone project that solves a real problem. We end with a demo day with parents/friends for everyone to show off their projects which parents/friends are invited!
1-on-1 Research Mentorship
OBJECTIVE:
Do a novel AI research project working 1-on-1 with an expert mentor.
FOR:
For AI Innovator graduates or students with past Python & AI experience
How It Works:
Work 1-on-1 with an expert mentor to bring your ideas to life using our step by step guidance that you have unlimited access to.
How We've Helped Students Leverage Their Projects:
3rd Place in MA State Science Fair as a Freshman
Accepted to SIP Summer Research Program (8% Acceptance)
Cold-Emailed and got a research internship with a professor @ CMU
Connected a student with a paid data science internship at a fast-growing startup
Peer-reviewed research publications
See 1-on-1 Research Details & Curriculum
1-on-1 Research Mentorship
Objective:
Do a novel AI engineering/research project about a topic you're excited about working 1-on-1 with an expert mentor.
For:
For AI Innovator graduates or students with past Python & AI experience
How It Works:
Work 1-on-1 with an expert mentor to bring your ideas to life using our step by step guidance that you have unlimited access to.
How We've Helped Students Leverage Their Projects:
25+ total awards won at regional, state, and national level science fairs
3rd Place in MA State Science Fair as a Freshman
Accepted to SIP Summer Research Program (8% Acceptance)
Cold-Emailed and got a research internship with a professor @ CMU
Connected a student with a paid data science internship at a fast-growing startup
Peer-reviewed research publications
See 1-on-1 Research Details & Curriculum
We believe in close mentorship and project-based learning. That's why we keep our cohort-based programs personal, with a 5:1 student-to-instructor ratio, offering opportunities for 1-on-1 support, and a focus on applying the theory students learn from day one. All programs are taught through multiple weekly virtual sessions with our team.
Meet Our Team
AI experts from top universities, international STEM competition winners (ISEF, CAC, Regeneron STS, etc), startup founders/engineers, and published researchers with experience working in labs at Caltech, MIT, Stanford, CMU.
We are AI experts from top universities, international STEM competition winners (ISEF, CAC, Regeneron STS, etc), startup founders/engineers, and published researchers with experience working in labs at Caltech, MIT, Stanford, CMU.
Vaibhav Mishra
B.S in CS from Georgia Tech
Machine Learning Researcher at MIT and Stanford
First Author IEEE, AMIA, JACC
Founding AI Engineer at health tech startup
B.S in CS from Georgia Tech
Machine Learning Researcher at MIT and Stanford
First Author IEEE, AMIA, JACC
Founding AI Engineer at $12 million valued health tech startup
Parth Kocheta
CS Junior at UMD
Grand Prize at Massachusetts Science Fair
AI Research @ Carnegie Mellon AirLab
2x Machine Learning intern @ Sanofi
CS Junior at UMD, building AI projects since 8th grade
$10,000 Grand Prize at Massachusetts Science Fair
AI Research @ Carnegie Mellon
2x ML Intern at Fortune 500 Pharma
Mentored 30+ Students to science fair awards
Rachel Wu
CS/AI @ MIT
Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar 2024
Congressional App Challenge Winner
NYC Terra Science Fair Winner
CS/AI @ MIT
Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar 2024
Congressional App Challenge Winner
NYC Terra Science Fair Winner