Extracurriculars & Programs in Tennessee for High School Students

Tennessee pairs Vanderbilt's Programs for Talented Youth with Oak Ridge National Laboratory research access and the state's flagship Governor's Schools across sciences, arts, and humanities.

Nashville and Knoxville anchor most listings, with Memphis adding health-science options — many at little or no cost.

11 verified programs match this page; 4 of the featured listings are completely free.

Featured programs

Browse 11+ curated programs for high school students:

  • Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth (PTY) — Vanderbilt University: Summer and weekend academic enrichment programs at Vanderbilt for gifted K-12 students, offering fast-paced college-level courses in math, science, wr
  • Oak Ridge National Lab HERE Program — Oak Ridge National Laboratory: High school engineering research experience at national lab.
  • Vanderbilt Program for Talented Youth Summer Academy — Vanderbilt University: Transform your summer with a 3-week residential program for gifted students in grades 7-12. Develop advanced skills, explore academics, and boost your
  • Sewanee Young Writers' Conference — University of the South: Immerse in a summer writing program for high school students on a historic Tennessee campus. Build creative skills, workshop with peers, and boost you
  • Vanderbilt Program for Talented Youth — Vanderbilt University: Transform your summer with this in-person academic program for gifted high school students. Build advanced skills, boost college applications, and exp
  • ORNL High School Research Participation — Oak Ridge National Laboratory / ORISE: Gain hands-on STEM research experience at a DOE national lab. Ideal for high school juniors and seniors to strengthen college applications and build v
  • Vanderbilt STEM Education and Outreach Programs — Vanderbilt University: STEM programs at Vanderbilt University including research, camps, and workshops for middle and high school students.
  • Frist Art Museum Teen Film Camp — Frist Art Museum: One-week summer film intensive at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville, run with the Nashville Film Festival: rising 10th–12th graders shoot and edit a 5
  • Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts — Middle Tennessee State University: Three-week summer arts intensive at MTSU in Murfreesboro for rising 11th and 12th grade Tennesseans in dance, film, music, theatre, and visual art. Se
  • Tennessee Governor's School for the Sciences and Engineering — University of Tennessee, Knoxville: Four-week residential Governor's School at UT Knoxville where rising Tennessee juniors and seniors take college STEM courses, do lab research, and ear
  • St. Jude High School Research Immersion Program — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: Eight-week paid summer research program ($4,800 stipend) at St. Jude in Memphis for rising seniors from the Memphis area and nearby TN/MS/AR counties,

Frequently asked questions

How many tennessee programs are listed for high school students?

ExtracurricularHub currently lists 11 verified tennessee opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link.

Are any of these tennessee programs free?

Yes — 4 of the programs featured on this page charge no participation fee. Free programs are often funded and can be more selective, so apply early.

Which deadlines are coming up soonest?

The next deadlines: Vanderbilt Program for Talented Youth (January 14, 2027); Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth (PTY) (February 1, 2027); ORNL High School Research Participation (February 26, 2027). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site.

Do I have to live in Tennessee to participate?

Most in-person programs based in Tennessee accept applicants from anywhere, though some give preference to local students. Residential summer programs typically accept students nationwide — check each listing's eligibility.