11th & 12th Grade Internship
May 5th to June 6th, 2025
May 5th to June 6th, 2025
WHAT IS THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM?
At High Tech High International, we provide connections to the “adult world” at every grade level, but it gets really serious starting in 11th grade. Juniors and seniors aren’t just “connected” to the adult world – for five weeks, they are part of it, working full-time as an intern in a professional organization. This fulfills a graduation requirement for High Tech High schools.
INTERNSHIP AT-A-GLANCE
Students ("interns") work approximately thirty hours per week at their internship over the course of five weeks in lieu of attending school.
Each student is paired with a workplace mentor who understands and supports the goals of the program. Mentors communicate regularly with the student’s teachers about their progress and attendance.
Every student designs and completes an internship project that is beneficial to the host organization and showcases what the student learned and worked on during the internship.
After their internship, every student gives a Presentation of Learning ("iPOL") once they return to High Tech High International. This culminating event celebrates the student’s accomplishments and offers an occasion for reflection and critique.
School faculty supports the internship by regularly communicating with the student and mentor, visiting the internship site, and reviewing the student's internship assignments.
“THIS IS NOT ABOUT CAREERS. IT’S NOT EVEN NECESSARILY ABOUT YOUR GREATEST INTEREST. INTERNSHIP IS ABOUT BECOMING SOMETHING MORE, ENLARGING OUR SENSE OF IDENTITY.”
- ROB RIORDAN (HTH CO-FOUNDER)
INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Work for 30 hours per week for five weeks on-site at your organization.
Note: Daily schedules are flexible based on the needs of the organization (e.g., working in the evenings or on weekends).
Students must have their mentor verify hours on a timesheet, then submit this to their faculty supervisor each week.
Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the internship site.
Meet with your mentor at least twice per week to receive feedback and new responsibilities.
Complete weekly internship assignments (posted on the Internship Canvas).
These will be reviewed by your faculty internship supervisor.
Missing multiple assignments will result in being removed from your internship!
Work with your mentor to design and complete a project that benefits the organization and showcases your learning.
You will complete a project planner for an assignment in week 2.
Your project should include a deliverable that is developed over several weeks.
Create and present an internship presentation of learning ("iPOL").
You will have time to create and practice your iPOL once internship ends.