Launch YourData Science Career
Join fellow students in hands-on data challenges, learn from college student mentors, and build a portfolio that stands out to employers.
What You'll Gain
Hands-On Experience
Work with real datasets and solve actual business problems using industry-standard tools and techniques.
Expert Mentorship
Get guidance from college student mentors who've been in your shoes and are passionate about data science, throughout your projects.
Portfolio Projects
Build impressive projects you can showcase to potential employers and add to your resume.
1600+
students have competed since 2014
Across the US, student teams choose their own research questions, analyze real data, and present findings to industry judges — all for free.
Past Student Projects
A hallmark of The DataJam is that every team chooses their own research question. Select a program and year to explore what students investigated.
Showing 10 of 51 projects in 2026
Curious how these posters come together? Visit our Resources page for the guides and templates teams use to build them.
What Students Say
Analyzing data shows you new insights and reveals patterns in the world that are exciting to learn about.
Vaishnavi Akella
The DataJam - High School Winner 2024 — San Ramon High School, Danville, CA
It's very good to work with a team because you can encourage each other and you can learn from each other.
Yuting Duan
The DataJam - College Winner 2024 — Skyline College, San Bruno, CA
Student Forms
Use the forms below to submit your work at each stage of the competition.
Sign Up
High School Team Sign-Up Form
High School Students can sign up their team
Opens Aug 17, 2026
High School Proposal Submission Form
Submit your The DataJam - High School research proposal.
Opens Dec 4, 2026
Project Submissions
High School Poster Submission Form
Submit your The DataJam - High School poster.
Opens Mar 26, 2027
High School Presentation Submission Form
Submit your The DataJam - High School presentation.
Opens Apr 4, 2027
High School 30-Second Video Submission Form
Submit your The DataJam - High School 30-second video.
Opens Apr 22, 2027
Timeline
Follow the steps below to take your team from sign-up to The DataJam Finale.
Sign-up
Each team needs to fill out the online High School Sign-up Form on The DataJam website (thedatajam.org) and student permission slips on page 8 & 9 to be sent to datajam@thedatajam.org.
The sign-up form will ask (1) advisor name and email, (2) team name, (3) student names and emails. If you are signing up more than one team with the same advisor, please fill out one form for each team. DO NOT fill out all teams on one form. *Note that it is best to provide a non-school email address on the permission slip as many schools block outside emails, such as those from The DataJam and Slack. Once permission slips are turned in, a channel for your team will be created on The High School DataJam SLACK 2027 workspace and each team member will receive an email invited them to join the workspace.
Submit your proposal
There is a rolling deadline for teams to turn in The DataJam proposals. Use the proposal template on page 7 of this guidebook and submit it to the High School online proposal form on The DataJam’s website. Your team will receive feedback from The DataJam and further guidance on your proposed project within a week after your proposal is turned in. Proposals for the 2026–27 High School DataJam MUST BE SUBMITTED BY JANUARY 29, 2027
Projects Underway
Teams work on The DataJam projects. The DataJam mentors are available to meet with your team by Zoom or a videoconferencing service that works best for your team. The times submitted in the sign-up form will be used to match you with a mentor. Once you have a team mentor you can communicate with them regularly on the 2026–27 High School DataJam Slack workspace.
Submit your Poster
The DataJam posters are due. Follow the instructions on page 10 of this guidebook. Posters should be 24” x 36” in size and saved as a pdf file. They should be submitted to the High School posters form on The DataJam website. If the poster submission deadline is during a holiday break for your school, please make arrangements to submit your poster BEFORE your school holiday.
Submit your Presentations and Attend a Judging Session
Final slide presentations will be scheduled for each team at a time that works for both the team and the three-judge panel, who will be listening to each team. The DataJam will send a form to schedule your final presentation time. The final presentations will be held on Zoom. Teams are to submit their presentation slides to the presentation form on The DataJam’s website at least 24 hours before their presentation is scheduled.
Finale
The DataJam - High School Finale will be held on Thursday, April 22, 2027 from 5:30-7:00 PM ET (2:30-4:00 PM PT), on Zoom: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/94389494426. The DataJam teams, parents, teachers, mentors, and all who are interested are invited to attend. The DataJam team projects will be presented, and a variety of awards will be given!
Student Resources
See the full list of resources on the Resources page.
200 results
Project Guides
19
Dataset Guides
31Datasets
105Stat/Graph Tutorials
41
Rubrics
2Classroom Activities
2
Meet Our Mentors
160+ university students from Pitt, UC San Diego, Caldwell University, and beyond guide The DataJam teams every year.
Meet Our Mentors
Meet Our Judges
Data scientists, engineers, and industry professionals from across the country evaluate The DataJam projects every year.
Meet Our Judges