Qubit: High School Quantum Computing Course Sponsored by IBM Quantum 2026

Through two semesters of weekly lectures, lab sections, and homework assignments, high school students will develop a foundational understanding of quantum computing, including basic linear algebra, quantum mechanics, quantum computation and information, and quantum algorithms.

Students will spend the first half of the course developing skills in math and Python. The second half of the course will focus on coding quantum circuits and quantum algorithms, leading to students coding on a real quantum computer. Some of the topics covered include:

Perform linear algebra operations that represent quantum gates
Use Python libraries to send a circuit to a quantum computer and analyze the results
Conceptually understand important quantum algorithms such as Grover’s algorithm
Implement quantum key distribution (QKD) in Python
Run a Variational Quantum Eigensolver to simulate a molecule

For grades 9-12.

Quantum computing has the potential to change the world, and we want to make sure you’re prepared. Taught by quantum researchers at MIT and UC Berkeley, this award-winning course offers students an accessible, yet challenging, introduction to the field of quantum computing, covering topics on quantum mechanics, quantum information and computation, and quantum hardware. Through guest lectures and talks, students will also have the chance to learn from quantum experts in industry and academia, as well as join a global cohort of future quantum leaders.

Students have the option of participating in the first semester or two-semesters. Semester 1 will cover the Fundamentals of Quantum Computing. Semester 2 will cover Applications of Quantum Computing, going into Quantum Finance, Quantum Chemistry, and more.

High school credit available:

This course is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and approved by the University of California A-G as a college preparatory course. Students from more than 150 high schools in the U.S. received credit last year for completing the course and you can too with your school’s approval. To see if you can receive credit, please email us, and we will send more information.