Video Editing Classes for High School Students in Washington, D.C.

Take a minute and think about how much of your online time is spent watching videos. Chances are that you spend a significant portion of your online time watching videos. Studies indicate that the average TikTok user spends around 2 hours per day watching videos on the platform.

People watch videos when they want to access information, news, entertainment, or learn something new. Watching video is the most popular thing that people do online: 82% of all internet traffic is people watching videos online. This percentage skyrocketed after the COVID-19 pandemic and has stayed at this level since.

This popularity is one of the reasons that video content has become so important for companies and organizations. Video is used in marketing to promote businesses and products and to connect with users and potential users online. Forbes reports that users remember 95% of a message when they see it in a video. This is an 85% increase over more traditional ways of consuming information such as text.

Traditionally, people who wanted to work with video worked in the film/television industry. However, the popularity of social media and online video has expanded the job market. YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and Vimeo all provide users with the ability to upload and watch video content. Even X (formerly known as Twitter) has recently embraced the power of video by allowing premium users to upload videos up to two-hours in length.

Why High School Students Should Learn Video Editing

The popularity of online videos has made video editing a hot career path. Video Editors combine storytelling skills with technical skills to create compelling professional content. People who work in video might work for a company, organization, agency, or individual. Or, they might work for themselves in a freelance capacity.

If you’re interested in working in film/television or social media content creation, then you’ll need to learn advanced skills in industry-standard programs. Adobe Premiere Pro is the industry-standard program for video editing. Adobe After Effects is the industry-standard program for creating and incorporating animation. Both programs are part of the Adobe Creative Cloud software suite, which also includes Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe XD.

Learning how to edit videos while you’re still in high school could set you up for long-term success. It’s a must-have skill for anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in film and television, digital marketing, animation, video game creation, and content creation. It’s also a lucrative skill that can help you earn extra income or prepare for the AP Video Editing exam.

Washington DC is more known for politics than entertainment. However, the capital city of the U.S. has had many iconic films shot there, including Spider-Man: Homecoming, Forrest Gump, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Wedding Crashers, A Few Good Men, The Exorcist, Minority Report, National Treasure, and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. It is also the filming location for several popular television series, including Scandal, Jack Ryan, Bones, and CBS Evening News.

In-Person Video Editing Classes in Washington, D.C.

Film Connection is a film school based in Los Angeles with two locations in the Washington, DC area. It is part of Film Radio Film Connect & CASA Schools, which offer filmmaking, radio, and culinary programs throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Film Connection offers three primary programs at their Washington, DC location: Film Production & Editing, Cinematography, and Screenwriting.

Their Film Production & Editing program is their most popular program and is designed to prepare graduates for a career in film production as a director and editor. Some of the topics covered in this program include direction, writing, producing, creating a pitch reel, working with lighting, and editing. Graduates have a prepared “sizzle reel” that they can use to pitch their project.

Softek Services is an IT and tech training school that is headquartered in Washington, DC. They train students in Microsoft products, Adobe Creative Cloud, SQL, web design classes, and soft skills training. They offer both an introductory video editing class, Introduction to Adobe Premiere Pro, and an Intermediate Adobe Premiere Pro. Their introductory course is a two-day workshop on using Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing. Some of the topics covered include video editing basics, capturing, effects and filters, creating titles, and transitions.

General Assembly is a tech training school with locations all over the world, including NYC, Boston, London, and Washington DC. Their Video Editing for Beginners: Washington DC is a two-hour workshop on the basics of using Final Cut Pro for video editing. This course includes the fundamentals of video editing along with branding exercises for those who are interested in using video for marketing.

Virtual Video Editing Classes

In-person classes have been the most traditional format for training in job skills such as video editing. However, online classes have exploded in popularity, especially live online classes. Because the class occurs live, it functions exactly like an in-person class. You can ask questions because you’ll be interacting with your instructor and classmates in real-time. You can even get direct feedback on your work or collaborate on group projects using screen-sharing software.

Choosing an online class can give you access to world-class instructors or open up training options that are more attuned to your career goals. One huge advantage of choosing an online class is that you can learn from anywhere, even your own living room in Washington, DC.

NextGen Bootcamp provides state-of-the-art computer science and digital design classes created for high-school students. They offer in-person and live online immersive summer camps in cutting-edge career paths, including Video and Animation, Graphic Design, Python, Data Science, Computer Science, and Social Media.

NextGen Bootcamp’s Video Editing with Premiere Pro is a summer intensive program designed to teach high school students to create professional-level videos using Adobe Premiere Pro. The program is designed for students with no prior video editing experience and focuses on skills that can be used in the film/television industries and on social media. Some of the skills taught in this summer program include video editing techniques, color correction, adding transitions, green screen removal, audio adjustment and editing, and customizing video for social media platforms. Graduates earn a digitally-verified Certificate of Completion in Video Editing with Premiere Pro.

If you’re also interested in learning animation, then you might consider the Video Editing & Animation Certificate offered by NextGen Bootcamp. Students are guided through developing a professional reel using Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects. Some of the skills covered in this summer intensive program include video editing techniques, audio adjustment and editing, working with transitions, adjusting timing, creating videos for social media, developing animated graphics and text, and animating 3D layers. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion in Video Editing & Animation to add to their resume or their college applications.

Animation Summer Bootcamp NYC

In NextGen Bootcamp's introductory summer course, Animation Summer Bootcamp NYC, high school students find themselves immersed in the dynamic realm of 2D animation. Located in the bustling heart of NYC, this program offers a unique opportunity for students to engage with expert instructors and collaborate with like-minded peers who share their enthusiasm for animation. The journey begins with an exploration of animation's captivating history, tracing its evolution from humble origins to today's contemporary techniques. Students then explore the finer points of design and animation principles, refining their skills through hands-on sketching exercises and interactive demonstrations.

As the course progresses into its second week, students explore advanced concepts, leading to a final project applying their newfound knowledge to craft professional-grade animations. This immersive experience fosters students’ confidence in their abilities and ignites a lasting passion for animation. Upon completion of the bootcamp, students are awarded a certificate of completion, which serves as a valuable credential for college applications and future career endeavors.

Animation Summer Bootcamp Live Online

Animation Summer Bootcamp Live Online provides students with a dynamic learning journey guided by seasoned instructors and offers an excellent option for those unable to attend the NYC summer course. This online platform delivers the full spectrum of cutting-edge content found in the NYC bootcamp, covering the origins of animation through contemporary techniques. Through interactive sessions, participants dive deep into design and animation principles, engaging in hands-on exercises, mastering state-of-the-art techniques, exploring sound design, and developing narrative-driven storyboards. They also discover the critical role of timing in elevating project realism and conveying emotion effectively.

With seamless remote setup assistance, students enjoy uninterrupted participation, engaging in the same immersive projects as their in-person counterparts. Using Zoom, they interact in real-time with instructors, share screens, and receive personalized feedback. The culmination of the course features the creation of polished projects, showcasing professional-level skills and creativity. The final project serves as an online exhibition, providing valuable feedback from peers and instructors, further nurturing skill development and bolstering confidence.

How to Choose a Video Editing Class

Choosing the right class for you ultimately depends on your goals, time commitments, and other considerations. One of the most important things you can do is to figure out why you want to learn video editing and pick a course that meets those goals the best. For example, if your interest is more hobby-based than career, you might want to invest less time and money in the process. However, if you want to learn video editing because of a career interest, you'll probably want to choose a more comprehensive training program.

You'll also want to decide whether you want to choose an in-person class or enroll in an online training program. You'll want to consider if the in-person classes offered in your area meet your career goals. Choosing an online class will open up more possibilities. For example, NextGen Bootcamp offers courses designed for high school students. If you want to train with your peers, you'll want to choose a school or class aimed at high school students.