About

The United States Senate Page Program is one of the most distinctive civic opportunities available to high school students in the country. Pages serve as working employees of the U.S. Senate, delivering correspondence and legislative materials within the Capitol complex, preparing the Senate Chamber for sessions, and assisting on the floor during votes and debates. They live on Capitol Hill in the Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence, attend the fully accredited U.S. Senate Page School each morning beginning at 6:00 AM, and work the Senate floor for the remainder of the day. It is not an internship or an enrichment program — pages are employees of the Sergeant at Arms, paid on an annual salary basis of approximately $38,547 prorated for their session, with housing and two daily meals deducted from their pay.

There are two session formats. Semester pages serve during the fall or spring session and must be current high school juniors ages 16–17. Summer pages serve one of two shorter sessions (June–July or July–August) and may be rising juniors or rising seniors, also ages 16–17. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required for all sessions. Only 30 page positions exist per session — 16 appointed by the majority party and 14 by the minority.

The critical eligibility fact: Pages are not admitted through a central application. Every page must be nominated by a U.S. Senator, typically from their home state. Application processes, deadlines, and selection criteria vary entirely by senator's office — some offices post formal applications on their websites; others do not advertise openings publicly. Families must contact their own senators' offices directly to inquire about nominations for each session. Competition within each senator's office is described as highly competitive given the small number of available slots.

The Page School offers honors-level coursework in mathematics, English, science, and social studies, fully accredited by the Middle States Association. Field trips to Washington-area landmarks are organized monthly. Pages are held to strict conduct standards, early curfews, and a demanding daily schedule — the program requires significant maturity and self-discipline.

For a student serious about government, public service, or a future in politics, the Senate Page Program offers something no summer enrichment program can replicate: real employment inside a functioning branch of the federal government at age 16 or 17.