10 Summer Computer Science Programs for Middle School Students in Chicago
- Lydia Park
- 2 hours ago
- 7 min read
Enrolling in summer computer science programs for middle school students in chicago is a solid option to jump-start your academic journey. These programs provide early exposure to college-level academics and campus life, allowing you to build practical skills and gain valuable industry exposure before entering high school. You will have the chance to form meaningful connections with peers and mentors without needing to pursue a super-expensive option to explore your interests. For students who want flexibility, an online summer program offers an excellent alternative to on-campus learning by delivering high-quality instruction directly to your home. We have narrowed down our list of top summer computer science programs for middle school students in Chicago to help you find the right fit. Our selection highlights options that feature a rigorous curriculum, offer robust networking opportunities, or are hosted by a prestigious organization. Many of these choices feature a low acceptance rate or operate as fully funded initiatives to ensure high-potential students can participate.
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies; Full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 8-week program; multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings.
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: $600
Acceptance size/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22–June 26
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Rising sixth through eighth-grade students (ages 11–13)
This interactive, daytime program is designed for students who are fascinated by robots and technology. Through hands-on building sessions, coding activities, and collaborative team challenges, you will explore the fundamental concepts of robotics and engineering. The curriculum successfully combines creative building tasks with basic programming concepts to make technical learning engaging and highly accessible. By participating in these dynamic group projects, you will build practical engineering skills while gaining firsthand exposure to a college campus environment.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate or Cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Various cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8; no coding or technical background required
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program introduces you to key concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning through live instruction and collaborative learning. Over 25 hours, you learn Python programming, explore data analysis, and build models using regression and classification techniques. You receive personalized guidance through small-group mentoring, with a five-to-one student-to-mentor ratio. As the program progresses, you explore more advanced topics such as neural networks and AI ethics. A central part of the experience is the team-based capstone project, where you and a few peers apply your new skills to solve a real-world challenge and present your findings at the end.
Location: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, IL
Cost/Stipend: $1,200 for Illinois residents, $1,800 for non-Illinois residents, or $500 for commuter students; financial aid available
Acceptance size/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21–June 26
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising eighth and ninth-grade students
This immersive, week-long residential experience features a dynamic, project-based curriculum developed by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You will study how diverse computer science tools are applied across various professional fields to cultivate your skills as a tech innovator. The camp offers specialized scholarship opportunities sponsored by Motorola for underrepresented individuals in STEM, including female, rural, and minority students. By participating in this intensive academy, you will gain hands-on experience with technological design while living on a premier campus.
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Cost/Stipend: $1,005 to $6,105, depending on the session and residential option
Acceptance size/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 28–August 7, with individual one-week and three-week sessions available
Application Deadline: One week before the start date of each session
Eligibility: High-achieving, motivated middle school students entering sixth through eighth grade who meet specific test score or academic portfolio eligibility tiers
These fast-paced, intensive summer courses engage you in critical and creative problem solving as you study advanced technology and engineering concepts on a premier lakeside campus. You can choose from a robust selection of specialized computer science pathways, including programming with Python and Java, building games and puzzles, or creating interactive programs within an online web design studio. Master instructors and industry experts support you as you complete hands-on assignments, developing tangible final products such as original software or complex digital architectures. Residential participants can live in the university residence halls, where you will join a global community of like-minded peers and take part in organized weekend excursions around downtown Chicago.
Location: British International School – Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: $639 to $999 per week, depending on the specific course selected
Acceptance size/cohort size: Small group settings featuring an approximate staff-to-camper ratio of 1:4 to 1:8
Dates: June 22–July 31, operating on a weekly basis
Application Deadline: Rolling registration available through the summer session
Eligibility: Creative students and young innovators between the ages of 6 and 14
This action-oriented, daytime camp allows you to build high-demand technological skills through experiential, hands-on learning inside state-of-the-art spaces. You can select from an expansive portfolio of weekly computer science courses, including Python programming, game design academy, artificial intelligence, and specialized machine learning pathways. The student-focused curriculum accommodates all skill levels, ensuring that absolute beginners and advanced programmers alike receive tailored instruction to advance at their own pace. By collaborating in small peer groups, you will design and test original digital products, culminating in a final take-home project such as a custom-coded application or a machine learning model. Participants also receive a certificate of excellence and a commemorative lanyard to celebrate their academic achievements at the end of the session.
Location: University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: $200
Acceptance size/cohort size: Limited seating filled on a first-come, first-served basis
Dates: July 27–July 31 for Session 1, or August 3–August 7 for Session 2
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until seats are filled
Eligibility: Open to students between the ages of 8 and 13
This community-focused summer academy hosted by the UIC College of Education teaches you to work with advanced technological gear. You will get to experiment with diverse equipment, including drones, programmable race cars, webpage creation software, and 3D printers, inside a collaborative laboratory workspace. The instructional modules emphasize hands-on, project-based learning to cultivate critical thinking, real-world troubleshooting, and baseline computer science skills. University staff members and student instructors lead the daily sessions, giving you direct exposure to collegiate mentorship and scientific inquiry. By finishing these multi-day technical lessons, you will cultivate essential academic capabilities while discovering innovative pathways within modern computing and engineering fields.
Location: University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: $500
Acceptance size/cohort size: Maximum of 30 students per sub-group
Dates: July 20–July 24 for middle school Track 2
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until full
Eligibility: Rising eighth and ninth-grade students for the middle school track
This dynamic, daytime program lets you explore a different engineering discipline each day of the week through five university-sponsored tracks. You will participate in multiple hands-on challenges designed by collegiate faculty and graduate students inside active university research laboratories. Working in small teams of two or three peers, you will tackle interactive projects that span computer programming, robotics, and biomechanics. The academic curriculum aligns directly with collegiate accreditation standards to develop your critical-thinking, collaboration, and engineering problem-solving skills. Additionally, you will discover emerging career pathways in cutting-edge industries like nanotechnology and autonomous vehicles while interacting with experienced campus chaperones.
Location: The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Varies, financial aid available
Acceptance size/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 20–July 31 for Session III computer science courses
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students entering grades six through eight for the upcoming school year
This specialized, interactive summer academy provides middle school students with an engaging environment to cultivate technical expertise and build self-confidence. You can enroll in cutting-edge computer science courses like AI Gaming and Machine Learning or explore computer science pathways in Discover Music Through Video Games. The student-focused curriculum encourages both personal independence and peer teamwork through hands-on, project-based learning modules. Led by distinguished instructors, you will navigate advanced programming tasks while utilizing the elite resources of a premier university setting. Participants also enjoy leadership activities and collaborative group initiatives designed to inspire lifelong curiosity and creativity.
Location: Various community locations in Chicago, IL, or fully online
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance size/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Available during the summer session with flexible scheduling
Application Deadline: Rolling registration throughout the summer
Eligibility: Female and non-binary students entering sixth through twelfth grade
This community-focused program provides a highly supportive, flexible environment where you can study foundational computer science concepts alongside a sisterhood of peers. You can select your own customized learning paths from a comprehensive library of self-guided video tutorials that cover popular tech-industry topics. The rigorous, project-based curriculum introduces you to essential computing disciplines, including web development, cybersecurity, game design, and responsible artificial intelligence. By exploring these diverse technological avenues, you will build critical problem-solving capabilities and use modern industry tools to design original final projects that address real-world challenges. Participants also get to interact with successful women in tech, offering excellent networking opportunities to help you visualize a future career in computer science.
Lydia is an alumna from Harvard University and studied Molecular and Cellular Biology & Economics. In high school, she was the captain of her high school’s Academic Decathlon team and attended the Governor's School of Engineering and Technology. She is working as a life sciences consultant after graduation.