10 Summer Math Programs for Middle School Students in Texas
- Stephen Turban
- 24 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Middle schoolers in Texas with a passion for math can participate in a summer program. Texas offers a range of such programs that expand your knowledge and equip you with problem-solving skills. You engage with a rigorous curriculum that prepares you for high school math. The programs also provide opportunities for interactions with industry professionals, who provide insights into their career pathways.
Throughout these programs, you learn various math topics and complete hands-on activities that help you develop practical skills. Working with peers on projects teaches you team work and communication. Here are some summer math programs in Texas for you to choose from.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: 8 weeks, varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
Middle schoolers looking to conduct research in math can pursue Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program. Here, you are paired with PhD mentors from various prestigious universities, like Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton, who are experts in math. By conducting original math research, you gain specialized knowledge in the subject. You learn how to read and interpret academic literature, build research questions, and create outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study, which enables you to build crucial skills. The program also teaches you scientific communication skills through feedback and writing coaching sessions. You can opt for the Junior Research and Publication Program, where you can publish your research in academic journals.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 75
Location: Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Cost: $2,200; scholarships are available
Dates: June 7 – 19
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
JSMC is a residential math camp for middle schoolers where you complete higher level math courses. On a typical day, you attend math classes in the morning, complete problem sessions in the afternoon, and attend a study group in the evening. Breaks and recreational activities are embedded into the program. You also hear from guest speakers on Fridays and discover careers in math, science, engineering, and other fields. The program enables you to grow as a problem solver and researcher.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
If you want to study the intersection of math and technology, Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program may suit your needs. You learn the foundations of AI and machine learning. The lectures and academics cover topics like Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Thereafter, you apply what you have learned to complete a project. This project must solve a real-world math challenge through technology. Past students have built a machine-learning model to classify music genres and a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $2,700
Dates: June 15 – July 23
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students who will have graduated from 7th or 8th grade who have an 85 minimum in Math, Science, and English
This 5-week summer camp is aimed at students who want to learn math and physics. This is a hands-on program where you master advanced concepts in Physics, Advanced Mathematical Problem Solving, Algebraic Structures and Electrical Engineering II courses. The classes are led by an experienced instructor. You also benefit from guidance from UT student interns and other faculty and staff. In addition to academics, you visit campus facilities, hear from career speakers, and explore college and career opportunities.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,365 – $1,420
Dates: July 14 – August 18 (Summer B)
Application Deadline: June 8 (Summer B)
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 – 11 who meet CTY-level quantitative scores
This program by Johns Hopkins’s CTY is all about using strategy in decision-making. You study game theory through experiments, competitions, mathematical analysis, and discussions and then model, evaluate, and predict outcomes of strategic behavior. You describe prototype games by completing simulations, problem sets, collaboration, and independent research. The program also teaches you about players, strategies, payoffs, dominance, backward induction, and equilibrium. Thus, you learn to apply game theory and strategy to real-world challenges.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost: $860
Dates: June 3 – August 14
Application Deadline: One week before the start date
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 12 who meet the Indigo-tier eligibility criteria
Northwestern CTD offers several programs in a range of subjects for talented middle schoolers. Students interested in math can opt for the Mathematical Modeling track. Here, you learn to apply the mathematical concepts you are familiar with as you build technical skills. The program teaches you to model phenomena to solve real problems in engineering, medicine, information technology, and finance. This helps you prepare for high school and college math.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies according to session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 years and older
With this Dartmouth program, you explore the practical applications of math in the real world. You learn how mathematical models help simplify complex systems and how mathematical reasoning questions quantitative claims. You learn to determine whether a problem requires mathematical modeling, statistical analysis, or a combination of both. As you progress through the course, you learn to make predictions and inform critical decision-making. Insights from professionals are a way for you to explore careers in engineering, data science, economics, and business. In the final project, you use data to construct a model, test assumptions, and evaluate the reliability and limitations of your findings while responding to a real-world question.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Online
Cost: $1,275 – $1,575 (based on when you apply)
Dates: June 8 – 26 (session 1), June 29 – July 17 (session 2), or July 20 – August 7 (session 3)
Application Deadline: May 26 (last deadline)
Eligibility: Gifted middle and high school students aged 12 – 18
This is an online math program for gifted middle and high schoolers. Here, you can learn new math concepts and hone your technical skills. There are multiple courses for you to enroll in depending on your goals. Throughout the program, you attend live, instructor-led classes and complete daily homework. You also complete periodic assessments. The program enables you to apply advanced concepts to specific problems and prepare for math contests.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded
Dates: July 6 – 24 (summer) and August 26 – December 9 (fall)
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: Low-income students in grades 6 or 7 who reside in and attend school in the U.S. and with a family income of less than $90,000.
SMSSP is a selective program by Stanford for talented middle schoolers. The program is held in the summer and fall and offers 4 tracks for you to choose from, namely, Democracy & Dissent, Discovering Geometry: From Flatland to the Fourth Dimension, History through Graphic Novels, and Real-Life Applications to Mathematics. To explore your interests in math, you can opt for the geometry or applications to math tracks. In the first track, you study the shapes, patterns, and dimensions that define the world. In the second track, you connect mathematics to real-life scenarios through examples in cryptography and financial mathematics. Summer programming involves interactive classes led by Stanford faculty. In the fall, you partake in debates and discussions in your chosen track. In addition to academics, you receive support and counseling for applying for other prestigious programs.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies according to session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 years and older
This program teaches you math from the perspective of investing and finance. You break down the structure of financial markets to study them. The program teaches you how valuation models are used to determine a company’s value and how its value affects the price of its stock. You also learn the ins and outs of the US stock market, fintech opportunities, and digital and crypto assets. For the final project, you analyze a public company and model its valuations for different stakeholders. Industry experts speak to you about careers in investing, consulting, fintech, monetary policy, financial planning, accounting, and more.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.