11 Best After-School STEM Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Aug 31
- 9 min read
If you’re a middle schooler excited about science, technology, engineering, or math, after-school STEM programs can be one of the smartest ways to start building your future. These programs aren’t just about doing extra homework; they give you a chance to experience college-level academics in a low-pressure setting, try out hands-on projects, and connect with mentors who work in the STEM fields every day. For families, they’re also a practical option since many are free or low-cost, making them accessible without the huge price tag that often comes with summer camps.
Students who are serious about STEM will want to explore structured enrichment opportunities that run after school or on weekends. These programs can open doors to practical skills like coding, robotics, or lab work, while also building valuable networks of peers and professional connections. In creating this guide, we focused on opportunities that stand out for their rigor, selectivity, and support, whether that’s a super low acceptance rate, strong mentorship, or the prestige of being hosted by an institution like MIT, NASA, or Stanford. The result is a curated list of the best after-school STEM programs for middle school students, designed to help you find experiences that challenge your curiosity and prepare you for the academic journey ahead.
11 Best After-School STEM Programs for Middle School Students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selective
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
Program dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: November 16 (Winter Cohort I)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an online mentorship-based research experience tailored for middle school students who want to create an academic project in a field they’re passionate about. You’ll work closely with a mentor from top research universities like MIT, Harvard, or Stanford, who supports you throughout the research and project development process.
Throughout the program, you learn to conduct independent investigations, think critically, and complete a final project that reflects your area of interest. The program balances academic challenge with scheduling flexibility, featuring multiple application rounds during the year. Need-based scholarships are available, encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to participate.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is medium selective. Information on the size of the application pool and exact cohort size is not available.
Location: New York Academy of Sciences, New York, NY.
Cost: Free.
Dates: Runs throughout the school year, after school hours.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis in coordination with afterschool sites.
Eligibility: Middle school students enrolled in participating after-school programs across New York City.
The Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program (ASMP), run by the New York Academy of Sciences in partnership with the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, pairs middle school students with STEM professionals for hands-on, inquiry-based learning. You will take part in interactive projects that expose you to real-world applications of science and technology while developing problem-solving and teamwork skills. The program emphasizes long-term mentorship, giving you consistent guidance and role models who can spark lasting interest in STEM fields. With over 900 scientists having mentored 31,000+ students to date, ASMP provides one of the most impactful after school STEM experiences in New York City.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selective
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
Program 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 deadline
Financial assistance: Need-based financial aid is available
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous projects done by students have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is medium selective. Information on the size of the application pool and exact cohort size is not available.
Location: Afterschool Alliance, Washington, D.C. (programs implemented nationwide through partner schools and organizations).
Cost: Free; supported by grants, federal funding, and local partnerships.
Dates: Runs during the academic year as part of afterschool hours.
Application Deadline: Rolling, depending on local partner programs.
Eligibility: Middle school students enrolled in participating afterschool organizations nationwide.
The Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS), led by the Afterschool Alliance, connects students with high-quality afterschool STEM opportunities that also incorporate civic engagement and youth leadership. Middle schoolers get to explore real-world applications of STEM while working on projects that address social and community challenges. By partnering with libraries, museums, universities, and businesses, CYESS ensures that after-school hours become a platform for experimentation, teamwork, and problem-solving. You will not only gain exposure to science and technology but also learn how to apply these skills to make a tangible impact on your communities.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 60 middle and high school teams were selected in the most recent cycle out of hundreds of applicants nationwide.
Location: NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA (nationwide program with flight testing through commercial providers).
Cost: Free. Winning teams receive $1,500 and technical support to build their experiments.
Dates: Annual challenge; most recent flight test occurred June 16, 2025. Next cycle expected to open September 2025.
Application Deadline: Typically in the fall; deadlines vary each year depending on the challenge cycle.
Eligibility: U.S. students in grades 6–12 attending public, private, or charter schools, including schools in U.S. territories.
The NASA TechRise Student Challenge engages middle and high school students in authentic aerospace research by inviting them to design experiments for suborbital flight. Selected teams receive funding, mentorship, and access to NASA’s Flight Opportunities program to build payloads that fly aboard high-altitude balloons or other commercial vehicles. Student projects have included testing new insulation materials for space suits, measuring thermal signatures for agricultural research, and simulating food growth in low-pressure environments. The challenge exposes you to engineering design, coding, atmospheric science, and systems integration while collaborating under professional guidance.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; proposals are competitively reviewed, and only a limited number of teams advance through all design reviews to the final event.
Location: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL (final event hosted at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center).
Cost: Free; participating schools cover their own build and travel expenses.
Dates: Nine-month cycle, with final event scheduled for April 9–11, 2026
Application Deadline: Proposal deadlines typically open in the summer/fall prior to each cycle.
Eligibility: Open to U.S. and international students in grades 6–12, as well as college and university teams.
The NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) engages middle and high school students in designing and building human-powered or remote-controlled rovers capable of navigating simulated lunar terrain. Over the course of nine months, teams progress through a series of NASA-style design reviews, from concept to operational readiness, under the guidance of aerospace experts. Finalists bring their rovers to Huntsville, Alabama, to complete mission tasks in a real-world obstacle course modeled on lunar exploration challenges. This program emphasizes engineering design, testing, and iteration, while exposing students to authentic NASA engineering workflows. Participation helps you strengthen mechanical design, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; only a portion of submitted entries are chosen as winners and highlighted by NASA Aeronautics.
Location: NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. (nationwide program; submissions online).
Cost: Free.
Dates: Annual cycle; most recent challenge ran February 28 – April 30, 2024. Next challenge expected in the Fall of 2025.
Application Deadline: Announced each year in early spring or fall, depending on cycle.
Eligibility: Open to U.S. students in grades 6–12 from public, private, and charter schools.
The NASA Dream with Us Design Challenge encourages middle and high school students to imagine innovative solutions for the future of aviation. Each year, the challenge focuses on a new theme aligned with NASA’s real-world aeronautics research, such as using autonomous aircraft for disaster response or creating sustainable aviation designs. You will propose creative concepts to make aviation safer, greener, and more accessible, with winning ideas recognized nationally by NASA. By developing imaginative yet practical solutions, participants practice systems thinking, scientific reasoning, and visual communication skills, while contributing fresh ideas to NASA’s vision of the future of flight.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is highly selective. Information on the size of the application pool and exact cohort size is not available.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Cost: Free. All program-related costs are covered; students only pay for transportation
Dates: Saturdays during the academic year — 8 weeks in fall (September–December) and 8 weeks in spring (February–May), 10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Application Deadline: Applications typically open during the school year; deadlines are announced annually.
Eligibility: Boston, Cambridge, or Lawrence, MA public school students in grades 7–10 who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
MITES Saturdays, formerly SEED Academy, is a multi-year academic enrichment program designed to give middle and high school students a strong foundation in STEM. You’ll take hands-on courses in fields such as robotics, computer science, biological engineering, and environmental engineering, while also joining an Academic Mentoring Seminar that develops college readiness, leadership, and communication skills. Each semester concludes with a written evaluation from instructors, which students often include in their college applications. Beyond academics, MITES Saturdays builds a supportive community where students connect with peers, mentors, and admissions counselors, while also enjoying interactive events like college fairs, workshops, and team-building activities.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selective; enrollment varies by program, with hundreds of students participating annually.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Cost: Free or low-cost depending on the program; financial aid is available.
Dates: Varies by program. For example, HSSP runs for 6 - 10 weeks on weekends during the spring and summer, Cascade runs in the fall for multiple weeks, and Splash is a two-day program each November.
Application Deadline: Applications open prior to each session; deadlines vary by program.
Eligibility: Middle and high school students in the greater Boston area (specific grade ranges depend on the program, but include grades 7–8).
The MIT Educational Studies Program (ESP) offers a wide variety of enrichment opportunities for middle and high schoolers, run by MIT students. Programs include HSSP, a multi-week series of weekend classes where you can explore topics ranging from astrophysics to coding; Cascade, a multi-week afterschool program designed to support underserved students; and Splash, a two-day event featuring hundreds of unique classes taught by MIT undergraduates. You will gain exposure to new STEM fields, dive into project-based learning, and meet peers with similar interests in a vibrant, supportive environment. ESP emphasizes curiosity, exploration, and learning for fun, while still challenging you to think critically about advanced concepts.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; about 20 students are admitted each year (two groups of 10).
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Cost: $2,700 per year (includes $100 registration fee); need-based scholarships available.
Dates: Academic year; weekly sessions on Mondays or Thursdays, 6–8 p.m.
Application Deadline: Late May (application includes an entrance quiz and a recommendation letter).
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8 (entering 7–9 in September); homeschooled students of the same age are also eligible.
PRIMES STEP (Solve–Theorize–Explore–Prove) is an advanced afterschool program at MIT that introduces middle schoolers to the world of mathematical discovery. Led by Dr. Tanya Khovanova, students tackle challenging logic puzzles, olympiad-style problems, and research-inspired math explorations rather than repeating the school curriculum. The program emphasizes creative problem-solving, collaboration, and even the invention of new problems, simulating the process of original mathematical research. Past participants have co-authored papers published in mathematics journals and presented at the annual PRIMES conference. With its small cohort size, PRIMES STEP offers highly personalized mentorship, pushing students to think deeply and rigorously about mathematics in ways rarely available at the middle school level.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selective; space is limited each year and registration fills quickly.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Cost: Free.
Dates: Annual one-day event; most recently held May 17
Application Deadline: Registration typically opens during the spring semester and closes once spots are filled.
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students with little or no prior engineering experience.
Stanford seeME is an outreach event hosted by the Stanford Department of Mechanical Engineering to give middle and high school students early exposure to engineering. You’ll spend a day on campus exploring hands-on workshops led by Stanford graduate students, with topics ranging from wind energy and robotics to data science and biomedical engineering. The program is designed to spark curiosity in students who may not have had previous access to engineering, making it an entry point for discovering new academic and career pathways. By connecting with enthusiastic mentors and peers, you get a firsthand look at the creativity and problem-solving that define engineering while experiencing life on a college campus.
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.
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