10 Best Online Enrichment Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 6 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Enrichment programs take your learning beyond the classroom and curriculum. It allows you to expand your knowledge of different subjects and helps you get a step ahead. Middle school students can benefit from enrichment programs by engaging with advanced academics from tutors and professionals.
These programs can be available online, providing the flexibility to study from your home and reducing the cost of room and board. Some are also self-paced, so you can complete them according to your requirements. We have compiled below a list of 10 enrichment programs for you to get started.
10 Best Online Enrichment Programs for Middle School Students
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Eight weeks, varies by cohort
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program is a suitable online enrichment program for middle schoolers looking to conduct research. PhD mentors from prestigious universities, such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton, support you throughout the program to ensure you gain specialized knowledge in your chosen field. As you develop your research paper over 8 weeks, you will learn to read and interpret academic literature, build research questions, and create outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study. You can expect to develop critical thinking and scientific communication skills through individualized feedback and writing-coach sessions. Lumiere also offers a Junior Research and Publication Program for students who wish to publish their research in academic journals.
Location: Online
Cost or stipend: Fully funded
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Twelve students
Dates: Three weeks in July and a fall semester from mid August to December
Application deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Low income students in grades 6 or 7 who study in the United States and have a family income under 90,000 USD
SMSSP is a virtual program for ambitious middle schoolers. Held over 2 sessions in the summer and fall, this virtual program offers specific tracks each year. In the summer, you will attend interactive classes that impart theoretical knowledge and partake in social activities. During the fall term, you will attend weekly meetings and discussions on your chosen topic. This structure allows you to learn from Stanford faculty as well as peers. In addition to classes, you will receive academic counselling and support with applying to prestigious programs.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Twenty five hours over ten weeks on weekends in the spring. Twenty five hours over two weeks on weekdays in the summer
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
If you are looking to pursue academics and a career in technology, you can opt for Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program. Designed for middle schoolers, this program gives you a foundational understanding of AI and machine learning. You will encounter diverse topics like Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. After you get a grasp of these concepts, you will apply your learnings to a practical project that solves a real-world problem. This project can be in any field or industry of your choosing. 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.
Location: Online
Cost: 575 dollars, financial aid available
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective
Dates: October 8 – November 19 (fall), January 28 – March 11 (winter), April 8 – May 20 (spring), or June 24 – August 5 (summer)
Application deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: Students in grades 3 to 8, with extra criteria based on the course
The Northwestern Center for Talent Development offers a range of online enrichment programs in different subjects. Taught by expert instructors, you will delve into topics beyond the classroom curriculum that foster critical thinking. You participate in online classes, activities, and discussions. Although you receive pacing guidance and weekly requirements, the courses are typically self-paced and flexible. You receive feedback and an evaluation upon completing the program.
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by program
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective, usually 12 to 16 per class
Dates: Several summer sessions
Application deadline:
December 15 for courses starting the week of January 26
February 17 for courses starting the week of March 23
Eligibility: Depends on the program
Johns Hopkins CTY’s online programs cover a range of fields and topics. In this program, you become part of a global community and interact with peers from different backgrounds. In addition to exploring subjects that interest you, you develop practical skills relevant to the field. Some of the subjects available are computer science and technology, history and social science, language arts, mathematics, and science and engineering. The program offers courses in several formats, so you can learn through live classes or at your own pace.
Location: Online
Cost: None
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 to July 27
Application deadline: May 21
Eligibility: Motivated students in grades 6 to 11
This 6-week virtual program is to cultivate your passion for STEM subjects. The program offers courses in number theory, computational neuroscience, and deep learning. Each week covers a specific topic related to the subject, such as cryptography, modular arithmetic, Python, data science, and more. For each topic, you will also complete practical activities to solidify your learning. You do not need prior experience in these fields to apply.
Location: Online
Cost: $335 per course
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Flexible start dates
Application deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Middle school students
Pearson offers online programs in Language and math for middle schoolers. This flexible learning program enables you to learn from anywhere at your own pace. Through this course, you can brush up your skills and review content from the previous year or get a head start on the curriculum for the following year. Summer Smarts is a personalized experience depending on your goals and needs. This begins with a pretest to determine your level; live enrichment classes help you interact with instructors and peers. The program also offers Spanish as an elective.
Location: Online
Cost: $2,000 per course, financial aid available
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective
Dates: Weekly sessions throughout the year
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Gifted students aged 9 to 13
Gifted students can consider online courses with Davidson Explore. You can take up courses in math, science, and the humanities. Lasting throughout the year, you not only strengthen your academics but also build social skills. You attend weekly live classes and complete coursework asynchronously. The curriculum is rigorous and at an advanced level.
Location: Online
Cost: $400
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 9 to July 28, tentative
Application deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Students in grades K through 12
Ignite Learning Academy’s 6-week summer program is designed for you to stay in touch with academics during the summer. A long summer gap can affect your learning. To prevent this, you can choose from classes in math, science, language arts, history, and more. You can also gain a competitive edge before the new academic year by establishing a strong foundation. You are placed in classes depending on the grade you are in.
Location: Online
Cost or stipend: None
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Flexible
Application deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 9
CS Explorations is an introductory course for students interested in computer science. You will gain a broad understanding of various topics, including problem solving, programming, physical computing, user centered design, and data. You will use computers as tools for problem solving and creative expression. Ultimately, you will complete your own project in interactive coding, games, and animation. The program offers several flexible pacing options depending on your needs.
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.
Image Source - Stanford University logo