10 Extracurricular Activities for Middle Schoolers

Middle school is an ideal time to invest in extracurricular activities that stretch your learning beyond the classroom. These experiences not only build practical skills like teamwork, research, and communication, but also give you a glimpse into the kind of academic rigor and problem-solving you’ll encounter later in high school and college. Many programs provide structured challenges, exposure to industry-level tools, and even connections with peers and mentors who share your interests, all without the heavy costs of private tutoring or elite summer camps.

For students curious about exploring extracurricular learning more deeply, online and national programs offer a unique gateway. They allow you to test your skills in competitive, hands-on environments, access mentorship from experts, and, in some cases, earn recognition at the state, national, or even international level. We’ve narrowed down a list of top extracurricular activities for middle school students that are known for their rigor, competitive selection process, strong networking opportunities, and the prestige of being hosted by leading institutions and organizations. Some are fully funded, others are highly selective, but all stand out as worthwhile opportunities to challenge yourself and grow. Here’s our curated list of the best extracurricular activities for middle schoolers to consider.

10 Extracurricular Activities for Middle Schoolers

1. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program

Location: Remote

Cost: Varies, financial aid available

Program dates: 8 weeks in the summer

Application deadline: Varies by the cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8

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 1:1 with a PhD mentor from prestigious institutions 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.

2. VEX IQ Robotics Competition

Location: Regional, national, and international tournaments culminating in the VEX Robotics World Championship, held annually in Dallas, TX.

Cost: Varies by team and region; team registration fees apply. REC Foundation offers team grants and financial aid opportunities.

Program Dates: Local and regional competitions take place year-round, leading up to the World Championship in April.

Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines for team registration, with earlier sign-ups recommended for regional qualifiers.

Eligibility: Grades 4–8; teams typically consist of students organized through schools or community-based clubs.

The VEX IQ Robotics Competition engages middle school students in collaborative engineering challenges where teams design, build, and code robots to solve problems under competition constraints. Events are structured around multiple formats, including Teamwork Challenges (where two teams must collaborate to maximize their score), Robot Skills Challenges (robots operating solo against the clock), and Online Challenges (projects ranging from coding and CAD to essay-based submissions). You’ll gain technical skills in mechanical design, robotics programming, and systems thinking while also developing communication and time management through real-world collaboration. The competition scale is significant, with more than 17,000 teams from over 50 countries, providing a selective and prestigious arena for young learners to test their STEM capabilities.

3. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers

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: Varies by the cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8

The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual course for middle school students in grades 6 through 8 who want to learn the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you’ll study Python programming and explore topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. The program includes live lectures and small-group mentoring sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. You’ll work on a group project with three to five peers, applying what you’ve learned to build real AI models. Past student projects have included classifying music genres and creating algorithms that recommend educational resources based on user input. You can choose between two formats: 25 hours over 10 weekends or 25 hours over two weeks during summer break.

4. MATHCOUNTS Competition Series

Location: Competitions take place at schools, local chapters, state venues nationwide, and culminate in the National Competition (rotating U.S. cities; upcoming finals in Washington, D.C.).

Cost: Registration fees vary by school/non-school competitors; early bird discounts are available. National finalists receive an all-expenses-paid trip.

Program Dates:

• School Competitions: August–January

• Chapter Competitions: February 1–28

• State Competitions: March 1–31

• National Competition: May 10–11

Application Deadline: School and individual registrations typically close in early November.

Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6–8. Participants can register through schools or as non-school competitors (NSCs).

The MATHCOUNTS Competition Series is a national program where middle school students progress through school, chapter, state, and national levels of math contests. Each competition includes four structured rounds: Sprint, Target, Team, and Countdown, designed to test speed, accuracy, strategic problem-solving, and teamwork. You’ll work both individually and collaboratively, with top performers advancing to state and ultimately the National Competition, where state teams compete for national recognition. More than 500 chapter competitions and all 50 state events make this one of the most selective math contests available for middle schoolers. National finalists benefit from full sponsorship, exposure to elite-level math peers, and a chance to showcase their skills on a national stage.

5. NAQT Middle School Quiz Bowl

Location: Local, regional, and national tournaments held across the U.S., culminating in the Middle School National Championship Tournament.

Cost: Registration fees vary by tournament; schools typically cover team entry fees. Some financial aid or fee waivers may be available for participating schools.

Program Dates: Tournaments are held throughout the academic year, with the National Championship typically in May.

Application Deadline: Registration deadlines vary by regional event; teams must qualify for and register for nationals by spring.

Eligibility: Open to middle school students (grades 6–8). Teams are usually school-based, but homeschool groups and other organizations may also form teams.

The NAQT Middle School Quiz Bowl is a competitive academic program where teams face off in fast-paced matches covering history, science, literature, fine arts, current events, and popular culture. Using a buzzer system, players respond to toss-up questions individually and then work collaboratively on more complex bonus questions. The format emphasizes both quick recall and deeper subject knowledge. With tournaments at local, state, and national levels, top-performing teams qualify for the prestigious Middle School National Championship Tournament. Through this quiz, you’ll not only strengthen your academic knowledge but also develop confidence, teamwork, and strategic thinking under time pressure.

6. National Speech & Debate Association – Middle School Public Forum Debate

Location: Competitions held nationwide, culminating in the Middle School National Speech & Debate Tournament (rotates by host city).

Cost: NSDA membership and tournament entry fees apply; some schools and districts provide financial support.

Program Dates: Debate season runs throughout the school year, with national-level competition typically held in June.

Application Deadline: Team registration deadlines vary by district and tournament schedule; national qualifiers must be registered by spring.

Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6–8; students compete in pairs representing their school or organization.

The NSDA’s Middle School Public Forum Debate gives you the opportunity to debate both sides of current events topics in a structured format. Working in teams of two, you will present cases, engage in cross-examination, and deliver rebuttals under timed conditions. Skills emphasized include researching evidence, structuring logical arguments, evaluating reasoning, and responding to counterarguments under limited preparation. The event’s rotating topics expose students to a wide range of issues, from global policy to social trends. Successful teams can advance through district events to compete at the prestigious National Speech & Debate Tournament, the largest academic competition in the world.

7. Science Olympiad (Division B – Middle School)

Location: Competitions take place in all 50 U.S. states, culminating in the National Tournament (hosted annually at a rotating university; upcoming at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln).

Cost: Team membership fees vary by state chapter; invitational and state/national tournament entry fees may apply. Scholarships and team grants are sometimes available.

Program Dates: Invitational and regional tournaments run from fall to spring; state tournaments occur in March and April; the National Tournament is held in May.

Application Deadline: Team registration typically closes in the fall (September–November); exact dates vary by state organization.

Eligibility: Division B is open to middle school students (grades 6–9), though specific grade eligibility depends on state rules.

The Science Olympiad is a team-based STEM competition where students compete in up to 23 different events spanning biology, chemistry, physics, engineering design, earth sciences, and technology. Events range from knowledge tests to hands-on build challenges such as designing bridges, rockets, or coded devices. Teams advance from local invitational and regional tournaments to state and national levels, with more than 6,700 teams nationwide. The program emphasizes collaboration, engineering design cycles, and applied scientific problem-solving, making it one of the most rigorous STEM extracurriculars for middle schoolers. The national scale and breadth of events offer students a unique opportunity to specialize in scientific fields while working collaboratively as part of a competitive team.

8. American Computer Science League (ACSL)

Location: International, online-based contests with end-of-year Finals.

Cost: Registration fees vary by team and region; schools or clubs typically cover the cost.

Program Dates: Regular season runs across four contests held during the academic year; Finals take place at the end of the season (spring).

Application Deadline: Registration for the season closes in the fall (typically by October–November).

Eligibility: Open worldwide to K–12 students. Middle schoolers compete in the Junior Division, which includes both theory questions and coding problems.

The American Computer Science League is one of the oldest and most prestigious computer science competitions, with over 7,000 students from 20+ countries participating annually. Each season includes four online contests that test knowledge of number systems, Boolean algebra, digital electronics, algorithms, and programming. In the Junior Division for middle school students, contests combine multiple-choice theory questions with coding problems solved in Python, C++, or Java. Top performers qualify for the Finals, where you will compete internationally in advanced problem-solving and programming challenges. The program builds both conceptual computer science knowledge and practical coding experience in a competitive setting.

9. U.S. Department of Energy – National Science Bowl (Middle School Division)

Location: Regional tournaments are held nationwide, with the National Finals hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C.

Cost: Free to enter; teams are sponsored by schools or community organizations. Travel and participation in the National Finals are covered by the Department of Energy.

Program Dates: Regional competitions take place January–March; National Finals occur April 30–May 4.

Application Deadline: Registration opens in fall; deadlines for regional competitions vary but typically close by November–December.

Eligibility: Open to U.S. middle school students (grades 6–8). Teams consist of four students, one alternate, and a teacher-coach.

The National Science Bowl challenges middle school teams in a fast-paced buzzer format covering biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, energy, and math. You have to answer a mix of short-answer and multiple-choice questions, balancing both depth of knowledge and speed. Regional winners advance to the DOE-sponsored National Finals in Washington, D.C., one of the largest government-supported science competitions in the U.S. Since 1991, over 350,000 students have participated, with the program fostering teamwork, critical thinking, and exposure to advanced STEM disciplines. Finalists not only compete at the highest level of academic competition but also interact with DOE scientists and gain recognition at a national scale.

10. Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision

Location: Open to students across the United States and Canada; projects are submitted online, with regional and national recognition.

Cost: Free to enter.

Program Dates: Project submissions typically due in January; regional winners announced in spring; national judging and awards occur in May–June.

Application Deadline: Early January.

Eligibility: Open to K–12 students in the U.S. and Canada; middle schoolers compete in the Grades 6–9 Division. Teams consist of 2–4 students plus a teacher-coach.

The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition challenges middle school students to research a current technology, envision what it might look like in 10+ years, and design a development roadmap for bringing it to life. You will work in teams of 2–4 with a teacher-coach to create a project abstract, detailed description, and digital presentation that explores technical feasibility, societal impact, and potential obstacles. Past winning projects have included medical devices, assistive technologies, and environmental innovations. With more than 450,000 students having participated since 1992, ExploraVision is one of the largest and most prestigious science competitions for middle schoolers, emphasizing creativity, applied research, and problem-solving.

One more option—The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program

The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.

The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure! To learn more, you can reach out to our Director, Dhruva, at dhruva.bhat@lumiere.education, or go to our website.

Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the upcoming cohorts + deadlines, you can refer to this page!

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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