10 Fall Coding Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 19 hours ago
- 7 min read
If you are a middle school student interested in coding, fall programs can be a great option to explore before committing to something in the summer. These coding programs give you a chance to explore programming and technology in a focused environment beyond the typical classroom. Whether you're just starting with Scratch or ready to dive into Python or JavaScript, these programs are designed to help you build skills while having fun with problem-solving and creative thinking.
Many of the fall programs below are hosted by leading universities and organizations. You get the opportunity to learn outside your classroom hours and experience a higher-level curriculum early on. They also offer opportunities to connect with experienced mentors, work on interactive projects, and even explore fields like game development, robotics, and AI.
If you're a middle school student curious about tech, this list features 10 fall coding programs for middle school students.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling, depending on cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a selective, research-based mentorship program where middle school students work one-on-one with a scholar from a top research university. Founded by Harvard and Oxford PhDs, JEP is designed for ambitious and curious students eager to explore academic interests at a deeper level. Over 8 weeks, you’ll meet individually with your mentor to explore topics that excite you, develop a research question, and build a project, whether it’s a high school-level research paper, a case study, or another rigorous output. Mentors come from world-class institutions like Harvard, MIT, Yale, Stanford, and Duke, bringing both subject expertise and research experience to guide your exploration.
Location: Memphis, TN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Code Explorers Fall Break Camp: October 13–17
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 5–8
CodeCrew helps middle school students discover the excitement and creativity of technology through free, hands-on computer science programs. If you’re curious about coding, robots, or AI, CodeCrew gives you the chance to explore all of that while having fun and working on real projects. During the Code Explorers Fall Break Camp, you’ll spend a week building things like robots, games, or virtual reality projects and even go on cool field trips, like a behind-the-scenes tour with the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. If you want to keep learning after camp, the AI Explorers After-School Program runs weekly and lets you dive into coding tools like Scratch, MakeCode, Python, and JavaScript.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio
Dates: Various cohorts in fall, winter, and summer
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
AI Trailblazers by Veritas AI is an introductory program that helps middle school students gain real-world skills in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours of instruction and hands-on practice, you’ll first build a foundation in Python and data analysis before moving into key AI concepts such as regression, classification, neural networks, and image recognition. The program also emphasizes AI ethics, helping you think critically about the impact of technology. With a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio, you’ll receive close guidance as you work in small groups to build your own AI projects. This program gives you both the technical foundation and the creative outlet to explore AI at a young age.
Location: In-person at various locations and virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 3–12 of all skill levels
Girls Who Code Clubs are a great way for you to learn coding in a fun, creative, and supportive community. Clubs meet in schools, libraries, and community centers (and sometimes online), so they’re accessible no matter where you live. If you’re in grades 3–5, you’ll do hands-on activities that connect coding to your everyday life. If you’re in grades 6–12, you can dive deeper into areas like web design, game creation, AI, and cybersecurity, building projects that make a difference in your community. Plus, you’ll be part of a group of peers and mentors all working to close the gender gap in tech and support one another as future changemakers in STEM.
Location: Atlanta, GA and Savannah, GA
Cost: $70 per session in Atlanta; $60 per session in Savannah
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: Atlanta: September 27, October 18, November 15, December 6 | Savannah: September 27, November 15
Application Deadline: Rolling, until spots are filled
Eligibility: Grades 6–12; Savannah: grades 1–8
Georgia Tech’s CEISMC invites students to dive into hands-on STEAM learning through its Fall Saturday programs. In Atlanta, middle and high schoolers can participate in STEAM Workshops that spark creativity and critical thinking. Savannah students in grades 1–8 can explore STEAMlabs, where activities range from robotics and coding to art-infused science experiments. Sessions run from morning to noon, giving students a chance to build projects, experiment, and collaborate with peers in a university setting. These Saturday workshops are designed to nurture curiosity, confidence, and problem-solving skills in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
Location: Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN
Cost: $69 per 4-week class series
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~7–11 students
Dates: Monthly class series throughout September–November; each session runs 4 Saturdays
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Grades 3–12
APSU Junior Coders is a fun and affordable way to learn programming on a real university campus. Hosted by the Department of Computer Science & Information Technology at Austin Peay State University, these monthly Saturday classes introduce students to coding through popular platforms like Scratch, Roblox, Minecraft, and the Godot game engine. Each class series includes four 90-minute sessions taught by APSU computer science undergraduates and graduate students, giving younger learners a taste of both coding and college life. Students in grades 3–5 start with creative tools like Scratch and Minecraft, while middle and high schoolers (and even first-year college students) can take on more advanced projects in Roblox game development, 3D game design with Godot, or other coding challenges.
Location: NJIT, Newark, NJ
Cost: $399 per student (includes all academic materials)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: October 18 – November 15 (Saturday morning sessions)
Application Deadline: October 6
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–8
CodeQuest is a hands-on computer science program that blends technical learning with real-world applications. In the first half of the course, you’ll dive into essential computer science foundations like programming basics, algorithms, and structured problem-solving. The second half shifts into applying those skills to practical challenges, giving you the chance to tackle projects that connect coding to real-world contexts. Along the way, you’ll work on team-based projects, strengthen your critical thinking, and gain practical experience. With a balance of technical rigor and creativity, CodeQuest is designed to make computer science approachable and exciting for middle school students ready to take the next step in their learning.
Location: Yorba Linda, CA
Cost: $129 for 4 weekly sessions (1 hour each); camp and workshop pricing varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small group and 2:1 coaching available; most group classes capped at 8 students
Dates: Year-round, including after-school programs, weekend classes, and school-break camps; next 6-week session begins October 13
Application Deadline: Rolling, until spots are filled
Eligibility: Ages 6 and up (beginner to advanced)
TheCoderSchool Yorba Linda offers a comprehensive coding experience tailored to your individual learning style. You’ll get to work one-on-one or in small groups with a coach who helps you build cool projects like games, apps, or even AI programs, based on what interests you most. Younger students often start by learning the basics in Scratch, while older or more advanced coders can dive into Python, JavaScript, robotics, or app design. The school also runs coding camps and workshops during the summer and school breaks, so there are a lot of ways to keep learning all year long.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $10,950
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Various cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling, with enrollment closing September 30
Eligibility: Open to learners of all backgrounds; no prior coding experience required
The University of Chicago has partnered with HyperionDev to offer the Full-Stack Web Development Bootcamp, a flexible online program that trains you in both front-end and back-end development in just three to six months. You’ll learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, MongoDB, Express, and React through practical projects, one-on-one code review, and personalized mentorship. The program offers both part-time and full-time study paths, letting you fit the bootcamp into your schedule. Career support includes resume reviews, interview preparation, and tailored job search assistance.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free to audit; $219 for a verified certificate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Ongoing, self-paced (11 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligbility: Open to all learners, no prior programming experience required
Taught by Professor David J. Malan and his team, the course emphasizes problem-solving and algorithmic thinking rather than rote coding. You’ll explore fundamental topics like data structures, algorithms, security, and software engineering, while learning multiple languages, including C, Python, SQL, JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. The class concludes with a final project, giving you the chance to design and present your own software. Since it’s self-paced and open to everyone, you can complete it on your own timeline while earning a certificate to showcase your skills.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD 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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