10 Fall Programs for Middle School Students in Florida
- Stephen Turban
- Nov 2
- 6 min read
In middle school, it is important to explore your interests and prepare for future academics, and a program in your field of interest can help you do all of that. Such programs are designed to offer you exposure to advanced topics and industry insights that are often not available in a traditional school setting. While summer programs are often popular options, if you are looking to join a smaller cohort of peers and learn how to balance school work with other commitments, fall programs can be a great choice.
Florida is home to top universities and organizations that offer programs during the fall. These programs allow you to learn more about fields of your interest and connect with like-minded peers and mentors to start creating a network. Whether you are a Florida resident or an out-of-state student interested in exploring the opportunities available in the state, you can find a program that is ideal for you.
To help you get started, we have narrowed down 10 fall programs for middle school students in Florida. We have focused on options that
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts, including fall sessions, available each year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an eight-week opportunity for middle schoolers to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests. Here, you will dive into various fields and then build a project in your topic of interest. The program offers access to mentors who are scholars from universities like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE. During weeks 1–4, you will learn about distinct topics within your selected subject track. In weeks 5 and 6, you will zero in on one specific topic, and then spend weeks 7 and 8 building a project on the chosen topic under the guidance of your mentor. You can apply here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort; typical commitment of 25 hours required.
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program introducing middle schoolers to artificial intelligence and machine learning through instruction and project work. Over 25 hours, you will explore the Python programming language as well as topics like image classification, data analysis, regression, neural networks, and AI ethics. You will learn through online lectures and group sessions that follow a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous projects have focused on 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.
Location: Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: One-day events throughout the year, including in the September–November period
Application deadline: Open until full; registrations open about a month before the event
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8 in and around Fort Myers
The Growing in Engineering, Math, and Science (GEMS) program at FGCU is a hands-on, in-person event for middle school students. The program is designed to help you explore STEM through activities led by university students and faculty. As a participant, you will get a chance to participate in two hands-on activities within STEM fields, which can include bioengineering, chemistry, or forensics. You will also interact with FGCU STEM majors and faculty during the program. The experience can help you explore future academic paths and the university environment.
Location: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited to ~1,500 students
Dates: October 24 (fall session); spring event also scheduled each year
Application deadline: Open until full
Eligibility: K-12 students
The University of Central Florida (UCF) offers various K-12 outreach events, including its STEM Day, which hosts workshops designed for middle school students. You will spend the day learning about STEM through demonstrations, activities, speaker-led sessions, and exhibits designed and led by UCF faculty and students. You can choose from a number of activities designed for your grade level. You will get a chance to interact with university facilities and learn from faculty and undergraduate mentors. This can be an introduction to university life and potential academic paths.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (for students with family incomes under $90,000)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~12 students every year
Dates: Mid-August – December (weekly sessions) + three-week summer commitment in July
Application deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 and 7 residing in the U.S.
The Stanford Middle School Scholars Program is an opportunity to engage in advanced academics and access guidance. Running virtually in the summer and from mid-August to December, the program allows you to work with peers from diverse backgrounds as well as learn from a Stanford Online High School instructor. As a participant, you will engage in advanced coursework, building writing, research, and critical thinking skills, as well as gain insights into applying to rigorous high schools. During the summer session, you will take on coursework in topics like democracy and dissent, math applications, and history through graphic novels.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round availability
Application deadline: None
Eligibility: Students in grades 3 – 12
Girls Who Code’s Code at Home initiative allows you to join a supportive tech community and build computer science skills through engaging, project-based virtual activities. You will work on projects like building a website to support a cause you care about or learning how to use code to generate art. This program is designed to be flexible and self-paced, allowing you to learn on your own time while building a strong foundation and a network of like-minded peers. The program can also help you learn how to work with programming languages like Python, Scratch, and HTML/CSS.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round availability
Application deadline: None
Eligibility: Students, ages 11 and up
Code.org offers free learning resources that cover the fundamentals of computer science, along with advanced concepts in the field. The curriculum is designed to guide you through a wide variety of topics from web development to game design. You can complete the course at your own pace, engaging in coursework and completing challenges to practice what you learn. The course also focuses on refining your understanding of computational thinking and the skills to create your own digital projects.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple courses each year, including options starting in September
Application deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8 who meet the specific course prerequisites
Johns Hopkins CTY allows middle schoolers to explore advanced coursework in mathematics, science, medicine, writing, and the humanities. You can choose a format and subject track based on your interests. You will engage in self-paced or synchronous classes, learning from CTY instructors, working on assignments, and tracking your progress. You may also leave with tangible project work that you can add to your portfolio or continue working on in high school and beyond. The exact deliverables vary by course.
Location: Remote
Cost: $575–$1,425/course; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective admission; course cohorts tend to be small
Dates: Six to nine weeks between September and December; dates vary by course
Application deadline: Typically in early September, but registration remains open for courses with available space.
Eligibility: Middle school students with qualifying test scores or portfolio (check detailed criteria here)
Northwestern’s CTD offers various online science and STEM courses designed for students who want to learn beyond standard middle school curricula. Depending on the session and course you choose, you will dive into advanced physics, environmental science, web development, or engineering concepts. Courses are available in flexible or session-based formats, so you can learn at your own pace while still benefiting from instructor guidance and structured deadlines. In the process, you will strengthen your scientific reasoning, critical thinking, and conceptual understanding. The courses can help you gain exposure to experience university-level science.
Location: Virtual
Cost: One credit: $835 | Two credits: $1,425
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: September 10 – January 14 (one-credit course) | September 10 – May 20 (two-credit course)
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment until October 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 12
Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development Online Honors program offers middle and high school students exposure to advanced coursework. Here, you will engage in rigorous, university-level coursework taught by experienced Northwestern instructors. This can be an opportunity to build academic skills at the high school level. You can choose courses that align with your interests. You will enroll in a flexibly paced course and have access to individualized feedback from an instructor.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - Veritas AI logo