10 Fall Programs for Middle School Students in NYC
- Stephen Turban
- Oct 18
- 7 min read
If you are a middle school student, fall is a good time to try something new outside of your regular school routine. Many programs during the fall let you explore subjects not covered in your classes, build practical skills, and discover new interests. You could join a science lab, take a creative writing workshop, learn coding, or take part in a community project. These programs tend to be flexible, allowing you to add them to your schedule outside of school hours.
New York City is home to many popular universities and organizations offering programs during the fall. Some even let you work with mentors, visit local institutions, or team up with other students who share the same interests. These experiences help you understand what you enjoy most and can guide you as you move ahead in high school. You will learn to manage your time, complete small projects, and meet people who can guide you in the future.
To make your search easier, here are 10 fall programs for middle school students in New York City!
10 Fall Programs for Middle School Students in NYC
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions based on the cohorts
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8 with strong academic motivation and interest in research
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program (JEP) gives middle school students a rare chance to learn directly from PhD mentors at places like Harvard, MIT, Oxford, and Yale. Over eight weeks, you’ll explore different subjects like STEM, humanities, or social sciences and slowly shape those interests into something concrete, like a research paper, design prototype, or policy idea. The program flows in three simple steps: first, you’ll spend time exploring broad ideas with your mentor, then you’ll focus on one area that excites you most, and finally, you’ll put it all together into a project that reflects your curiosity and effort. Past students have worked on everything from CRISPR biology to economics and international relations, and some have even had their work published. It’s a good fit if you enjoy digging deeper into questions, want guidance from someone with experience, and like the idea of creating something original while you’re still in middle school.
Location: City College of New York campus, 160 Convent Avenue, Manhattan
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: September 13 – December 20
Application Deadline: August 30
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6–12; middle school courses available for grades 6–8; NYC residency required
The CCNY STEM Institute gives middle school students in New York City a chance to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math in a hands-on way. You’ll take part in creative classes like 3D Modeling and Introduction to Architecture, where you build and design using real tools and ideas. If you’re preparing for the SHSAT, the program also includes support to help you get ready. Classes happen either after school or on Saturdays, so you can choose what fits best with your schedule. You’ll learn from expert instructors, work on group projects, and get help through optional virtual tutoring. Lunch and snacks are free, which makes the day easier and more fun.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small group format with 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio; rolling admission
Dates: Various Cohorts in Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall
Application Deadline: Rolling, with set deadlines for each cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program introduces middle school students to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning in a structured but beginner-friendly format. Across 25 hours, you’ll learn Python programming, data analysis, regression, classification problems, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics while working on collaborative projects guided by expert mentors. Past student projects have included building a music-genre classifier and designing an algorithm to generate personalized educational resource lists. The curriculum is divided into stages: building coding foundations, exploring machine learning models, and tackling advanced AI topics like convolutional neural networks. The program concludes with a final presentation of your project.
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Cost: Free; full scholarship provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Dates: Saturdays from September 19 to December 12
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to NYC students in grades 6–8
The CACTUS program at NYU Tandon’s K12 STEM Center is a hands-on engineering and technology experience for middle school students in New York City. Over 15 weeks, you’ll dive into robotics, CAD design, and Arduino programming while solving real-world problems with your classmates. You’ll learn how to turn ideas into working models, using tools that engineers use every day. You’ll explore areas like mechanical design, electronics, coding, and teamwork. By the end, you’ll present your final project at an expo, showing off your skills and creativity.
Location: NYU Washington Square Campus
Cost: $200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Rolling admission until capacity is reached
Dates: October 19 – May 3
Application Deadline: August 15
Eligibility: Middle and high school students from economically disadvantaged or first-generation backgrounds, as defined by NY State STEP guidelines
NYU’s STEP program helps New York City middle and high school students build academic strength and career readiness in STEM fields. Through Saturday classes spanning the school year, you’ll take part in math and science instruction, Regents prep, enrichment courses, and project-based learning opportunities. The program also provides college prep workshops, standardized test preparation, mentorship, and even supervised research experiences. Taught by NYU faculty and co-taught by NYU students, STEP combines academic rigor with mentorship and career awareness activities.
Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York
Cost: $1,000 per course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: First-come, first-served enrollment
Dates: October–December (8-week after-school or 4-week Saturday sessions)
Application Deadline: Rolling until courses fill
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The AMNH Science Alliance – Middle School Fall program is a solid choice if you enjoy hands-on science and want to explore cool topics in a fun way. Instead of just reading about science, you’ll actually do it. You might extract DNA, build working models, design planets, or explore real museum collections. There are lots of classes to choose from, like Microbiology (Tiny Life), Animal Prosthetics, Astroexplorations, Evolution and the Diversity of Life, and Exoplanets. You get to pick what interests you most. The program happens at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
Location: New York City (on school grounds or in major parks like Central Park and Prospect Park)
Cost: $750–$1,500 per Crew
Acceptance rate/cohort size: School-based enrollment; up to 90–180 participants per day
Dates: Late fall
Application Deadline: Rolling, based on school booking
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students through their schools; schools must book programs
NYC Outward Bound Schools offers short, high-impact community-building experiences designed to help students reconnect, collaborate, and grow as leaders. Through half-day, full-day, or follow-up programs, you’ll participate in team challenges, reflection activities, and outdoor learning designed to strengthen social-emotional skills and foster a sense of belonging. There are many programs like Crew Connect (2.5 hours on school grounds), Community Connect (5-hour full-day park program), and Reconnect & Reflect (2-hour classroom-based session). Schools may also opt for a Train the Trainer workshop so teachers can bring Outward Bound’s SEL practices back to their classrooms. While not a long-term enrichment program, these sessions are valuable at the start of a school year or after major transitions.
Location: The Clinton School, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: First-come, first-served enrollment
Dates: Begins on September 15
Application Deadline: September 4
Eligibility: Open to Clinton School middle school students
The Clinton School’s after-school program, run in partnership with Manhattan Youth, gives middle school students a chance to explore many different interests in a fun and supportive environment. Every afternoon, students take part in two activity periods where they can try out clubs and programs that match what they enjoy or want to learn more about. There are lots of areas to choose from. If you like science and technology, you can join STEM clubs. If you enjoy performing, there are Chorus, Broadway Bound, and Photography. If you’re curious about leadership and global topics, you can try Model UN or Survival Skills. Sports and games like the Chess Club are also part of the mix.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: mid-September – mid-November
Application Deadline: July 8
Eligibility: Students ages 13–17 worldwide; strong English proficiency required
The Junior Academy is an international STEM program run by the New York Academy of Sciences that connects students with peers and mentors to solve global challenges. As a participant, you’ll join an online platform called Launchpad, where you work on project-based Innovation Challenges in areas like sustainability, healthcare, and technology. Each challenge begins with a skills-building kickoff week, then continues for several weeks of team research, prototyping, and design thinking. The program develops not only technical and research skills, but also collaboration, cross-cultural communication, and problem-solving abilities.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (funded by NYSED)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly stated
Dates: October 11 – November 1
Application Deadline: September 22
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students from underrepresented groups in STEM, as defined by New York State
The Baruch STEP (Science and Technology Entry Program) Academy gives motivated middle and high school students the chance to strengthen their STEM and college readiness skills. For middle schoolers, the program offers SHSAT preparation in a supportive, small-group environment to help students prepare for New York City’s specialized high school admissions exam. All courses are taught by qualified instructors, with an emphasis on academic skill-building and preparation for STEM pathways in college and careers. Because STEP is funded by the New York State Education Department, it is specifically designed to support students from historically underrepresented groups in science and technology fields.
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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