10 Fall Programs for Middle School Students in Texas
- Stephen Turban
- Jan 16
- 6 min read
Participating in a fall program can be a great way for middle school students to keep learning and exploring outside of regular school hours. These programs encourage you to build new skills, explore subjects that interest you, and work on projects that help you grow academically and personally. You might experiment with creative arts, try your hand at coding, or strengthen your problem-solving skills through STEM and leadership challenges.
Why should you attend a program in Texas?
Texas offers a wide variety of opportunities for middle school students through programs hosted by universities, nonprofits, and community organizations. Many programs emphasize project-based learning, giving you the chance to design experiments, create art, or collaborate on group challenges that put your ideas into action. Whether you live in Texas or are visiting from out of state, you can find fall programs that match your interests and goals.
In this blog, we’ve narrowed down 10 fall programs for middle school students in Texas.
If you are looking for STEM programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, 8 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling basis. You can apply here.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The Junior Explorer Program offers you the opportunity to be part of research-driven projects with one-on-one mentorship. You’ll explore a range of topics in the first four weeks, working closely with a mentor to identify your interests. During weeks five and six, the focus will be on narrowing down a specific topic and defining a research project. In the final two weeks, you’ll build and refine your project with continued one-on-one guidance. The projects are flexible and can range from a high-school level research paper to a Harvard Business School-style case study, making this program ideal for students taking their first step into independent research and academic exploration.
Location: San Antonio, TX
Cost: Varies by class
Program Dates: September – December
Application Deadline: Registration opens August 12
Eligibility: Open to students ages 5–18. More details available in their brochure.
UTSA’s Community Art’s Youth Artists’ Program offers middle school students a chance to develop their creativity through year-round and semester-long art experiences. The fall sessions offer options such as tuition-based art studios in various media, free Saturday Morning Discovery family workshops, and the Teen Studio Intensive for those committed to building their portfolios. The classes are taught by professional teaching artists at the historic UTSA Southwest Campus and emphasize skill-building, creative problem-solving, and mentorship in a supportive community environment.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type
Program Dates: Varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous student projects have included 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: Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston, TX
Cost: Varies by workshop
Program Dates: October-December; sessions offered on select Saturdays
Application Deadline: Rolling until sessions are filled
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The HSPVA Friends’ Middle School Workshops give you a hands-on introduction to different art areas, including Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental and Vocal Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts. Each workshop is led by Kinder HSP VA students and designed to provide you with a unique educational experience in your chosen discipline. The sessions run on select Saturdays throughout the fall season, allowing you to focus deeply on one art form while exploring your creative interests in a supportive environment.
Location: Multiple campuses in Texas
Cost: Varies by course
Program Dates: Weekly sessions throughout the semester
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to K–12 students, with specific math tracks for grades 6–8
The Russian School of Mathematics (RSM) offers a rigorous, internationally recognized math curriculum designed to strengthen problem-solving and critical thinking skills. You are placed at the right level through a 30-minute math evaluation, ensuring you’re challenged appropriately. The fall semester cohorts meet weekly in small, classroom-based settings, allowing you to learn alongside peers while developing long-term confidence in mathematics. The topics covered include Pre-Algebra Accelerated, Pre-Algebra Honors, Geometry I/II, and Algebra I/II Accelerated.
Location: ColdTowne Theater, 1700 East 2nd Street, Austin, TX
Cost: $178 per session
Program Dates: Session I: September 14 – October 19 | Session II: October 26 – December 7
Application Deadline: Session I: October 5 | Session II: November 16
Eligibility: Grades 6-8
Intro to Improv for middle schoolers is a chance for you to build confidence, creativity, and collaboration skills while exploring the art of comedy. Held weekly on Sundays, the class introduces you to the basics of improvisation through supportive exercises that emphasize listening, teamwork, and risk-taking. Each session concludes with a student showcase, offering you the opportunity to share your new skills with family and friends.
Location: Cardwell Collaborative, El Paso, TX
Cost: $25 per day
Program Dates: October 9 and October 10
Application Deadline: October 6
Eligibility: Grades 6-8
The Middle School Day 2 STEM Camp gives you the chance to dive into hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math activities in a collaborative environment. Hosted at the MCA STEM Innovation Lab, the camp introduces you to different STEM topics while highlighting real-world career paths in science and technology. Guided by experienced instructors, you’ll explore new concepts through interactive experiments and projects.
Location: University of Texas at El Paso, TX
Cost: Varies by program
Program Dates: Varies based on program, September-November
Application Deadline: Varies, check this brochure for details
Eligibility: Children of all ages, including middle school students
UTEP Youth Programs & Camps provide in-person fall programs designed to engage middle school students in a variety of subjects, including STEAM, technology, coding, arts, music, sports, and leadership. You can explore hands-on activities, develop practical skills, and gain exposure to potential career paths while connecting with peers in a supportive environment. Courses are led by experienced instructors and range from short-term workshops to multi-week programs, allowing flexibility for families.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $575
Program Dates: October 8 - November 19
Application Deadline: Varies by course.
Eligibility: Students in grades 3-8 who meet the academic criteria of 90th percentile test scores
Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development provides online enrichment classes to middle school students. These courses encourage critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving while exploring advanced academic content in a flexible online environment.
Each course is designed with a balance of structure and independence: you’ll follow weekly requirements but can complete coursework at your own pace. There will be personalized feedback and final evaluations, which will help you track your progress and solidify your understanding.
10. MIT CodeIt
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Sundays, October 15-November 19
Application Deadline: Not Mentioned
Eligibility: Girls and nonbinary students in grades 6-8
MIT CodeIt is a student-run initiative offering free, introductory computer science classes specifically for middle school girls and nonbinary students. The program introduces you to Scratch, a beginner-friendly block-based programming language, through interactive, project-based lessons. Beyond coding, you’ll engage in confidence-building and community-focused activities, culminating in a final project showcase that celebrates your progress and creativity. With small class sizes and personalized mentorship, you’ll gain hands-on experience in coding while connecting with peers and mentors who share your interests.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. 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.
Image Source - Lumiere Education logo