How To Publish Your Research In Middle School

Publishing your academic research as a middle‐school student is a rare but exciting way to share your ideas and build your skills. Many students don’t know what “publishing” means or how to start - this guide walks you through what it is, why it matters, and how you can do it. It’s aimed at middle‐schoolers who are curious about turning a project or investigation into something more formal.

What does it mean to “publish your research”?

To publish your research means your work has been reviewed by others (often experts or educators) and accepted for distribution in a journal or similar venue. It’s a way to show that your investigation met certain standards: you asked a good question, collected and analyzed data (or did a careful review), wrote it up, and submitted it for review. If it isn’t published, that doesn’t mean the work isn’t worthwhile - but publication adds an extra layer of external validation.

Journals use a process called “peer review,” where other researchers or teachers look at your paper (sometimes without knowing who you are) and give feedback. This helps improve the paper and ensures it meets quality criteria.

Is it possible for a middle‐school student to publish their research?

Short answer: yes - though it’s uncommon and requires planning. Most journals expect a certain level of work, but there are student‐friendly journals that welcome younger authors. For middle school, you’ll want to target venues that understand you may not have university‐level resources and that allow younger authors or mentorship.

That said, because middle school research is less common, your project will benefit from strong guidance (a teacher or mentor), clear writing, and a solid research method.

Why publish your research in middle school?

Why go through this extra effort? First, it gives you a taste of how real academic work is done: asking questions, designing methods, writing up results, and submitting for review. Second, it helps you develop skills - critical thinking, writing, data interpretation, and collaboration. Third, if you eventually include it in a portfolio (for high school applications, competitions, etc.), having a publication shows you took your project seriously and followed through. But it’s important to remember: publication isn’t the only measure of impact. A strong project without publication is still meaningful.

What type of research can get published?

Many kinds of research are possible: experiments you carry out, surveys you design, data you collect (within reason), and literature reviews of existing work. For middle school, a well‑done literature review or survey project may be more feasible than a large experiment. The more original your data collection or analysis is, the more journals will pay attention. That said, original doesn’t mean huge, clarity, sound method, and good writing matter a lot.

Types of publication targets

For middle school research, you can think of journals like different “tiers” of venues, from very selective to more accessible. The more competitive the journal, the higher the bar for method, novelty, and writing.

Journals That Accept Middle School Submissions

There is a small but growing category of journals that explicitly accept submissions from middle school students. These journals are typically more flexible in their expectations and are designed to introduce younger students to the process of academic research and publishing. They often feature shorter papers, review articles, or exploratory research projects, and many allow for the guidance of a mentor or teacher during the submission process.

These journals include the STEM Fellowship Journal, the American Journal of Student Research, and the Young Scientists Journal (YSJ). For example, one Lumiere middle school student successfully published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, a more professional-level journal that accepted the paper following guidance from a mentor. Journals like Curieux and the Journal of Secondary Psychological Studies also create space for younger students, with submissions that emphasize accessibility, clarity, and curiosity over depth of data collection. Others, like the International Journal of High School Research, generally cater to older students but have made exceptions for well-developed submissions from middle schoolers under close faculty or mentor supervision.

These journals do not typically publish a fixed number of papers per year but instead evaluate submissions based on clarity, logic, and the contribution to the field. Most accept both literature reviews and original research, and while they are less selective than college-level journals, they still include a review process—often involving educators, researchers, or graduate students. For younger students looking to share their research, gain experience with the publication process, and build confidence, these journals represent a realistic and meaningful first step.

Journals That Do Not Accept Middle School Submissions

While there are journals that welcome middle school research, some are simply not appropriate targets due to their extremely high standards and specific author requirements. Two clear examples are The Concord Review and the Whitman Journal of Psychology. These journals are designed for older students, typically upper-level high schoolers, and expect research that reflects college-level depth, analysis, and writing ability.

The Concord Review is one of the most prestigious history journals for high school students and publishes only around 45 papers per year out of hundreds of submissions, most of which come from 11th and 12th graders. The level of writing, original research, and historiographic depth required makes it inaccessible for middle school students. Similarly, the Whitman Journal of Psychology maintains a high academic bar and is not structured to support younger students in the submission or revision process. Submitting to these journals as a middle school student is not only unlikely to result in publication, but it may also lead to unnecessary frustration and discourage further efforts. Instead, it's better to focus on age-appropriate journals that can offer real feedback and a clearer path to success.

Looking for a guided middle school research mentorship? Check out Lumiere Junior Research & Publication Program

In the Lumiere Junior Research & Publication Program (JRPP), in 16-20 weeks, students in grades 6 to 8 will work 1:1 with a PhD mentor to develop and write a research paper, and then go through the process of submitting their work to an academic journal, competition, or conference.

JRPP helps middle school students get their work out into the world, understand the academic process more thoroughly, and have a tangible outcome from their time in the program. We do not promise publication; rather, we support you as you identify a submission target, prepare your manuscript for submission, and (if the manuscript is not accepted) make any edits needed and/or submit to a backup target.

This is a program for gifted young learners ready to dive deep and publish early.

Lydia is an alumna from Harvard University and studied Molecular and Cellular Biology & Economics. In high school, she was the captain of her high school’s Academic Decathlon team and attended the Governor's School of Engineering and Technology. She is working as a life sciences consultant after graduation. 

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