10 Independent Study Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
Middle school students looking for exposure to advanced academics can opt for independent study programs. These programs allow you to study at your pace and in a relatively flexible manner to ensure you make the most of the available resources. You also receive support and guidance throughout the program.
Independent study programs tend to be available online or in a hybrid format, so you don’t have to worry about commuting. We have compiled a list of 10 such programs that are rigorous and can be tailored to fit your needs. They cover a range of subjects for you to choose based on your interests.
10 Independent Study Programs for Middle School Students
Location:Â Virtual
Cost:Â Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Not specified
Dates:Â 8 weeks, varies by cohort
Application Deadline:Â Varies according to cohort
Eligibility: Students in Grades 6–8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program pairs middle school students with Ph.D. mentors from universities such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton to explore academic subjects and develop a written project. Across eight weeks, you’ll learn to read and interpret academic literature, build research questions, and create outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study. You’ll receive individualized feedback through eight mentor sessions and two writing-coach sessions, ensuring you master both analytical and writing fundamentals. Research topics range from gene editing to behavioral economics. Lumiere also offers a Junior Research and Publication Program for students who wish to publish their research in academic journals.
Location:Â Online
Cost/Stipend:Â None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Not specified
Dates:Â Self-paced
Application Deadline:Â Open enrollment
Eligibility:Â Students in kindergarten to middle school
Providing an alternative to traditional schooling, Calibre Academy’s Independent Study Program allows you to access study material and resources from home. This is a tuition-free program that works according to your learning style, strengths, and needs. You will have frequent contact with certified teachers. Regular assignments must be completed for the courses you choose. The program also provides access to the library, computers, math tutorials, field trips, and other special activities.Â
Location:Â Virtual
Cost:Â Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Not specified
Dates:Â 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort, and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort
Application Deadline:Â Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Students in Grades 6–8
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers is a rigorous program for ambitious middle schoolers. Covering the basics of machine learning and AI, you will attend 25 hours of programming. The topics covered by the curriculum include Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. You will also complete a practical project independently. In this aspect, you will apply what you learn in class to solve a real-world problem. Past students have built a machine-learning model to classify music genres and a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Location:Â Online, in-person, or hybrid
Cost:Â Varies by subject
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â None
Dates:Â Self-paced
Application Deadline:Â None
Eligibility: Students in Grades 7–8
Whether you prefer online or in-person schooling, BYU’s independent study program can fit your needs. Designed for 7th and 8th graders, it helps you seamlessly move towards high school. The available core courses include English, Math, Science, History, and Social Sciences. You can also opt for electives like Health and Fitness, World Languages, Music and Fine Art, Character Education, and Career Exploration. You can pick the course you want to study.
Location:Â Hybrid in Redlands, CA
Cost/Stipend:Â Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â 12 per class
Dates:Â Not specified
Application Deadline:Â Not specified
Eligibility:Â Middle school students
The Redlands Middle School Program has small classrooms of approximately 12 students each to deliver the core curriculum. You will attend 2 – 3 days online per week and about 90 minutes of interactive sessions. On the remaining days, you will complete coursework independently. You can have 1-on-1 meetings with a supervising teacher each week to ensure you are on track to achieving your goals. You must complete all the required state testing sessions and district assessments. In addition to academics, you can become part of clubs such as coding, running, choir and more.
Location:Â Online, in-person, or hybrid in Victorville, CA
Cost/Stipend:Â None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Not specified
Dates:Â Self-paced
Application Deadline:Â Open enrollment
Eligibility: Students in Grades 6–12
If you are looking for a flexible schooling program, this one may be a suitable fit. With external support, you can set your own learning objectives. This means you can complete the course faster or slower than traditional classes depending on your requirements. Student success coaches also monitor your progress. You can meet this coach in person or online twice a week. You are expected to complete 6 classes in a semester, which is about 60 credits.Â
Location:Â Online
Cost/Stipend:Â None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Not specified
Dates:Â Self-paced
Application Deadline:Â Open enrollment
Eligibility:Â Middle school students
California Online Public Schools function like traditional schools. Here, you log in everyday and complete the assigned lessons independently, without teacher instruction. Live sessions with teachers are also regularly scheduled to provide any support you may need. You will take tests in April – May to meet your grade’s learning requirements. An in-person physical fitness test is typically held in February.
Location:Â Online
Cost:Â $48,000 for a 12-month year-round school program; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Not specified
Dates:Â August, January, and May are common entry start dates
Application Deadline:Â Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 4–22 years old
Open Mind School’s ISP can be completed from home at your own pace. As you study independently, you receive personalized guidance and support from a school placement. You will have weekly advisor meetings. Furthermore, you are assigned 15 hours of coursework, for which you will upload your assignments. Upon completion, you will receive course credit. You can also opt for social opportunities and specialized support such as Social Skills Development, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Counseling, Behavior Regulation Services, Open Gym times, and Mental Health Support.
Location:Â Online
Cost/Stipend:Â Varies by subject and grade
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â Not specified
Dates:Â Self-paced
Application Deadline:Â Open enrollment
Eligibility:Â Middle school students
Keystone’s middle school program allows you to take control of your learning. You can choose from a range of subjects depending on the grade you are in, including math, earth science, language arts, history, and so on. The program helps you master a specific subject as you study at your own pace. It can also support the traditional education you receive at school so you can get a step ahead. In addition to the core curriculum, several electives are also available.
Location:Â Online
Cost:Â $249 per month (basic plan); scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:Â None
Dates:Â Self-paced
Application Deadline:Â Open enrollment
Eligibility:Â Middle school students
This accredited middle school program builds on your elementary school education. In this independent study program, you will learn core subjects like mathematics, language arts and reading, science, history and social studies, as well as health and physical education. You can enroll at any time during the year and complete the curriculum in a flexible manner. The platform allows you to set weekly objectives to track your progress. You can also create custom competitions and showcase your achievements.Â
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 where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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