15 Math Resources for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 9 min read
If you’re in middle school and want to get better at math or explore it in new ways, checking out math resources can be a solid option. These resources give you the chance to go beyond what you learn in class and pick up advanced topics, practical problem-solving skills, and even connections with people who love math as much as you do. The best part is that most of them are free or low-cost, so you don’t need to spend a lot of money to start.
In this blog, “resources” means platforms, tools, and content that help middle school students explore math, build skills, and practice learning on their own outside the classroom. Exploring a resource is a good way to figure out what kind of math learner you are. Some of you may prefer games, others may like step-by-step lessons, and some may want the challenge of advanced problems or competitions.
To make things easier, we’ve narrowed down a list of 15 math resources for middle school students.
15 Math Resources for Middle School Students
Cost: Varies by the cohort. Financial aid is available
Location: Virtual
Dates: Varies by the cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an 8-week virtual research experience designed for middle school students in grades 6–8 who are curious, motivated, and ready to explore advanced topics. You’ll work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor from a top university, like Harvard, MIT, or Columbia, to dive deep into a subject you choose, whether it’s artificial intelligence, history, psychology, physics, or something else that excites you. The first half of the program focuses on exploring different ideas and narrowing down your research question. In the second half, you’ll build your own project with guidance from your mentor. By the end, you’ll have a finished research product.
2. Khan Academy
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open access
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: All grade levels
Khan Academy is one of the most widely used math resources for middle school students, offering full courses from 6th-grade math through calculus. Each topic includes short instructional videos, interactive quizzes, and a system for tracking your progress as you build new skills. You can move at your own pace, rewatch lessons as needed, and even jump ahead if you're ready. The platform adapts to your performance and gives you targeted practice to help you improve. Everything is completely free, and no sign-up is required to start learning.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open access
Location: Online
Cost: Free with optional premium version (~$5 - $10/month)
Dates: Students can play anytime, year-round, at their own pace
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Grades 1–8
Prodigy blends fantasy-style gaming with math practice that aligns with school standards. As you play, you'll answer math questions to win battles, level up your character, and complete quests. The questions adjust based on your skill level, and you can choose to focus on specific topics like fractions, multiplication, or decimals. Teachers and parents can track your progress, and the game environment makes practice feel less like homework. While the basic version is free, there’s a paid version with extra features like pets and gear upgrades.
4. IXL Math
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open access
Location: Online
Cost: $9.95/month for math; combo plans available
Dates: Self-paced
Deadline: None
Eligibility: All grade levels (Pre-K to 12)
IXL is a personalized learning platform that helps middle and high school students strengthen their math skills through targeted practice. You can choose specific topics like fractions, geometry, or linear equations and get instant feedback as you work through problems. The system adapts to your performance, so once you’ve mastered the basics, it gradually introduces more challenging questions to keep you improving. While it’s not a full course, IXL offers a structured way to build fluency and confidence over time.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; small class sizes
Location: Online
Cost: $400–$700 per course
Dates: Varies by course; most are 12-week terms
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Grades 5–12; placement diagnostic required for some courses
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) is a standout platform for students who love math and want to push beyond the standard school curriculum. It’s especially popular among those preparing for competitions like MathCounts, AMC 8, and AMC 10, offering deep, strategy-focused courses that emphasize logical thinking and creative problem-solving. AoPS helps you understand why the solution works. You’ll take part in live online classes, complete written assignments, and join discussion forums where students and instructors collaborate on tough problems.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; enrollment reviewed based on eligibility and available space
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL & Online
Cost: Varies; ~$835 for 1-credit online courses; financial aid available
Dates: June 4 – August 13 (flexible online start dates); in-person day camps and 3-week residential camps also available
Application Deadline: Rolling; early application recommended for financial aid
Eligibility: Students entering grades 3–8; eligibility varies by course type and may require test scores or teacher recommendations
The Northwestern Center for Talent Development (CTD) offers summer math courses that are perfect for middle school students who want to go beyond what’s taught in school. Whether you're interested in Algebra, Geometry, Problem Solving, or more creative topics like Mathematical Puzzles and Probability, CTD provides both in-person camps and online options to match your schedule and learning style. Courses are designed for academically advanced learners, so you’ll be challenged to think deeply and independently. You’ll work in small classes with instructors who specialize in teaching gifted students.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: First-come, first-served; limited enrollment per section
Location: Online (live sessions hosted by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies)
Cost: $500 per quarter; financial aid not publicly listed
Dates: Spring: April 1 – June 5; other quarters available
Deadline: Registration opens 1–2 months before each quarter; first-come, first-served
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 5–6 with a strong interest in math
The Stanford Math Circle is a weekly enrichment program for students in grades 5–12 who want to explore math topics that go beyond what’s taught in school. If you’re in middle school, you can join either the grades 5–6 group or the grades 7–8 group, where you’ll work on subjects like number theory, combinatorics, graph theory, and abstract reasoning. The program runs online during the academic year in 10-week quarters. Each session blends short lectures with problem-solving and group activities, giving you the chance to discuss and experiment with new ideas. Classes are led by Stanford faculty, graduate students, and guest mathematicians, so you’ll be learning directly from people who work in the field.
8. Desmos
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open access
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: All grade levels (recommended for grades 6–12)
Desmos is a free online math platform that helps you explore and visualize concepts through interactive tools. Its main feature is the graphing calculator, where you can plot equations, adjust variables in real time, and see how functions and inequalities behave. For middle school students, Desmos offers classroom-style activities and challenges in topics like algebra, geometry, and statistics. You can use it on your own to experiment with ideas, build models, or practice what you’ve learned in class. The activities are built to encourage reasoning and exploration instead of just finding quick answers, which makes them useful for developing a deeper understanding of math.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open access
Location: Online
Cost: Free for digital access; print materials available for purchase
Dates: Full academic year or self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Grades 6–8
Illustrative Mathematics (IM) is a free, problem-based curriculum for grades 6–8 that helps you understand math by reasoning through problems instead of memorizing formulas. Topics include ratios, equations, geometry, and statistics, all taught through activities that encourage discussion, visual modeling, and real-world applications. The curriculum is organized so that each unit builds on the last, showing you how different areas of math connect. It’s aligned with Common Core standards and includes hands-on exercises, digital lessons, and optional challenges to fit different learning styles.
10. CK-12
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open access
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Grades 6–8
CK-12 is a flexible and free math resource that’s great for middle school students who want to learn at their own pace. It offers full digital textbooks, called FlexBooks, for grades 6 through 8, covering topics like arithmetic, fractions, ratios, geometry, and algebra. Each lesson includes videos, interactive tools (like simulations and PLIX exercises), and practice questions with instant feedback. You can track your progress, revisit tricky topics, and explore real-world applications of math. It’s aligned with Common Core standards, but you don’t need to be in a U.S. school to benefit; everything is open-access and customizable.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open access
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Grades 6–8
PBS LearningMedia is a free platform with standards-aligned math resources for middle school students. You’ll find short videos, interactive lessons, simulations, and curated collections that cover topics like number operations, ratios, expressions, equations, geometry, and statistics. Many lessons use characters, scenarios, or challenges to show how math works in real-world situations, making abstract ideas easier to understand. You can use PBS LearningMedia on your own or alongside classroom lessons, especially if you prefer learning through videos and interactive tools rather than textbooks.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohorts of 12 students per group
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: July 7 – 25
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Open to current 6th and 7th-grade students in the U.S. from families with household incomes typically under $90,000
The Stanford Middle School Scholars Program (MSSP) gives academically motivated students from underrepresented backgrounds a chance to explore advanced subjects. In the math track, you’ll work on algebraic thinking, patterns, proportional reasoning, and data analysis through hands-on lessons, group discussions, and real-world applications. Classes use an inquiry-based approach, so you’ll be encouraged to ask questions, explain your reasoning, and collaborate with peers on problem-solving strategies.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 60 middle schoolers
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: Free
Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in spring; early submission recommended
Eligibility: Open to students currently in 6th–8th grade who attend school in the Ypsilanti area
The University of Michigan Math Corps Summer Camp is a free, four-week program for middle school students from Detroit and nearby areas. The camp helps you build core skills in arithmetic, fractions, decimals, and pre-algebra, while also connecting you with mentors who support your growth. High school students serve as tutors and role models, and college students or math professionals lead the main instruction. Each day includes math classes, team activities, and personal development sessions that build your confidence and leadership skills. You’ll also join events that show how math connects to future goals like college and careers.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited enrollment
Location: Online (offered by NYU Courant Institute)
Cost: $1,000 + $50 application fee; limited scholarship support available
Dates: 13 weeks in spring (dates vary year to year)
Application Deadline: Application typically opens in winter; deadlines vary
Eligibility: Current 7th and 8th-grade students with strong arithmetic skills and some experience with algebra
The Math Program for Young Minds at NYU is a 13-week online course for 7th and 8th-graders who want to push their math learning beyond school. Taught by faculty and teaching assistants from the Courant Institute, the program covers advanced areas like number theory, topology, and geometry. Each week, you’ll take part in interactive sessions that focus on problem-solving, abstract reasoning, and discussion. Instead of drills or memorizing formulas, you’ll be encouraged to explore ideas creatively, think through problems in depth, and work with classmates in a supportive setting.
15. MathPath
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; application includes a qualifying test and writing sample
Location: Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
Cost: $6,300; financial aid available up to full cost, plus travel support
Dates: June 29 – July 27
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Ages 11–14; typically students in grades 6–8, but advanced 5th graders may apply if age-qualified
MathPath is a month-long residential summer program designed for middle school students who want to explore mathematics in greater depth. If you’re in grade 5 or higher and passionate about math, this program gives you the chance to study advanced topics like number theory, combinatorics, and spherical geometry. Each day includes two breakout classes of your choice, plenary lectures, and collaborative problem-solving sessions that encourage you to focus on understanding the ideas behind math rather than just moving ahead quickly in school content.
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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