13 Online Enrichment Courses for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Sep 19
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 13
For middle school students, enrolling in online enrichment courses during the summer can be a game-changer. These courses and certifications not only help you explore new subjects but also build advanced skills that give you a head start in high school.
But before we jump into a list of some great enrichment courses, here’s a bit of context on why enrichment courses are different from regular summer programs or camps!
Immersion courses are short, intensive programs designed to give you a focused experience in a single subject or skill area. Unlike longer pre-college programs or semester-long classes, immersion courses usually last from a few days to a couple of weeks. They’re often self-paced or highly concentrated, meaning you spend more time on one topic without juggling multiple unrelated classes.
This format makes them very different from regular programs. Instead of balancing general coursework, you dive deeply into one area—like coding, neuroscience, or creative writing—through projects, workshops, or labs. Because they’re compact and focused, immersion courses are easier to fit into a busy schedule, cost less than full-length programs, and let you quickly figure out whether a field is worth pursuing further.
To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 13 online enrichment courses for middle school students.
Cost: Free (no tuition; program is fully funded)
Program Dates: Summer Course: July 7 – July 25; Fall Semester Meetings: August 27 – December 10
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: U.S.-based students in grades 6–7 from low-income backgrounds
The Stanford Middle School Scholars Program (SMSSP) provides motivated middle school students with a three-week online summer course, followed by weekly academic enrichment meetings during the fall. The program builds skills for high school success through interactive coursework, personalized mentorship, and a supportive community of peers. You will participate in rigorous, non-credit enrichment activities across multiple subject areas, developing confidence and curiosity in preparation for future academics. Because the program is fully funded, it offers an accessible opportunity for talented middle school students nationwide.
Cost: $475 per quarter (need-based financial aid available)
Program Dates: Fall, winter, and spring quarters; September 30 – December 11 (Fall Quarter)
Application Deadline: Rolling, until sections are filled
Eligibility: Students in grades 1–12; middle schoolers (6–8) are eligible; no prior coursework required
The Stanford Math Circle is a quarter-long, after-school enrichment program designed for students who want to push their math thinking beyond the classroom. Weekly evening sessions bring together students from across the globe to explore advanced mathematical concepts, guided by Stanford mathematicians and educators. Discussions emphasize collaborative problem-solving, logical reasoning, and mathematical creativity. The program’s online format allows you to join challenging math circles and engage deeply with peers who share their passion for mathematics.
Cost: $660 (need-based financial aid available; $25 late fee applies after deadline)
Program Dates: January 17 – March 20
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Grades 6–8; no prerequisites required
This 9-week asynchronous course from Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development takes middle school writing to the next level with a deep dive into advanced grammar and sentence craft. You’ll spend 2–5 hours per week working on structured assignments that combine grammatical analysis with creative and academic writing practice. The curriculum is centered on "The Magic Lens I" by Michael Clay Thompson, providing a systematic approach to mastering sentence structures, punctuation, and stylistic control. By the end of the course, you will have not only strengthened your command of grammar but also developed sharper analytical skills and the ability to express ideas with clarity and precision.
Cost: $600 (need-based financial aid available; $25 late fee applies after deadline)
Program Dates: January 31 – March 13
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Grades 6–8; no prerequisites required
This 6-week online enrichment course from Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development introduces middle schoolers to the principles of heredity and DNA. You’ll explore the history of genetics from Mendel’s pea plants to modern breakthroughs in molecular biology, using a mix of computer simulations, labs, and case studies. Weekly assignments (2–5 hours per week) reveal how genes shape traits, health, and evolution, while encouraging students to analyze data and think like scientists. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking alongside scientific content, making it an engaging way to understand the blueprint of life.
Cost: $675 (need-based financial aid available)
Program Dates: January 21 – March 18
Application Deadline: Applications open ~32 days before start date
Eligibility: Grades 6–8; no prerequisites required
This online Core Essentials course challenges students to see algebra as more than solving for “x.” Over nine weeks, you’ll explore equations, inequalities, functions, and graphs through problem-solving, investigation, and debate. You’ll participate in real-world activities, such as calculating the number of hours of work required to afford items on a wish list, and applying abstract algebra to practical reasoning. You’ll also strengthen communication by presenting your solutions in written form, bridging math concepts with critical thinking and persuasive argumentation.
Cost: $675 + $10 lab fee (financial aid available)
Program Dates: March 25 – May 27
Application Deadline: Applications open ~152 days before start date
Eligibility: Grades 6–8; no prerequisites required
This Core Essentials course introduces middle schoolers to the structure and function of the human body through a comparative biology lens. You’ll examine human, invertebrate, and vertebrate body systems to understand how anatomy supports life processes. The course blends theory with practice, with moderated discussions, guided activities, and both real and virtual labs, including dissections. You’ll also design your own project on how the body works, reinforcing independent inquiry and application.
Cost: ~$49–$84
Program Dates: Self-paced, available year-round with lifetime access
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment; no formal deadline
Eligibility: Designed for middle school students (Grades 6–9); no prerequisites
This project-based coding course introduces you to computer science through Scratch, a beginner-friendly programming language. Over ~4.5 hours of guided video lessons, you’ll build hands-on projects like a traffic light simulator, a remote-control car, and even a state machine capstone project. You’ll practice algorithms, loops, conditionals, debugging, and computational thinking while blending logic with creativity in open-ended design tasks. With lifetime access and a completion certificate, this course offers middle schoolers a flexible pathway to explore programming and problem-solving skills beyond the classroom.
Cost: $700
Program Dates: 9 weeks; typically from February – May
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Middle school students (grades 7–8) with strong interest and talent in mathematics; academically strong applicants from under-resourced communities are encouraged to apply
This nine-week, selective online program introduces middle schoolers to advanced mathematical concepts typically reserved for college classrooms. Topics include Number Theory, Topology, and Geometry, explored through interactive sessions with NYU faculty and teaching assistants. You’ll engage in problem-solving activities, group discussions, and collaborative projects that sharpen logical reasoning and abstract thinking. By offering a mathematically rich environment, the program nurtures young talent and encourages underrepresented students to pursue higher-level STEM pathways.
Cost: $2,699
Program Dates: July 14 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Open to students ages 12–18; middle schoolers (12–14) join beginner cohorts. Basic Python knowledge (functions and libraries) required; optional prep week available July 7–11.
This three-week online program immerses middle schoolers in data science and artificial intelligence through hands-on coding. Live classes on Zoom combine interactive lectures with small cohort work (≤8 students), where you’ll learn to build data visualizations in Python, explore machine learning models like decision trees and neural networks, and apply AI concepts to real-world challenges. By the end, you’ll complete a portfolio-ready project and earn a Data Science Scholar Certificate. The academy’s personalized support, collaborative learning, and rigorous curriculum make it a strong enrichment option for students ready to step beyond beginner-level coding.
Cost: $292 (currently discounted to $262.80 for 6 sessions)
Program Dates: Multiple live-online sessions offered year-round (75 minutes each, 6 sessions total)
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment; spots available until filled
Eligibility: Grades 5–12; prior completion of Python for AI Part III or equivalent recommended
This small-group online course (2–3 students per class) introduces middle and high schoolers to the fundamentals of data science and analytics using Python and Pandas, while also integrating ChatGPT as a learning assistant. Over six 75-minute sessions, you’ll explore data cleaning, analysis, visualization, and presentation through hands-on coding exercises. The program culminates in a capstone project where you’ll analyze a dataset of your choice and create visualizations to share insights. Created by experts from Stanford, Google, and Apple, this course features a comprehensive curriculum and a downloadable certificate when you finish.
Cost: Tuition varies; $15 nonrefundable application fee (waived for financial aid applicants); financial aid is available
Program Dates: Runs in sessions year-round (6-week sessions, 2.5–3.5 hours/week)
Application Deadline: Rolling; students must qualify through CTY testing or equivalent scores
Eligibility: Grades 7–11; CTY-level testing required (approximately two grade levels above current enrollment)
This live, online advanced enrichment course from Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth puts students in the shoes of a doctor making real-time diagnoses. Over six weeks, you’ll study anatomy and physiology across systems (cardiology, neurology, pulmonology, hematology, and immunology) and apply your knowledge through case study analysis and small-group problem-solving. You’ll write your own case studies, practice diagnostic reasoning, and propose treatment paths, mirroring how specialists approach complex symptoms. The course is guided by CTY science educators and emphasizes higher-order thinking, critical reasoning, and medical problem-solving.
Cost: Tuition varies; $15 nonrefundable application fee (waived for financial aid applicants); financial aid is available
Program Dates: Offered in multiple 3-week sessions offered
Application Deadline: Rolling, while spots remain; CTY-level test scores required
Eligibility: Grades 5–6; students must qualify at CTY-level (approx. two grade levels above current enrollment)
This three-week live mini course lets middle schoolers step into the world of forensic science through a focus on fingerprints. You’ll explore the history and science of patent, latent, and plastic prints, learn to identify arches, loops, and whorls, and even practice dusting and lifting prints at home. Working in groups, you’ll then apply your skills to a crime scene scenario and use fingerprint evidence to solve a case. With 2.5–3.5 hours per week of combined live class and independent work, the course is short but intensive, encouraging students to think critically, analyze evidence, and experience the scientific method in action.
Cost: Tuition varies; $15 nonrefundable application fee (waived for financial aid applicants); financial aid available
Program Dates: Multiple 12-week sessions offered
Application Deadline: Rolling, until sessions fill; CTY-level verbal scores required
Eligibility: Grades 7–11; students must qualify at CTY-level (approx. two grade levels above current enrollment)
This 12-week live enrichment course helps students refine their nonfiction writing skills by reading published works, analyzing author techniques, and applying these insights to their own creative projects. You’ll practice crafting vivid settings, developing characters, pacing narratives, and using humor, suspense, or surprise to strengthen storytelling. Over the term, you will complete five major writing projects, revise with peer and instructor feedback, and build a portfolio of polished nonfiction pieces. With its workshop-style environment and guidance from expert CTY instructors, this course provides middle schoolers with a structured yet creative approach to developing their writing voice and preparing for advanced academic and personal writing opportunities.
One more option—The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure! To learn more, you can reach out to our Director, Dhruva, at dhruva.bhat@lumiere.education, or go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the upcoming cohorts + deadlines, you can refer to this page!
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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