13 Online Fall Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Oct 16
- 8 min read
If you are a middle school student looking for a productive way to spend your fall break, an online program can be a great option to explore. These online programs can help you explore advanced academic topics, develop practical skills, and gain early exposure to industries. They provide comprehensive guidance, helping you go beyond your regular schoolwork and dive deeper into subjects such as STEM, writing, coding, and research.
Online programs are also super flexible, allowing you to pursue opportunities outside of your school time during the fall without the need to travel anywhere. Hosted by top organizations, you will have opportunities to engage with expert instructors, collaborate on projects, and explore subjects in depth. Whether you’re interested in robotics, creative writing, or scientific problem-solving, these programs connect you with mentors and peers who share your interests.
To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 13 online fall programs for middle school students.
13 Online Fall Programs for Middle School Students
Cost: Varies depending on program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: 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 cohorts + deadlines, you can refer to this
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an eight-week online research experience for middle school students that pairs participants with PhD mentors from universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. In the first half of the program, students explore a variety of subjects, including areas like technology, science, and social studies, before selecting a specific topic to focus on. During the later weeks, they work more intensively on that chosen subject, developing skills in critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving. The online fall program for middle school students culminates in the completion of a final project, which may take the form of a research paper, case study, or presentation.
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective
Dates: Self-paced program, takes place over 10 hours
Application deadline: Varies by location
Eligibility: Upper elementary and middle school students
MIT’s RAISE Workshops focus on helping students understand the core ideas behind artificial intelligence while also considering its broader impact on society. Middle school participants are introduced to coding and computational thinking through accessible platforms like Scratch, App Inventor, and Jupyter Notebooks, with activities tailored to different skill levels. The curriculum highlights the “5 Big Ideas of AI,” which cover concepts such as machine learning, decision-making systems, and human-AI interaction. Students also explore important issues like bias, transparency, and fairness in technology, linking technical skills with ethical reflection. Team-based projects are central to the workshops, allowing students to design AI-powered tools that address real-world problems. Further, specialized workshops, such as the Creativity and AI course, focus on creative applications of machine learning, including generating art and music through platforms like GANs.
Cost: Varies depending on program; Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; small cohort size
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort (rolling)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program is a 25-hour online course designed to introduce middle school students to artificial intelligence and its real-world applications. Participants learn the basics of Python programming while exploring how algorithms can analyze data, classify images, and make predictions. A key component of the program is building personal projects, which might include designing recommendation tools or creating models that sort information such as music genres. Alongside technical skills, students also examine ethical considerations in AI, including fairness and the impact of machine learning on society. The program combines live instruction with hands-on project work in small groups, supported by a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio.
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective
Dates: Ongoing throughout the school year; clubs typically meet 1-2 hours per week after school or on weekends
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Clubs are open to all middle school students
Girls Who Code Clubs are free programs that provide a collaborative environment to explore coding through hands-on projects. Clubs meet online or in person, often after school, on weekends, or during the summer, and are led by trained facilitators who guide students through self-paced tutorials. Depending on their level, participants may start with block-based coding or work with programming languages such as Python while exploring topics like web development, game design, and cybersecurity. Besides coding, students learn about problem-solving and teamwork while connecting with peers who share similar interests in this free online fall program for middle school students.
Cost: Varies by course and course format
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Starts the week of September 8
Application deadline: August 12
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 – 10
The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) offers online programs for academically advanced middle school students to explore topics beyond the standard curriculum. Courses span a variety of subjects, including computer science, mathematics, science and engineering, history, social science, and language arts. Classes are led by experienced instructors who guide students through interactive lessons, encouraging both knowledge acquisition and critical thinking. Programs allow students to work at a pace suitable for their schedule while connecting with peers from around the world. CTY courses also put emphasis on project-based learning and problem-solving, with opportunities to engage in topics like space colonization, crime scene investigation, or creative writing.
Cost: $1,495
Acceptance rate: Not selective
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year, details here
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and above
Rice University’s Foundations of Medicine course is an online program designed to introduce middle school students to physiology and how the body’s systems function together. Participants study the nervous, muscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, while also exploring foundational scientific concepts such as electrical signaling, flow and resistance, and active and passive transport. The program includes lessons on neuron communication, muscle contraction, heart function, and respiratory mechanics. Practicing physicians provide insight into real-world scenarios, describing how these systems can fail and how medical professionals respond. Students complete a final project to demonstrate understanding by creating models or explanations of the body’s functions.
Cost: $1,795
Acceptance rate: Not Selective
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year, details here
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and above
Dartmouth University’s Regenerative Medicine course is a virtual program that introduces students to the science of repairing and regenerating human tissues and organs. The curriculum covers stem cells, tissue engineering, organ regeneration, and technologies such as 3D bioprinting and biomaterials. Students explore how these approaches address medical challenges, including organ shortages and tissue repair, and examine case studies to understand real-world applications. The online fall program for middle school students also highlights the broader implications of regenerative medicine in fields such as biotechnology, precision medicine, and space-related healthcare. Lessons are interactive and designed to develop foundational knowledge in medicine, biology, and engineering. A capstone project at the end of the course allows students to synthesize their learning, and a certificate of completion is awarded.
Cost: $575
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: October 8 – November 19
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 3 – 8. For the full list of requirements, you can click here.
Northwestern’s CTD offers Online Enrichment courses that allow middle school students to engage with advanced content across disciplines in a flexible format. These courses are designed to develop both critical and creative thinking through weekly requirements, while still allowing students to manage their own schedules. Participants attend two live online classes, complete assignments at their own pace, and receive ongoing guidance and checkpoints from instructors. At the conclusion of the course, each student is given personalized feedback and an evaluation to reflect their progress.
Cost: Free; a minimal fee may apply for certification
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to anyone interested
Udemy’s Robotics for Absolute Beginners course is designed to introduce middle school students to the fundamentals of robotics through a self-paced online format. Students begin by learning to use Fusion 360, a computer-aided design tool for modeling robotic components, and then progress to topics such as data handling and problem-solving at increasing levels of complexity. The online fall program for middle school students includes two hands-on projects that allow learners to apply design and coding principles in practical scenarios. Lessons are delivered through step-by-step video tutorials, with accompanying assignments and notes to guide progress. Students also have the option to contact the instructor directly for clarification and feedback.
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced (approximately 6 weeks)
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to anyone interested
StanfordOnline’s Computer Science 101 is a self-paced course that introduces middle school students to the fundamentals of computing and coding. Learners explore core topics such as loops, logic, structured data, and the interaction between hardware and software through short coding exercises run directly in their web browser. The online fall program for middle school students also covers how digital media, including images and videos, are stored and processed, as well as basic internet concepts like IP addresses, Wi-Fi, and online security. Security topics such as viruses and password protection are presented in practical contexts. Students gain hands-on experience writing small programs, which helps make abstract computing concepts tangible.
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced (7 – 10 weeks)
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to anyone with sufficient coding experience
HarvardX’s CS50 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python is a self-paced course designed for students with some experience in Python who want to understand the fundamentals of AI. Participants study key topics such as machine learning, logical inference, neural networks, natural language processing, and graph search algorithms. The curriculum focuses on practical learning, with students building intelligent systems like handwriting recognizers and AI-based puzzle solvers. Students also learn to use libraries that support machine learning and explore foundational concepts such as Bayesian networks and Markov models.
Cost: Free ($149 with a certificate)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all
MITx’s Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python is a self-paced online course that introduces middle school students to computational thinking and programming. Students learn to solve real-world problems using Python 3.5 while exploring foundational topics such as algorithms, data structures, and programming principles. The course combines lecture videos, exercises, and problem sets to teach students how to write short programs and apply computation to practical challenges. This online fall program for middle school students emphasizes breadth over depth, providing exposure to multiple computing concepts rather than focusing on a single topic.
Cost: Free (paid certificate is available, access to assignments only with paid option)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all
How Things Work: An Introduction to Physics is an online program that teaches physics concepts through everyday objects and activities. Students explore topics such as inertia, gravity, force, motion, energy, electricity, and rotational dynamics using practical examples like skateboards, falling balls, ramps, seesaws, wheels, and bumper cars. The course demonstrates principles like Newton’s laws, projectile motion, friction, momentum, torque, and the relationship between potential energy and force in relatable contexts. Learners can apply theoretical concepts to understand real-world phenomena and observe how physical laws operate in daily life.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - Johns Hopkins University logo