10 Online Summer Classes for Middle School Students
- Lydia Park
- 2 hours ago
- 7 min read
Summer doesn’t have to be a break from learning; online summer classes for middle school students offer a solid way to stay intellectually engaged, explore topics you don’t get in your regular school year, and begin thinking about college‑level academics without the need to travel or spend a ton of money. These online summer classes for middle school students can expose you to advanced content areas like artificial intelligence, research methods, creative problem‑solving, and practical skills you’ll use in high school and beyond. With virtual formats, you can learn from instructors and guest speakers from a range of universities and industries, build valuable connections with peers and mentors from around the world, and develop a network that supports your growth, all without the travel costs and housing fees of traditional summer programs. For students interested in advanced learning, exploring a scholarship or funded opportunity can make these rigorous experiences even more accessible.
To help you navigate the many options, we’ve narrowed down our list of top online summer classes for middle school students based on factors like academic rigor, networking opportunities, selective admissions (where available), and affiliation with respected organizations and institutions. Some of these programs offer one‑on‑one mentorship, project‑based learning, or small cohort sizes that enhance collaboration and growth.
10 Online Summer Classes for Middle School Students
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies; Full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 8-week program; multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA (online)
Cost/Stipend: Free; device lending and tech support available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Highly selective; cohorts of 12 students
Dates: July 6–24 (Summer); August 26–December 9 (Fall)
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: U.S. students currently in grades 6 or 7 from low-income households (typically under $90,000); must commit to both summer and fall components
Through this tuition-free, selective online summer program, you’ll join a small group of students in a live virtual course taught by Stanford Online High School instructors, most of whom hold PhDs. You’ll choose from interdisciplinary courses—ranging from democracy and dissent to real-life applications of math—designed to spark academic curiosity and sharpen analytical skills. In the fall, you’ll continue meeting weekly to explore high school pathways, practice academic writing, and prepare for selective high school admissions. The program emphasizes building community, growing critical thinking, and improving academic habits in a structured, mentorship-rich environment. It's designed to support students considering Stanford OHS or other academically rigorous schools.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate or Cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Various cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8; no coding or technical background required
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program introduces you to key concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning through live instruction and collaborative learning. Over 25 hours, you learn Python programming, explore data analysis, and build models using regression and classification techniques. You receive personalized guidance through small-group mentoring, with a five-to-one student-to-mentor ratio. As the program progresses, you explore more advanced topics such as neural networks and AI ethics. A central part of the experience is the team-based capstone project, where you and a few peers apply your new skills to solve a real-world challenge and present your findings at the end.
Location: Davidson Institute, Reno, NV (online)
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 per course; $100 application fee for non-members; financial aid available for Davidson Young Scholars
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by course
Dates: Full academic year (Fall–Spring)
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Gifted students ages 9–13; academic readiness and assessment required
Davidson Explore offers year-long, single-subject online courses designed specifically for gifted learners seeking deeper academic challenge. If you’re looking to dive into subjects like advanced math, creative writing, or contemporary science, this program provides rigorous coursework taught by experienced Davidson Academy Online instructors. Courses combine weekly live Zoom sessions with asynchronous activities, allowing for flexibility while maintaining academic structure. You’ll be grouped with peers working at a similar level, and the format encourages both intellectual growth and social engagement. The program supports enrichment without requiring full-time enrollment, making it a fitting choice for academically advanced students ready for more than what traditional classrooms offer.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (online)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open access; self-paced and not selective
Dates: Self-paced, no fixed schedule
Application Deadline: None; open year-round
Eligibility: No age requirement or prerequisites; suitable for self-motivated learners
MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) gives you free access to materials from over 2,500 MIT courses across all subjects, including STEM, humanities, and social sciences. Although it's not a structured summer class, OCW allows you to engage deeply with university-level content at your own pace through lecture videos, problem sets, and reading lists. You won’t earn credit or interact with instructors, but you can build skills and expand your knowledge using real MIT materials. The platform is best suited for middle school students who are highly motivated and able to navigate advanced material independently. OCW is also ideal if you're looking for flexibility or want to preview college-level topics with no financial commitment.
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (online)
Cost/Stipend: Varies by course; approximately $500–$775 for enrichment; $1095–$1200 for accelerated; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective based on course level and eligibility tier
Dates: Varies by course; most summer courses range from 6 to 11 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling; early deadline discount available
Eligibility: Students in grades 3–12; specific eligibility tiers (Amber, Emerald, Magenta, Indigo) based on prior coursework, test scores, or portfolio
Offered by the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern, these summer online classes let you explore both enrichment and accelerated academic content. Depending on your level, you can take courses in writing, math, science, and social studies at your own pace or with scheduled live sessions. Enrichment courses build creative and analytical skills, while advanced courses offer honors or AP-level rigor and may earn high school credit. You’ll work with instructors experienced in supporting gifted learners and complete assignments that go beyond traditional grade-level work. The program's tiered eligibility system ensures that you're placed in a course that matches your readiness and challenge level.
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (online)
Cost/Stipend: Tuition varies by course; financial aid available; $55 annual membership fee
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Varies by course; eligibility required for most offerings
Dates: Multiple start dates; most courses follow a session format
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students in grades 2–12; eligibility based on standardized test scores or CTY testing
CTY's online courses give you access to advanced, accredited classes that often go beyond what schools offer, with subjects ranging from creative writing to physics and logic. Before enrolling, you’ll need to join CTY and either take an above-grade-level assessment or submit qualifying scores. Courses are self-paced or session-based, and you’ll receive personalized support from instructors throughout your learning. The curriculum is designed to challenge advanced students while supporting them in building skills in problem-solving, independent learning, and collaboration. For middle schoolers, CTY can serve as a strong academic supplement or a full-time homeschool resource.
8. Khan Academy
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open access; no application or cohort restrictions
Dates: Self-paced; available year-round
Application Deadline: None (create an account to begin learning)
Eligibility: Open to all students worldwide; content spans Pre-K through early college
Khan Academy is a nonprofit educational platform offering a vast library of standards-aligned courses in subjects like math, science, history, computer science, and test prep (e.g., SAT, AP). Its flexible, self-paced structure allows students to explore and master topics at their own speed with support from interactive exercises, instructional videos, and AI-powered tools like Khanmigo. While it doesn’t offer formal certificates or academic credits, it’s a powerful resource for middle school students to enrich or accelerate their learning independently.
Location: Art of Problem Solving Academy (online)
Cost/Stipend: Tuition varies by camp length; typically ranges from $375–$700
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open enrollment; 10–16 students per camp
Dates: Multiple sessions in two- or four-week formats; Monday–Friday
Application Deadline: Rolling until camps are full
Eligibility: Students entering grades 3–10; math placement test recommended for some courses
AoPS Virtual Summer Camps offer live, instructor-led courses in math and language arts that prioritize problem solving, critical thinking, and collaborative learning. You'll engage in dynamic lessons centered on puzzles, logical reasoning, and real-world scenarios, with options like Math Beasts and AMC prep for math, or Mock Trial and Mythology for language arts. Camps vary in intensity—some meet for 1.5 to 3 hours daily—and are grouped by age and skill level for the right academic fit. Instructors use a conversational style to guide discussions and provide real-time feedback. The programs are best for students looking to sharpen analytical skills or prepare for advanced coursework and competitions.
Location: Wolfram Research (Virtual/Remote)
Cost/Stipend: Tuition not listed; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Approx. 20 students
Dates: July 26–31
Application Deadline: Final deadline July 6; waitlist open until July 22
Eligibility: Students ages 11–14 who identify as girls; no coding experience required
This weeklong online summer camp is geared toward middle school girls interested in STEM, offering a hands-on introduction to coding using the Wolfram Language. You'll take part in structured lessons, coding challenges, and mini-projects focused on computational thinking, data science, and creative coding. The camp includes guest panels with professionals like Stephen Wolfram and researchers from Wolfram, plus daily opportunities to connect with peers during social activities. The program is built around collaborative learning, individual exploration, and mentorship in an encouraging, remote setting. It's particularly well-suited if you're curious about computer science and want to build confidence through guided, project-based learning.
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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