14 Programs for Middle School Students in South Carolina
- Stephen Turban
- 3 hours ago
- 9 min read
If you’re a middle school student looking to extend your learning beyond the classroom, structured programs can be an excellent place to start. These programs help you explore subjects like science, writing, art, and technology through courses and projects. They also allow you to discover new interests early, build confidence, and form meaningful connections with peers and mentors.
Why should you attend a program in South Carolina?
South Carolina has many exciting programs for middle schoolers at universities, art centers, and community organizations. You might work on science experiments, create art, design small projects, or even learn coding with help from teachers and mentors. Whether you live in South Carolina or are visiting from somewhere else, these programs give you a chance to explore your interests, make new friends, and get a glimpse of what learning can look like beyond the classroom.
To make your search easier, we’ve curated a list of 14 programs for middle school students in South Carolina.
If you are looking for online programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies according to the program type; full financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program allows middle school students to dive into an academic interest while working closely with a dedicated mentor. Each mentor is a researcher or scholar from a leading university, such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE. The program is known for its rigor and its individualized approach. You can choose from several tracks, including options focused on coding and computational skills. Throughout the program, you’ll learn foundational programming concepts and use them to create digital tools, apps, or simulations. The final phase of the program centers on bringing your project to life, giving you a finished piece that you can showcase.
Location: Berkeley County, South Carolina
Cost: None
Dates: School-year academic program, August – May
Application Deadline: September 15
Eligibility: Berkeley County School District students in grades 3–8 who meet South Carolina’s Gifted & Talented identification criteria
This program challenges advanced learners in grades 3 – 8 through enriched coursework, accelerated instruction, and individualized learning opportunities. The program is designed to support high-ability students who demonstrate exceptional reasoning skills, high academic achievement, or strong intellectual performance. You’ll participate in classes that emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, advanced reading and math skills, and extended learning experiences aligned with a rigorous curriculum. In addition to academic GT services, those with artistic strengths may also qualify for STEP (Special Talent Enrichment Program), which offers Saturday arts sessions and a two-week summer experience for those gifted in music, dance, theatre, or visual arts.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on the program type; need-based financial aid is available
Dates: 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: Rolling; varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The AI Trailblazers program from Veritas AI introduces middle school students to the core ideas behind artificial intelligence and machine learning. Across roughly 25 hours of instruction, you’ll explore Python fundamentals and dive into concepts such as data analysis, regression techniques, image recognition, neural networks, and ethical considerations in AI. Learning takes place through a mix of live lessons and small-group sessions, with a supportive 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Past participants have worked on projects like training models to identify music genres or developing recommendation tools that generate personalized learning resources.
Location: Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Cost: Fully subsidized for sponsored district students; $740 for others
Dates: June 8 – 26
Application Deadline: Typically, in April
Eligibility: Rising 7th–9th graders in South Carolina who are selected through an arts audition
In this program, you’ll spend entire days on Winthrop’s campus studying with a faculty of more than 45 professional artists and educators. The curriculum immerses you in your chosen major arts area while allowing you to explore an additional minor area, creating a well-rounded artistic experience. Instruction spans technique development, creative exploration, and project-based work. Throughout the program, you’ll engage in studio work, rehearsals, conceptual problem-solving, and hands-on creation. Music students bring instruments for daily ensemble and solo study, while visual arts students build portfolios through drawing, design, and mixed media. Dance, theatre, and design students train in dedicated facilities, learning under faculty drawn from Winthrop’s arts departments and regional professionals.
Location: Clemson University campus, Clemson, SC
Cost: Varies by program and duration; No cost for STEM Carnival
Dates: Throughout the academic year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the specific event
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
Clemson University’s PEER & WISE outreach programs create opportunities for middle school students ready to explore science, engineering, and technology through immersive challenges, interactive demos, and real-world problem solving. Throughout the year, PEER & WISE hosts multiple themed events, including Girl Scouts & Friends Day, STEM Day, NEXT Engineers activities, and the annual STEM Carnival, a full-day celebration featuring creative experiments, STEM games, and interactive stations. Whether you are designing simple engineering solutions, conducting guided experiments, or working through hands-on challenges, the program aims to spark long-term interest by giving you a glimpse of what real scientists and engineers do.
Location: Myrtle Beach Art Museum, Myrtle Beach, SC
Cost: $15 per class (None for students with a Museum Family Membership)
Dates: Fourth Saturday of every month
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 13 and 18
The Teen Art Program (T.A.P.) at the Myrtle Beach Art Museum is a monthly studio experience designed to help you explore your creativity while learning directly from the artwork displayed in the museum’s galleries. Each session introduces you to new art media, encourages hands-on experimentation in the studio, and exposes you to major art movements in an accessible way. When possible, you’ll also get the opportunity to meet working artists, giving you a clearer sense of career paths in the visual arts. With class sizes capped at 15 students, every session offers close guidance and a supportive learning environment.
Location: Columbia, SC
Cost: $480 for Riverbanks members; $600 for non-members
Dates: September – May
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served basis until
Eligibility: Students who are at least 11 years old and entering grades 6–8 in the fall of the application year
ZooCrew is Riverbanks Zoo & Garden’s dedicated conservation science program for middle school students who want a deeper look into wildlife biology and environmental stewardship. You’ll use the Riverbanks campus as a living classroom, observing animal behavior, exploring exhibits, collecting field data, and learning how communication shapes real conservation work. You’ll also take part in hands-on lessons, scavenger hunts, discussions with Riverbanks staff, and behind-the-scenes experiences that bring conservation biology to life. Across the year, each student works on a capstone project focused on how to engage the public in conversations about protecting wildlife and the environment.
Location: Columbia, SC (Model Legislature) and Hendersonville, NC for 2025 (Model UN)
Cost: $375; need-based scholarships are available
Dates: Model Legislature: November 16 – 18 (tentative) | Model United Nations: April 2 – 3
Application Deadline: Varies by program; delegate registration and paperwork typically due in late September
Eligibility: Middle school students in South Carolina participating through their school, a YMCA branch, or another youth-serving group
The Middle School Model Legislature brings you to Columbia for a three-day simulation where you’ll draft bills, debate in chambers, vote on legislation, and run for offices such as Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House. You’ll also work alongside media delegates who publish a conference newspaper, creating an engaging snapshot of the state’s political process. In the spring, you can take part in the Middle School Model United Nations, working in delegations of two to five peers. You'll represent a country, write a resolution, and prepare a Festival of Nations display highlighting that nation’s culture and history. The conference includes structured debates and committee sessions that mirror the work of the real UN.
Location: Ten Oaks Middle School, Myrtle Beach, SC
Cost: $125 for 1 class | $225 for 2 classes | $325 for 3 classes | $425 for 4 classes; scholarships are available for Horry School students in a Gifted and Talented Classroom
Dates: June 16 – 19; June 23 – 26
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Gifted and talented students in grades 3–11.
This program allows academically advanced students to explore a wide range of hands-on enrichment classes taught by experienced educators. You can select up to four classes across two separate weeks, each featuring focused, interactive coursework that goes beyond the regular school curriculum. Topics you can choose from include robotics engineering, neuroscience, public speaking, digital animation, web design, historical investigations, criminology, escape-room logic challenges, and more. Each course is designed to immerse you in a specific discipline through labs, collaborative problem-solving activities, creative projects, or simulated real-world tasks like crime-scene analysis or debates about mysteries and conspiracies.
Location: Charleston County School of the Arts, North Charleston, SC
Cost: $200 program fee; $100 optional transportation fee
Dates: June 9 – 27 (tentative)
Application Deadline: May 9 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising 4th – 8th-grade students who have been formally identified as Artistically Gifted & Talented (GTR) through Charleston County School District’s certification process
The Summer SMAART Program is Charleston County School District’s flagship arts-enrichment experience designed for those identified as Artistically Gifted & Talented. Over three immersive weeks, you’ll dive deep into a chosen major area, Dance, Drama, Music, or Visual Arts, while also exploring additional minor classes depending on your placement. The program is structured like a mini-conservatory experience, blending technique classes, studio work, ensemble rehearsals, and creative collaboration. You’ll spend most of your day in your selected major, building skills through hands-on, performance-based, and project-based learning. The experience culminates in a showcase where families can see the work created during the program, ranging from full production to visual arts exhibitions and musical performances.
Location: Greenville, SC
Cost: $800 for a 1-week program; $1,400 for a 2-week program; $2,800 for a 5-week program; financial assistance is available
Dates: Vary by art discipline
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: South Carolina students in grades 6–11; Summer Dance is open to out-of-state students.
The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities offers a series of residential summer programs designed for creative middle school students interested in developing their artistic skills in a focused, professional environment. You can choose from Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Film, Music, or Visual Arts, with program length varying from one to five weeks depending on the discipline and grade level. The experience is structured to provide young artists with an introduction to pre-professional arts training while building confidence, discipline, and a sense of community. Because all programs are residential, you’ll get a true Govie Experience, living on campus, collaborating with peers, and participating in a full arts conservatory schedule.
Location: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Cost: Residential: $1,150; Commuter: $665; Commuter Plus Evening: $750; early bird discounts and scholarships are available
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions throughout June and July
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until full
Eligibility: Rising 6th–12th graders who have a 3.25 GPA | Score at or above the 93rd percentile nationally in reasoning ability on a standardized aptitude test or score at or above the 94th percentile nationally on a standardized achievement test, or be classified as gifted and talented based on the results of a standard intelligence test
The Carolina Master Scholars Adventure Series is a selective academic summer program hosted at the University of South Carolina for talented middle and high school students. Each week-long adventure immerses you in a single topic area, ranging from STEM to the humanities, through hands-on career exploration in interactive classes, daily activities, and mentorship in a college learning environment. The program emphasizes community-building, healthy living, and social development alongside academic challenge, making it one of South Carolina’s most recognized summer learning experiences.
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Dates: Follow the academic year
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Middle school students enrolled in South Carolina Connections Academy who demonstrate high academic ability or giftedness
South Carolina Connections Academy offers an online, state-supported program designed to challenge gifted and high-ability middle school learners. Through a personalized learning approach, you can access advanced coursework, enriched curriculum options, and specialized instruction tailored to your strengths. The program is built to help you think critically, communicate effectively, and develop strong reasoning and problem-solving skills while working at an accelerated pace. Gifted middle schoolers can take advanced courses across all subjects or focus only on their areas of interest, with the flexibility to work above grade level. Specially trained gifted educators collaborate with families to develop individualized learning plans, ensuring each of you receives support that matches your cognitive and social-emotional development.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $575; financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple 6-week sessions throughout the year, including Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer
Application Deadline: Varies by session; Fall: Late September/early October; Winter: Mid-January; Spring: Late March/early April; Summer: Mid-June
Eligibility: Students in grades 3–8 who meet Emerald Tier criteria- qualifying test score
The Online Enrichment Courses from Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development offer middle schoolers an opportunity to explore advanced topics in a flexible digital format. Each six-week course blends creative assignments, independent work time, and personalized feedback from experienced instructors. You can choose from a wide range of interdisciplinary subjects and engage in weekly activities that challenge your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Two live online sessions per course provide additional interaction and support, and classes are structured to encourage curiosity, communication, and higher-level academic growth.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. 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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