10 Programs for Middle School Students in Washington, D.C.
- Stephen Turban
- 36 minutes ago
- 9 min read
If you're a middle school student looking to explore new interests, academic enrichment programs can help you build skills beyond the classroom while discovering subjects you enjoy. These programs cover a wide range of fields, including STEM, artificial intelligence, leadership, civics, and the humanities, helping you develop problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills. They also encourage curiosity and give you the chance to explore different subjects before entering high school.
While some opportunities take place in Washington, D.C., many are offered virtually, allowing you to learn from anywhere while connecting with instructors and peers across the country. This mix of in-person and online options makes it easier to find a program that fits your interests, schedule, and learning preferences.
Why should I participate in a program during middle school?
Middle school programs provide a structured environment where you can explore new subjects while building skills through engaging activities and guided learning. Depending on the program, you might conduct research, learn to code, design engineering projects, participate in leadership workshops, solve math challenges, or explore topics in science, technology, and the humanities alongside experienced instructors and mentors. These experiences can help you discover new interests, strengthen your academic skills, and prepare for more advanced opportunities in high school.
To help, we’ve narrowed down a list of 10 programs for middle school students in Washington, D.C.
If you’re looking for online summer camps, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These 10 programs span civic engagement, AI and machine learning, STEM leadership, coding, robotics, data science, research, and academic enrichment, so middle school students with a wide range of interests can find a relevant option in Washington, D.C. or online.
Several programs are free, including GW Civic Changemakers, CRESP, Verizon Innovative Learning at Howard University, Kode With Klossy, and Stanford SMSSP (for eligible low-income students), while Lumiere Junior Explorer Program and Veritas AI Trailblazers offer full financial aid for qualifying students.
Many programs specifically target D.C. residents or underrepresented students, including GW Civic Changemakers (DC Public Schools students), CRESP (DC residents ages 9 to 13), Verizon Innovative Learning (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia students), and Girls Inc. STEM and Leadership Academy (D.C. metropolitan area middle school girls).
Programs vary significantly in format, from two-week in-person coding camps, such as Kode With Klossy, to year-round virtual enrichment programs, such as CTY Online Courses and Stanford SMSSP, so students and families can choose based on schedule, location, and learning preferences.
Several programs have early application deadlines, including CRESP (February 2), Stanford SMSSP (March 25), Kode With Klossy (March 31 final deadline), and Virginia Tech D.C. programs (rolling), so students should begin researching and applying in early spring.
Location: DC Public Schools and GW campus, Washington, D.C. (in-person; commuter for middle school students)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 5 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified; enrollment through partner DC Public Schools
Eligibility: Middle school students enrolled in DC Public Schools; participation is facilitated through partner schools, including Eliot-Hine and Sousa Middle Schools
GW Civic Changemakers is a free five-week summer program run by George Washington University's Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service, where DC middle school students work alongside GW college student interns to identify a challenge in their school or community and develop a project to address it. Using the DO IT model, students decide on an issue, organize a plan, implement their project, and present their findings to parents, local leaders, and community members at a closing public presentation. Field trips around Washington, D.C., and guest talks from local leaders run alongside the project work throughout the five weeks. Past student projects have addressed issues including school safety, gun violence, and community infrastructure.
Location: Online (1:1 virtual sessions with mentors from top universities)
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines depending on 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: Across Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: Free; incentives available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: DC residents ages 9–13 (must be at least 9 years old by September 30); enrolled in elementary or middle school
CRESP is a locally funded summer program sponsored by the DC Department of Employment Services, designed to give elementary and middle school students across the District their first exposure to college and career pathways. Over six weeks, students rotate through programming covering financial literacy, college readiness, communications, healthcare, STEM, entrepreneurship, and construction and utilities, hosted across multiple D.C. sites. The program emphasizes hands-on learning in real settings, helping students build occupational skills, leadership, and self-awareness alongside the academic content. Students earn incentives for participation throughout the program.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
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 deadlines. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous student projects have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and developing a machine-learning algorithm to generate a custom list of educational resources based on specified criteria.
Location: Howard University, Washington, D.C. (commuter; The Miner Building)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; selective
Dates: June 24 – July 11
Application Deadline: Not specified; check website for updates
Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th graders residing in D.C., Maryland, or Virginia; no prior knowledge or experience required
The Howard University Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers program is a free three-week summer program that introduces D.C.-area middle school students to next-generation technology through hands-on, project-based learning. Students work through courses in immersive media, digital product innovation, and artificial intelligence, with activities spanning design thinking, 3D printing, augmented reality, and social entrepreneurship. The program also includes cultural enrichment and movement activities alongside the technical curriculum.
Location: Howard University Middle School, Washington, D.C. (commuter)
Cost: $250 for all four weeks; early registration discount available; stipend available for eligible participants at the end of the program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 25 students; selective
Dates: June 29 – July 24
Application Deadline: Not specified; check website for updates
Eligibility: Middle school girls in the D.C. metropolitan area
The Girls Inc. STEM and Leadership Academy is a four-week summer program hosted on the Howard University campus, where middle school girls explore STEM through hands-on activities and field experiences led by industry partners. Each week, a different STEM partner hosts the cohort, with past partners including GE Healthcare, MTSI, SAIC, and Grunley Construction, and activities spanning robotics, code deciphering, flight simulation, Capitol Hill visits, and trips to the Air and Space Museum. Leadership workshops, teamwork activities, and community-building run alongside the technical programming throughout the four weeks.
Location: Virginia Tech Academic Building One, Alexandria, VA (commuter)
Cost: Not specified; check registration portal for current pricing
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; open enrollment
Dates: AI and Robotics: June 23–26; Explore the Future Through Data and Sensor Technology: July 20–24
Application Deadline: Rolling; register at vtk12programs.campbrainregistration.com
Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th graders; mandatory virtual orientation required before each program
Virginia Tech's D.C. Area campus offers two middle school summer programs in Alexandria for students interested in technology and engineering. The AI and Robotics program is a four-day experience in which students build and program a VEX IQ robot to simulate a NASA Mars Rover Mission, developing foundational skills in engineering, simulation programming, and AI while exploring STEM career pathways. The Data and Sensor Technology program is a week-long, half-day experience where students explore how sensors work across areas such as healthcare, environmental monitoring, and smart homes, code sensors to perform specific functions, and analyze the data they collect.
Location: Washington, D.C. (in-person); virtual option available globally
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; application required
Dates: Washington, D.C. session: July 6–17; virtual sessions available throughout summer
Application Deadline: Rolling; final deadline March 31
Eligibility: Girls, gender nonconforming, and trans students ages 13–18; no prior coding experience required
Kode With Klossy is a free two-week coding camp co-taught by licensed educators, with an in-person session in Washington, D.C., each summer, alongside virtual options available globally. Students are placed in one of three curriculum tracks based on availability and experience: AI and Machine Learning, covering algorithms, datasets, and natural language processing using Python; Data Science, using SQL, Python, and data visualization tools to examine real-world datasets; and Web Development, building dynamic websites using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. The program also includes a speaker series featuring women in technology and community-building activities throughout the two weeks. No prior coding experience is required for any track.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students per cohort; selective
Dates: July 6 – July 24 (Summer program), August 26 - December 9 (Fall Semester)
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: Current 6th or 7th graders residing in and attending school in the United States, including D.C.; admitted students' families typically have household incomes under $90,000
SMSSP is a free online program run by Stanford Online High School instructors, designed specifically for students from low-income backgrounds. The program begins with a three-week summer course where students choose from four subjects, including two math-focused options and courses in history and literature, meeting daily in live virtual sessions with a cohort of 12. The fall semester continues with weekly one-hour sessions through December, covering academic enrichment, writing, and preparation for rigorous high schools and programs, with workshops led by Stanford OHS advisors and tutors. Students who complete the program receive a certificate and are supported in applying to Stanford Online High School and other selective academic programs.
Location: Online (live, synchronous virtual classrooms)
Cost: Varies by course; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Small class sizes; requires CTY-level qualifying test scores for most courses
Dates: Year-round; fall enrollment open through September 15; summer sessions also available
Application Deadline: Rolling; enroll by August 11 to start in September
Eligibility: Students in grades 2–12; D.C.-area middle school students in grades 6–8 are eligible for the full course catalog
CTY's online courses give middle school students access to rigorous coursework across five subject areas: history and social sciences, language arts, mathematics, robotics and technology, and science and engineering. Courses go well beyond the standard school curriculum, covering topics ranging from competitive math and crime scene investigation to space colonization and coding, all taught by expert instructors in live virtual classrooms. D.C.-area students can take courses year-round on a schedule that fits alongside their school commitments, with fall, winter, spring, and summer sessions available. Students connect with a global community of advanced learners from across the country and around the world throughout the experience.
Frequently asked questions
What programs are available for middle school students in Washington D.C.?
Options include civic and community programs, such as GW Civic Changemakers and CRESP, AI and coding programs, such as Veritas AI Trailblazers, Kode With Klossy, and Verizon Innovative Learning at Howard University, research mentorship programs, such as Lumiere Junior Explorer Program, STEM and leadership programs, such as Girls Inc. STEM and Leadership Academy and Virginia Tech D.C. Summer Programs, and rigorous online academic enrichment, such as Stanford SMSSP and CTY Online Courses.
Are there free programs for middle school students in Washington, D.C.?
Yes, GW Civic Changemakers, CRESP, Verizon Innovative Learning at Howard University, Kode With Klossy, and Stanford SMSSP are all free for eligible students. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program and Veritas AI Trailblazers offer full financial aid for qualifying applicants, and CTY Online Courses provide need-based financial aid.
Which programs are best for D.C. middle school students interested in AI and technology?
Students interested in AI and technology might consider Veritas AI Trailblazers for a structured introduction to Python, machine learning, and AI ethics, Verizon Innovative Learning at Howard University for hands-on AI, 3D printing, and design thinking, Kode With Klossy for a two-week coding camp with tracks in AI, data science, and web development, and Virginia Tech D.C. Area Programs for robotics and sensor technology projects.
Which programs are open to students outside Washington, D.C.?
Lumiere Junior Explorer Program, Veritas AI Trailblazers, Stanford SMSSP, and CTY Online Courses are all fully virtual and open to students anywhere in the United States. Kode With Klossy also offers virtual sessions available globally alongside its in-person D.C. option.
When should I apply to programs for middle school students in Washington, D.C.?
CRESP closes February 2, making it the earliest deadline. Stanford SMSSP closes March 25, and Kode With Klossy closes March 31. Virginia Tech D.C. Area Programs accept rolling registration, and CTY Online Courses have a fall enrollment deadline of September 15. Programs, such as Lumiere Junior Explorer Program and Veritas AI Trailblazers, accept rolling applications throughout the year, so students can apply whenever they are ready.
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 research mentor to develop a research paper.