10 Scholarships for Middle School Students in California
- Stephen Turban
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Starting your scholarship journey in middle school may seem premature, but it's actually a strategic advantage that can shape your entire academic trajectory. While most students wait until high school to pursue scholarship opportunities, middle schoolers who earn recognition through competitive programs gain valuable experience that translates into stronger college applications and increased confidence in academic competitions.
The scholarships for middle school students in California outlined in this blog range from merit-based academic competitions to creative contests and community service awards. Each program offers unique benefits, including cash prizes, recognition, mentorship opportunities, and direct pathways to more advanced scholarship programs in high school. Many of these opportunities require minimal previous experience.
Scholarship amount: 5% to 100% tuition coverage, $95 non-refundable deposit required for full scholarships
Location: Various locations
Application deadlines: Different dates for spring, summer, and fall programs
Eligibility: Intermediate or advanced dancers
If you're a young dancer between the ages of 7-22, you can apply for the Joan Myers Brown Equity Scholarship Fund, which provides partial and full tuition scholarships for dance intensives and workshops through Francisco Gella Dance Works. Named after the legendary founder of PHILADANCO and the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts, this program awards more than $50,000 annually based on both merit and demonstrated financial need. You must be an intermediate or advanced dancer with at least two years of consistent technical training and take a minimum of three hours of ballet per week to qualify. Your application will need to include a technique video, a personal essay, a letter of financial need, and teacher recommendations. You could receive scholarship awards ranging from 25% to 100% of tuition costs, making these scholarships for middle school students in California an excellent opportunity to access professional dance training.
Scholarship amount: $1,000 college scholarshipÂ
Location: Students across the United States
Application deadline: Jan 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 4 to 11
The Carson Scholars Fund provides prestigious scholarships for middle school students in California and across the United States who demonstrate both academic excellence and humanitarian commitment. You must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.75 and display humanitarian qualities through community service. Each school can nominate only one student, ensuring that nominees represent the pinnacle of academic achievement at their institution. Students must attend an accredited K-12 school in the United States and be nominated by an educator. Founded by renowned pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, this program emphasizes the importance of combining scholastic success with community involvement, making it one of the most respected scholarships for middle school students in California.
Scholarship amount:Â Need-based financial aid available up to $2,400
Location:Â Virtual program open worldwide
Application deadline:Â Rolling deadlines throughout the year
Eligibility:Â Students in grades 6 to 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program offers a unique opportunity among scholarships for middle school students in California. Founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, this 8-week virtual program pairs students in grades 6-8 with PhD mentors from top universities to work one-on-one on research projects in STEM or humanities fields. Students explore topics during the first four weeks, define their research project in weeks 5-6, and build their final project with mentorship support in the final two weeks.Â
The program has awarded over $1.8 million in financial aid to low-income students and boasts that alumni are four times more likely to be accepted to Ivy League schools. Available tracks include Computer Science, AI & Data Science, Biology, Physics, Economics, and other academic disciplines. While requiring tuition, this program provides substantial need-based financial assistance, making advanced research opportunities accessible to motivated middle school students regardless of their financial circumstances.
Scholarship amount: $25,000, $50,000, or $100,000
Location: United States
Application deadline: Feb 12
Eligibility: Students 18 or younger
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship represents one of the most prestigious scholarships for middle school students in California and across the United States, recognizing exceptional achievements in multiple disciplines. Students 18 years old or younger who have completed significant work in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Literature, Music, Philosophy, or an "outside the box" category can receive scholarships of $100,000, $50,000, or $25,000. The scholarship seeks projects at or close to the college graduate level with demonstrated depth of knowledge in the student's area of study. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and demonstrate that the work is their own creation. Two-person teams are eligible, and recipients must attend an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Â
Location: International programÂ
Scholarship amount: Up to $1,000 cashÂ
Application deadline: Feb 28Â
Eligibility: Ages 8 to 16
If you're a young environmental activist, you can apply for the Action for Nature International Young Eco-Hero Award, which recognizes students who have completed substantial environmental projects. Your project must focus on environmental health, advocacy, research, or protection of the natural world, be self-initiated rather than a school assignment, and run for at least 6 months. Winners receive cash prizes up to $1,000, a certificate of achievement, public recognition through media press releases, and access to an exclusive alumni Facebook group. Applications are judged on criteria including originality, organization, project duration, environmental impact, and success in educating others about environmental issues.Â
Location: National competition, open to all U.S. students
Scholarship amount: $100,000 total in cash prizes, with grand prize of $5,000Â
Application deadline: January 20Â
Eligibility: Grades 6 to 12
Middle school and high school students with an interest in documentary filmmaking and political issues can participate in C-SPAN's StudentCam competition, a national video documentary contest that encourages critical thinking about community and national issues. You must produce a 5-6 minute documentary that explores multiple perspectives on a chosen topic related to the annual theme. Your documentary must include C-SPAN video clips that support your chosen topic and demonstrate both supporting and opposing viewpoints. Students can compete individually or in teams of 2-3 members, with middle school students (grades 6-8) competing in a separate category from high school students. This national competition offers substantial prizes, making it one of the most rewarding scholarships for middle school students in California who are passionate about civic engagement and media production.
Scholarship amount: Up to $50,000
Location: NationalÂ
Application deadline: Mar 21
Eligibility: K-12 students, original artwork on an annual theme
The Doodle for Google Contest offers middle school students in California up to $55,000 in college scholarships through an annual art competition open to students in grades K-12. This nationwide contest is available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents enrolled in U.S.-based schools, including California students. The national winner receives a $55,000 college scholarship plus a $50,000 technology package for their school, while national finalists earn $5,000 scholarships. Students must create an original Google Doodle based on the annual theme and submit it with an artist statement of 50 words or less. Submissions are judged on artistic merit, creativity, and theme communication, making this a great scholarship for middle school students in California who excel in visual arts.Â
Scholarship amount: Varies
Location: NationalÂ
Application deadline: MayÂ
Eligibility: High-achieving 7th graders
The Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars Program provides comprehensive financial support and academic advising for exceptionally promising 7th-grade students with financial need. This five-year pre-college scholarship serves students nationwide.
The program provides funding for academic and extracurricular opportunities, summer programs, and individualized educational advising through high school. Young Scholars also have a pathway to the foundation's $55,000 per year college scholarship, making this one of the most valuable scholarships for middle school students in California seeking long-term educational support.Â
Scholarship amount: $200 cash prize + $200 matching grant (middle school level), $1,000 scholarship available for exceptional animations
Location: Open to students nationwide
Application deadline: May 25
Eligibility: Grades 6 to 8
The One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest provides valuable opportunities for scholarships for middle school students in California and nationwide. Students create 3-8 minute environmental films focusing on sustainability topics like climate, energy, food, transportation, waste, water, or wildlife and ecosystems. The contest accepts submissions from individual students or groups and requires no submission fees. Winners receive film screenings at special events and potential inclusion in the One Earth Film Festival. By combining environmental advocacy with creative filmmaking, this contest offers an accessible pathway to recognition and funding without requiring prior experience.
Scholarship amount: $100-$200,000 cash prizes for top 100 entries, $5,000 educator grants available
Location: Open worldwide
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students aged 4-18
The Paradigm Challenge offers substantial scholarships for middle school students in California and worldwide through an innovative competition focused on solving real-world problems. Teams or individuals can submit projects in any format, including videos, inventions, websites, mobile apps, or community events.Â
The top 100 entries receive cash prizes ranging from $200 to $100,000, with the top three teams from each age division winning an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles for the award ceremony. The competition emphasizes using "kindness, creativity, and collaboration" to address global challenges.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. 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.
Image Source - Lumiere Education Logo