10 STEM Programs for Middle School Students in Texas
- Stephen Turban
- May 19
- 6 min read
Updated: May 21
STEM programs for middle school students in Texas offer great opportunities for young minds to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in dynamic, hands-on environments. These programs provide you with exposure to advanced concepts and help you develop practical skills through research experiments, programming, and project-based learning. Many STEM programs offer industry exposure through site visits to places like NASA's Johnson Space Center, mentorship from university scholars, and opportunities to work with cutting-edge technology on real-world problems. While some programs require tuition, many offer financial aid, scholarships, or are even fully funded, making quality STEM education accessible to motivated students across Texas.
We've carefully curated our list of top STEM programs for middle school students in Texas based on academic rigor, networking opportunities, reputation of the institutions and funding options. While specific acceptance rates aren't always published, these programs maintain high standards and selective admissions processes, and are backed by prestigious institutions like Rice University, UT Austin, Texas A&M, and UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Cost: $2,400, offers financial aid
Location: Online
Dates: Multiple cohorts available, deadlines vary every year
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines for each cohort
Eligibility: Grades 6 to 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program offers middle school students a deep-dive into STEM subjects like biology, computer science, and mathematics. During this highly selective program, you'll explore academic interests and create your own research projects with 1:1 mentorship from scholars at universities like Harvard, Oxford, MIT, etc. Students begin the program by exploring different topics in their selected track, then they zoom in on one area, define and build their project. This program stands out among STEM programs for middle school students in Texas because the fully virtual format makes this accessible to students regardless of where they live.
Cost: $2,500
Location: Houston, TX
Dates: July 6-11, July 13-18, and July 20-25
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Grade 7 onwards
The Rice Tapia STEM Camp offers middle school students a residential week-long experience at one of the nation's top research universities. Students work in teams to complete STEM projects such as building model underground reservoirs for carbon storage or creating college admission algorithms. You’ll learn directly from Rice University students with a curriculum put together by the university’s researchers. The students team up and deliver presentations at the end of the program. During your stay, you'll visit historical Houston locations like NASA's Johnson Space Center, connecting classroom concepts with real scientific applications.
Cost: $1,990, financial aid available
Location: Online
Dates: 10 sessions over 10 weeks in Spring or 2 weeks in Summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Grades 6 to 8
The Veritas AI Trailblazers program teaches middle school students the basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning through a virtual platform. Students spend 25 hours learning Python programming alongside topics like data analysis, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. The program maintains a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio to ensure personalized attention during lectures and group sessions. This STEM program for middle school students in Texas culminates in a hands-on project where participants build their own AI applications. Previous student projects include models that classify music genres and algorithms that create customized educational resource lists.
Cost: $2,700, offers scholarships
Location: University of Texas at Austin campus (in-person)
Dates: 5 weeks, June 2 to August 1(camp runs Monday to Thursday, no camp on June 19, and between July 1 and 4)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th graders
At UT Prep, you'll join a 5-week academic program that will help you master advanced concepts in logic, mathematical problem solving, and engineering. During their time here, students develop critical thinking skills through project-based learning activities and get prepared for advanced coursework in science and mathematics. This STEM program for middle school students in Texas takes place on the 40-acre University of Texas campus, where you can explore research labs and form connections with professional engineers. What makes this STEM program special is that once you complete the first summer, you're invited back for three more years as you progress through middle school.
Cost: Fully funded
Location: Various university campuses in Texas
Dates: 2 weeks long (dates TBD)
Application Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Grades 6 to 8
The ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp offers middle school students a two-week residential experience on college campuses across Texas. Students complete a minimum of 56 hours of advanced STEM study taught by qualified educators from local school districts and university faculty. The program integrates core STEM curriculum with field trips that connect classroom concepts to real-world applications. With its nationwide reach and limited spots, this summer program is highly competitive.
Cost: $1,499, offers financial aid
Location: College Station, TX
Dates: Weekly camps from June to July
Application Deadline: April 28
Eligibility: Grades 6 to 12
At Texas A&M STEM Explorers, you'll participate in a week-long residential program focused on project-based learning in various STEM fields. This summer camp gives you a chance to explore various STEM areas, including advanced tech tools, engineering design, and math modeling. STEM experts from Texas A&M guide you throughout the program. Each summer features a new camp theme with different project-based learning classes designed to explore scientific solutions to real-world problems. The camp typically fills quickly each year, so make sure you register early!
Cost: $450
Location: Austin, Dallas, Houston
Dates: Weekly sessions June-August
Application Deadline: Registrations not open yet
Eligibility: Grades 4 to 8
Girlstart Summer Camps offer STEM programs for girls between 4th and 8th grades. These week-long programs blend formal and informal learning strategies with relevant curriculum to develop STEM foundations. Participants receive individualized attention to build conceptual understanding and increase interest in STEM careers. Named Austin Chronicle's Top Youth STEM Program, Girlstart prepares young women for a successful future in STEM.
Dates: Week-long sessions throughout June and July
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Rising grades 6 to 8
Cost: $300 per session, need-based scholarships available
Location: UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
The UT Southwestern STARS Middle School Summer Camp introduces students to medicine, research, and health sciences through hands-on activities led by university faculty and graduate students. Throughout the week, students conduct experiments in real labs, pick up important scientific skills, and discover how medical science connects to the world around them. This program stands out among STEM programs for middle school students in Texas because you get to work in a professional lab environment under the guidance of experienced researchers and doctors throughout the camp. The participants present their science projects to family and university faculty in a showcase event at the end of the program.
Cost: $99 to $1000
Location: Various locations in Texas
Dates: 4 to 5 day camps between May and June
Application Deadline: Until filled
Eligibility: Grades 6 to 8
At iCode tech camps, middle school students engage in immersive STEM programs that blend coding, robotics, and game development through hands-on projects. Students develop critical technical skills while working in collaborative teams to solve real-world challenges using industry-standard tools and programming languages. Each participant receives personalized guidance from experienced instructors who help youth navigate complex concepts and build impressive digital portfolios. This camp stands out among STEM programs for middle school students in Texas because it offers multiple specialized tracks tailored to different interests and skill levels. The program ends with students showcasing their completed projects to parents and peers.
10. iD Tech Camps
Cost: $729 to $1129
Location: Dallas, Houston
Dates: Weekly sessions, June to August
Application Deadline: Rolling, registration open now
Eligibility: Grades 6 to 8, all skill levels
iD Tech offers exceptional STEM programs for middle school students in Texas and across the country at 75 university campuses. Students in the program develop in-demand technical skills through specialized camps like BattleBots®, Roblox, Python, and Minecraft . Expert instructors, recruited from top universities, serve as mentors and provide real-world role models in tech fields. The schedule includes both focused learning in next-generation labs and outdoor activities.
Can't make it to campus? Their online program offers a flexible schedule while maintaining the same instruction and support to build essential STEM skills.
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.
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