15 Summer Classes for Middle Schoolers
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 12 min read
While you are in middle school, exploring interests outside of a regular classroom can make a real difference before high school ramps up the pressure. This is where structured summer classes come in. Unlike a typical school unit, these classes offer focused instruction, real projects, and direct instructor attention that a normal semester rarely has time for.
Maybe you've found a subject you can't stop thinking about. Summer classes give you the time to explore it without worrying about grades or school deadlines. You'll learn from people who know the field, work on projects that go beyond textbooks, and meet other students who are just as curious. Sometimes that's how you discover what you really want to keep studying.
Why should a middle schooler take a summer class?
A summer class gives you real and tangible benefits. These classes teach practical skills, structuring an argument, debugging code, following a scientific process, or working carefully through a hard problem. Many are taught by experienced instructors in small groups, giving kids individual attention that's hard to find in a regular school setting.
One of the best parts of a summer class is walking away with something you actually made. That could be a coding project, a short story, or a science experiment. Those experiences make starting high school feel a little less intimidating, and the connections you make with instructors and classmates often last beyond the summer.
To help you with your search, we have compiled this list of 15 summer classes for middle schoolers.Â
If you’re looking for programs for middle school students, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These summer classes span AI and coding, engineering, creative writing, biomedical science, mathematics, social theory, and literary analysis, so middle school students with a wide range of academic interests can find a relevant option.
Several programs are free, including Stanford SMSSP, MIT dynaMIT, Carnegie Mellon SEE, S-PREP at Columbia, and both Yale open courses, while others, such as Lumiere JEP and Veritas AI Trailblazers, offer need-based financial aid.
Programs range from self-paced online courses (Yale, University of Michigan Python Basics) to residential university experiences (Duke, Northwestern CTD, Johns Hopkins CTY), so students can choose based on their schedule and preferred learning format.
Application deadlines for the most selective programs fall in late winter and early spring, including Stanford SMSSP (March 25), Carnegie Mellon SEE (March 23), and UC Berkeley ATDP (February to May), while several programs, such as Lumiere JEP and Veritas AI Trailblazers, accept rolling applications year-round.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Highly selective; 12 students per cohort
Cost: Free
Application deadline: March 25
Dates: July 6 – 24
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 and 7 from low-income families
The Stanford Middle School Scholars Program (SMSSP) is a year-long academic program that begins with a three-week online summer session for middle school students from low-income families. During the summer, you'll join a cohort of just 12 students and take one Stanford-designed course taught by an instructor from Stanford Online High School. Recent course options have included Democracy & Dissent, History Through Graphic Novels, Discovering Geometry, and Real-Life Applications of Mathematics, where topics range from cryptography and financial mathematics to Plato, Martin Luther King Jr., and higher-dimensional geometry. Beyond your main course, you'll attend writing workshops, study halls, academic exploration sessions, and student life activities. The program continues through December with meetings, workshops led by the Stanford OHS admissions and advising teams, and conversations about selective high schools and future academic opportunities.
Location:Â Virtual
Acceptance Rate:Â Selective
Cost:Â Financial aid available
Application Deadline:Â Rolling admissions
Dates:Â Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Middle school students (grades 6–8)
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program introduces middle school students to academic research through a structured, mentor-guided experience. You’ll work with an experienced mentor to explore a subject of your interest, develop foundational research skills, and produce a short academic paper. The program covers subjects across STEM, humanities, and social sciences, and is designed specifically for students in grades 6–8 who want to get a head start on rigorous academic work. Completing JEP helps students build the habits and skills they’ll need for high school and beyond.
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Highly selective
Cost:Â Free
Application deadline:Â Not specifiedÂ
Dates: Rising 6–7 graders, August 17  –  21; Rising 8–9 graders, from August 24  –  28
Eligibility: Rising 6–9 grade students
Every summer, MIT dynaMIT turns MIT's campus into a week of student-designed STEM classes for middle schoolers. You'll rotate through activities created by MIT undergraduate volunteers, with topics changing each year. Past sessions have included robotics, engineering design, chemistry, coding, mathematics, and physics, all taught through experiments, design challenges, and interactive demonstrations. Classes are intentionally small, giving you plenty of opportunities to ask questions and work directly with MIT mentors throughout the week. Outside the classroom, you'll spend time getting to know other students who enjoy STEM while exploring MIT's campus. The program is offered free of cost and is designed primarily for students from underserved communities.
Location:Â Virtual
Acceptance Rate:Â Selective
Cost:Â Financial aid available
Application Deadline:Â Rolling admissions
Dates:Â Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Middle school students (grades 6–8)
The Veritas AI Trailblazers Program introduces middle school students to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. You’ll learn through structured modules covering topics like neural networks, data science basics, and AI ethics, guided by mentors from top universities. Students complete hands-on projects and build a portfolio of AI work throughout the program. It’s designed to give younger students a rigorous, early entry point into one of the most important fields in technology.
Location: Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Highly selective
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Typically in April for the summer session
Dates:Â The summer session is typically held in July
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12 who have an 80% or higher grade average, especially in math and science
The State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center is much more than a summer course. During July, you'll study subjects such as biology, chemistry, anatomy, neuroscience, algebra, and research skills, while also participating in PSAT preparation and college-readiness sessions. The program includes campus visits, workshops, and field trips that introduce students to various areas of medicine, biomedical research, and healthcare. Once the summer session ends, S-PREP continues from November through May, with Saturday classes that cover additional science coursework and SAT preparation. If you're already thinking about medicine or biomedical research, it gives you the chance to keep learning throughout the school year instead of stopping after the summer.
Location: UC Berkeley (Berkeley, CA) or Virtual (depending on course selection)
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Highly selective; 20 to 24 students per cohort
Cost: Application fee: $50 for domestic students and $90 for international students. Cost unspecified (need-based financial aid is available)
Application deadline: Early: Late February | Standard: Late March | Extended: May 29
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–11 (students in 6th grade who have attended the program before can be considered for some courses if they submit a strong application)
One of the best parts of UC Berkeley's Academic Talent Development Program (ATDP) is that you choose your own academic path. You'll enroll in courses that match your interests, with options ranging from computer science, biology, chemistry, mathematics, psychology, writing, literature, and social sciences to specialized classes in web development, neuroscience, debate, and mock trial. Many courses include presentations, research assignments, coding projects, laboratory work, or discussions, depending on the subject. Classes are small, usually with 20–24 students, so you'll spend plenty of time talking through ideas with your instructor. Depending on the course schedule and your application, you may even be able to take two courses during the summer.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Cost: $999
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Dates: Multiple sessions offered throughout the year
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12
Writing a short story involves much more than finding a good idea, and Interlochen's Short Fiction Writing Certificate Program breaks that process into three online courses. You'll begin with the basics of building a story before moving into character development, dialogue, pacing, scene construction, descriptive writing, and revision. Each week includes live sessions with instructors where you'll discuss readings, review assignments, and receive feedback on your own work. Between classes, you'll complete short writing exercises and develop original fiction that gradually becomes part of your portfolio. Students under 18 who complete the coursework may also be eligible to receive high school arts credit through the programme.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Cost: Free
Application deadline: March 23
Dates: July 13 – 17
Eligibility: Rising 8–9 graders (another July session is available for rising 10–11 graders)
At Carnegie Mellon's Summer Engineering Experience (SEE), you'll spend a week thinking like an engineer. Each day introduces a different part of the design process as you explore subjects connected to mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, robotics, computer science, and product design. You'll work on both team and individual projects, learning how engineers move from an idea to a working solution by designing, testing, and improving their work. The program also includes engineering classes, workshops, and project sessions held across Carnegie Mellon's Pittsburgh campus. Since SEE is a commuter program, you'll travel to campus each day and spend the week working alongside other middle school students interested in engineering.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Cost: Rates vary depending on the time required to complete the course; details here. (Option to audit the course for free available)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Dates: Self-paced. (Approx. 26 hours)
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to apply for this course
If you've never written code before, Python Basics from the University of Michigan starts with the fundamentals and builds from there. Across four modules, you'll learn how to use variables, conditionals, loops, functions, sequences, and data structures while writing small Python programs of your own. Rather than only reading about programming, you'll complete coding exercises, practice debugging, and even create simple drawings to understand how different programming concepts work together. The course is the first part of the Python 3 Programming Specialization, so it also prepares you for the more advanced courses that follow. Since it's self-paced, you can complete the lessons on your own schedule.
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost: Commuter: $3,950 | Residential: $6,050
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: While applications for the current year are closed, they typically open in December
Dates: June 13 – 24; June 28  –  July 9; July 13 – 24
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8 (high school courses are also available)
One of the biggest draws of Duke's On-Campus Summer Programs is the range of subjects you can choose from. Middle school students can enroll in courses covering topics like aerospace engineering, audio engineering, sports analytics, cryptography, and creative writing, depending on the summer schedule. Classes are taught by Duke faculty, graduate students, and instructors, combining lectures, discussions, and project work for each subject. Whether you're analyzing sports data, learning about encryption, or exploring engineering concepts, each course focuses on a single topic for the duration of the program. You'll also spend your time on Duke's campus, either as a commuter or residential student, alongside other middle school students taking different academic courses.
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small class sizes
Cost: $1,005 – $6,105 depending on course length and residential vs. commuter status (need-based financial aid available)
Application deadline: Rolling basis until filled (tuition increases after May 31)
Dates: 3-week residential and day sessions from late June through early August
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–8 with qualifying standardized test scores or portfolio evaluation
Housed on Northwestern's main campus along Lake Michigan, the Center for Talent Development’s Spectrum program provides academically advanced middle schoolers with three weeks of fast-paced academic immersion. You'll enroll in rigorous single-subject courses across computer science, engineering, honors mathematics, biomedical science, writing, or civic leadership. Learning takes place directly inside Northwestern's classrooms and research laboratories, giving you hands-on access to university facilities and expert faculty mentors. Beyond your daily academic track, the residential and day schedules include recreational activities, campus exploration, and group projects that help you build connections with high-achieving peers from around the world.
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (and select university partner campuses)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small class sizes
Cost: $3,099 – $6,819, depending on residential vs. day format and course length (need-based financial aid available)
Application deadline: Rolling basis starting in winter; priority consideration ends in late January
Dates: Session 1: Late June – Mid-July; Session 2: Mid-July – Early August
Eligibility: Students in grades 5–8 with qualifying test scores or portfolio review
Johns Hopkins CTY is one of the country's most established academic talent search initiatives, offering three-week intensive summer sessions on university campuses nationwide. As a middle school scholar, you'll spend five hours a day focusing deeply on a single accelerated discipline, such as formal logic, marine biology, Python programming, or neuroscience. CTY courses move well beyond standard school curricula, encouraging you to analyze complex concepts through hands-on experiments, primary source analysis, and lively debate. Residential and day students also enjoy structured evening activities, talent shows, and campus traditions that foster a close-knit, intellectually vibrant community.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: None (Open Access)
Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and above.
If you've ever wondered where ideas about capitalism, democracy, inequality, or the modern state come from, Yale's Foundations of Modern Social Theory is a good place to start. Across 25 recorded lectures, you'll read and discuss the work of thinkers such as Adam Smith, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Karl Marx, Max Weber, Alexis de Tocqueville, and Émile Durkheim, while placing their ideas in the historical and political moments in which they were written. The course moves through questions about economics, power, society, religion, and political institutions, showing how these writers shaped modern social thought. Since it's part of Open Yale Courses, you can complete the lectures and readings at your own pace, making it easy to explore university-level social theory from home.
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Cost: From $175 (scholarships available)
Application deadline: June 15
Dates:Â 1-week sessions between July 6 and 24, varying by course
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8 (with options for elementary and high school students)
The Sally Ride Science Academy offers summer programs for middle school students in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. In these courses, you can choose from topics such as CAD design, 3D printing, pharmaceutics, children’s book writing, entrepreneurship, and sustainable city planning. Each class focuses on applying what you learn through structured projects, using tools and concepts from STEAM fields to complete assignments and solve practical design problems. You attend workshops led by instructors with experience in STEAM education and related fields, and the sessions often include examples of careers and work in science and technology areas. Depending on the course, you may participate in either in-person or virtual formats, giving you different options for taking part in the program.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: None (Open Access)
Dates: Self-paced.
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and above
Yale University’s Introduction to Theory of Literature is an online course that introduces you to major developments in literary theory during the twentieth century. Taught by Professor Paul H. Fry, the course is organized into 26 recorded video lectures along with assigned readings that guide your study of key ideas in literary criticism. In the class, you explore topics such as how literature is interpreted, how meaning is constructed, and how social and philosophical approaches shape literary analysis. You work through different schools of literary thought while engaging with texts and theoretical frameworks used in academic literary studies.Â
Frequently asked questions
What summer classes are available for middle school students?
Options include AI and coding programs, such as Veritas AI Trailblazers and University of Michigan Python Basics, engineering and STEM programs, such as MIT dynaMIT, Carnegie Mellon SEE, and Northwestern CTD Spectrum, research programs, such as Lumiere JEP and Stanford SMSSP, writing programs, such as Interlochen Short Fiction and Duke On-Campus Programs, and free self-paced courses, such as Yale's open literature and social theory offerings.
Are there free summer classes for middle school students?
Yes, Stanford SMSSP, MIT dynaMIT, Carnegie Mellon SEE, S-PREP at Columbia, and both Yale open courses are free. Lumiere JEP, Veritas AI Trailblazers, Northwestern CTD, and Johns Hopkins CTY offer need-based financial aid.
Which programs are best for middle schoolers interested in STEM or engineering?
Students interested in STEM might consider MIT dynaMIT for hands-on STEM classes on MIT's campus, Carnegie Mellon SEE for an introduction to the engineering design process, Northwestern CTD Spectrum for accelerated coursework in computer science and biomedical science, and Veritas AI Trailblazers for an introduction to AI and machine learning.
When should I apply to summer classes for middle school students?
The earliest deadlines are Northwestern CTD (rolling, with tuition increasing after May 31), Stanford SMSSP (March 25), and Carnegie Mellon SEE (March 23). Several programs, such as Lumiere JEP, Veritas AI Trailblazers, and University of Michigan Python Basics, accept rolling applications year-round, while Yale's open courses have no deadlines at all.
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.