12 Summer Courses for Middle Schoolers
- Stephen Turban
- Aug 31
- 8 min read
If you're a middle school student ready to dive into college-level learning without breaking the bank, summer courses for middle schoolers offer the perfect solution. These programs give you direct access to university professors, cutting-edge research, and real-world skills that most students don't encounter until college. You'll build connections with mentors and peers while exploring potential career paths through hands-on experiences.
For students seeking accelerated learning, online summer programs have become game-changers, offering the same academic rigor with added flexibility. Our list features programs hosted by prestigious universities with acceptance rates that rival college admissions, many offering full funding to make these opportunities accessible. These summer courses for middle schoolers represent the gold standard for students who want to challenge themselves and get a head start on their academic journey.
12 Summer Courses for Middle Schoolers
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: August 24 (Fall Cohort), Rolling admissions with multiple cohorts
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Summer, Fall, Spring, Winter
Eligibility: Middle school students (Grades 6-8) with a strong academic interest
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program provides middle school students with individualized research experiences in artificial intelligence and data science, representing one of the few summer courses for middle schoolers focused specifically on these emerging fields. You’ll work one-on-one with PhD mentors from universities like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Yale to develop custom research projects based on their specific interests and academic goals.
The program emphasizes independent research methodology where students learn to formulate research questions, collect and analyze data, and draw evidence-based conclusions. At the end of the program, you’ll present your completed research project and receive feedback from your mentor.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Application deadline: May 2
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and multiple other locations
Cost: $3,149-$7,501. Need-based financial aid available
Dates: June-August
Eligibility: Students in grades 2-12
CTY On-Campus Programs offer three-week intensive summer courses for middle schoolers seeking rigorous learning environments. Students choose from over 70 courses spanning subjects like bioethics, engineering, creative writing, and advanced mathematics. They work with expert instructors in small classroom settings that encourage active participation and peer collaboration. The program structure includes hands-on laboratory work, research projects, and presentation opportunities where students share their findings with classmates and instructors. Students engage in both individual and group projects that require them to apply theoretical concepts to practical problems, developing skills in critical analysis, scientific methodology, and academic communication. CTY courses emphasize inquiry-based learning where students conduct independent research, analyze data, and present their conclusions, preparing them for advanced coursework and developing the analytical skills used in university-level academic work.
Acceptance rate: Rolling
Application deadline: April 27 (Summer Cohort), Rolling admissions
Location: Virtual
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
Eligibility: Middle school students
Veritas AI Trailblazers provides middle school students with a foundational education in artificial intelligence through a self-paced, virtual program. Students learn Python programming while working on hands-on projects, including game-playing engines, handwriting recognition systems, and basic machine learning models that demonstrate real-world AI applications. The curriculum covers core concepts such as search algorithms, knowledge representation, optimization techniques, and neural networks, with students writing code to implement these AI techniques using industry-standard libraries like NumPy and scikit-learn.
Participants complete independent coding projects that require them to apply theoretical concepts to practical problems. The program operates on a flexible timeline that allows students to progress through materials at their own pace while completing structured assignments and projects.
4. MathILy-Er
Acceptance rate: less than 6
Application deadline: April 29
Location: Eastern University, St. Davids, PA
Cost: $5,300, need-based financial aid available
Dates: June 22 - July 26
Eligibility: Middle school students
MathILy-Er is a five-week residential program that is for students who are seeking mathematical exploration beyond typical summer courses for middle schoolers. You’ll engage in inquiry-based learning where you discover mathematical concepts through guided investigation rather than traditional lectures. You’ll team up with PhD mathematicians and graduate student mentors to develop conjectures and construct proofs. The program follows a structured 2-1-2 format - two weeks of covering foundational topics like combinatorics and graph theory, one week of student-suggested explorations, and two weeks of exploring advanced topics.
Students will spend approximately seven hours daily on mathematical work, presenting their discoveries to peers and participating in problem-solving sessions. The program includes a life seminar component where you learn about college mathematics programs and career paths through discussions with faculty and guest speakers. Students also engage in collaborative projects that require them to explain their mathematical reasoning and defend their approaches, skills that extend beyond mathematics into critical thinking and communication.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Application deadline: One week before session start (sessions begin late June)
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, and other Chicago-area locations
Cost: Varies depending on the program
Dates: June 23 – August 2
Eligibility: Students age 4 through grade 12
Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development operates day and residential summer courses for middle schoolers in subjects ranging from mathematics and science to creative writing and leadership development. Students choose between one-week enrichment courses and three-week programs that offer high school or college-level credit, working with master teachers and industry professionals who provide instruction beyond typical grade-level curricula. The program structure includes hands-on laboratory work, collaborative problem-solving sessions, and independent projects where students apply theoretical concepts to real-world challenges while developing critical thinking and research skills. Participants engage in small group discussions led by undergraduate mentors, present their work to peers and instructors, and participate in community-building activities that connect them with academically motivated students from around the world. CTD courses emphasize project-based learning where students produce portfolios, conduct research investigations, and create presentations that demonstrate their mastery of advanced concepts. The program provides academic credit options and detailed evaluations that students can use for high school planning and future academic applications.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Application deadline: April 11
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago
Cost: $250-$1,000 based on family income, scholarships available
Dates: July
Eligibility: Students grades 7-12 from Chicago area
The University of Chicago Young Scholars Program provides a four-week mathematics experience for Chicago-area middle school students seeking summer courses that explore topics beyond the school curriculum. Students participate in faculty-led lectures and small group sessions with undergraduate mentors, either with a focus on number theory or geometry, depending on the program year.
You will work in grade-level cohorts and learn to approach complex problems through creative analysis and logical reasoning. Participants gain experience in mathematical communication and proof construction under the guidance of the University of Chicago mathematics faculty.
7. MathPath
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective admission
Application deadline: TBD
Location: Varies annually (different college campuses)
Cost: $6,300, financial aid available
Dates: July-August
Eligibility: Students ages 11-14
MathPath provides four-week residential summer courses for middle schoolers aged 11-14, focusing on mathematical enrichment rather than acceleration. You will explore topics rarely taught in schools, including non-Euclidean geometry, number theory, and combinatorics through interactive classes.
Students engage in collaborative problem-solving sessions, present their mathematical reasoning to peers, and develop skills in logical thinking and mathematical communication through daily coursework and evening study groups. Participants learn to construct formal proofs and tackle complex mathematical problems that require creative approaches and sustained analytical thinking.
Acceptance rate: Less than 20%
Application deadline: April 15
Location: Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
Cost: $2,000, need-based scholarships available
Dates: June 1-13
Eligibility: Students grades 6-8
Texas State University's Junior Summer Math Camp is a 12-day residential program that offers immersive summer courses for middle schoolers focused on developing creative and critical thinking through mathematics. You will attend daily classes taught by university professors, participate in small study groups led by undergraduate mentors, and engage in problem-solving sessions.
Students engage in mathematical investigations that require them to present their problem-solving approaches and defend their reasoning to peers and instructors. The program combines rigorous academic work with campus outings and social activities, preparing participants for advanced mathematics courses and collaborative learning.
Acceptance rate: Very selective, priority given to low-income students
Application deadline: March 20
Location: Stanford University, Stanford
Cost: Tuition-free
Dates: Three-week online summer course plus weekly fall meetings
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-7
Stanford Middle School Scholars Program provides tuition-free academic prep for low-income students in grades 6-7. Students participate in a three-week online summer course followed by weekly virtual meetings during the fall semester, working with Stanford instructors and mentors who guide their academic development. The program structure includes interactive online sessions, independent study components, and collaborative projects. Participants engage in coursework that bridges middle school and high school academics. Students work on assignments that require them to present their thinking and defend their reasoning in virtual classroom discussions with peers and instructors. The program is designed to help students who demonstrate academic potential but may lack access to advanced educational opportunities.
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application deadline: March 3
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $650
Dates: June 3 - June 27
Eligibility: Students in grades 7-9
Penn GEMS is a week-long day camp hosted by the University of Pennsylvania for middle school students. Their summer courses for middle schoolers focus on hands-on learning and practical application of engineering concepts. Over the week, participants are introduced to bioengineering, nanotechnology, materials science, graphics, and computing through interactive workshops and laboratory sessions.
Students work in small cohorts taught by Penn doctoral and master's students, with undergraduate mentors providing guidance and support throughout daily activities. Through this program, Penn GEMS aims to help students understand the significance of engineering in everyday life.
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application deadline: Varies
Dates: June 23 - July 30
Cost: $75 (Full scholarship available)
Location: Dwight Hall, Yale University, New Haven
Eligibility: Middle school students from New Haven, Connecticut
The Ulysses S. Grant Foundation offers a six-week program at Yale University for middle school students from New Haven, Connecticut. Students choose between two academic tracks in these summer courses for middle schoolers: a. Humanities, which covers history, poetry, and creative writing, or b. Investigation, which focuses on problem-solving through natural and social sciences projects.
The program structure includes academic coursework in the morning and extracurricular activities such as clubs, sports, music, debates, and mock trials. Students present their work and participate in group discussions that require them to defend their ideas and collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds within their local community. The program caters to students from public and parochial schools in New Haven through a scholarship-based model that makes Yale University resources accessible to local middle school students who demonstrate academic potential and commitment.
Acceptance Rate: Selective, limited spots available
Application deadline: Closed
Dates: August 4 - August 8
Cost: Free
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: Middle school students
Harvard Ed Portal runs Summer Explorations as a cost-free program that ranks among the most sought-after summer courses for middle schoolers in the Boston area.The program brings together art and science education through the collaborative efforts of Harvard Museum of Natural History.
Students spend five consecutive days learning about evolution and game creation during daily four-hour sessions. You will design and create your own board game that models an island ecosystem with unique biological and geographical characteristics.
University researchers and museum staff work directly with student groups throughout the program. Students share their completed game projects to show what they learned about how ecosystems function.
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 where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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