10 Summer Programs for Middle School Students in Chicago
- Stephen Turban
- May 19
- 6 min read
Are you a middle school student in Chicago looking for ways to explore your interests this summer? Summer Programs for Middle School Students in Chicago offer you the chance to dive into advanced academics, build practical skills, and connect with experts in fields you're passionate about. Throughout Chicago, universities like UChicago and Northwestern, museums including the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium, and community organizations host programs that transform traditional learning into dynamic experiences. From robotics competitions and science labs to arts studios and environmental fieldwork, you'll work alongside mentors and peers to solve real problems, create meaningful projects, and explore potential career paths.
To help you find the perfect opportunity, we've researched 10 outstanding Summer Programs for Middle School Students in Chicago that stand out for their academic challenge, networking possibilities, scholarship options, competitive selection process, and connection to prestigious institutions.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective admission with limited spots
Dates: Varies depending on the cohorts
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohorts
Eligibility: Middle school students grades 6-8, no prior experience required
Cost: $2,400, need-based financial aid available
Location: Fully virtual program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program connects middle school students with mentors from universities like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Yale. Students work one-on-one with these mentors to explore academic interests and build projects they care about. This approach helps participants develop thinking, research, and presentation skills. The mentors guide the students throughout as they create and complete their projects, and the program ends with a final presentation. Founded by Harvard and Oxford PhDs, the program maintains rigorous standards that challenge students in a supportive environment.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment, until filled
Dates: June to August (varies by program)
Application Deadline: Registration opens February 15, closes May 15
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6 to 8
Cost: $350 to $795 per session/course, financial aid available
Location: University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
UChicago Laboratory Schools Summer Lab offers engaging programs for middle school students in Chicago looking to extend their learning beyond the regular academic year. You can dive into various academic, artistic, and athletic courses designed to develop new skills. The program provides hands-on learning experiences in small class settings, with personalized attention from experienced educators. You can explore subjects ranging from robotics and coding to theater and creative writing, all within the University of Chicago campus environment.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 2 weeks during summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Grades 6 to 8
Cost: $1,990, financial aid available
Location: Online
The Veritas AI Trailblazers program offers middle school students in Chicago an engaging introduction to artificial intelligence and machine learning through a structured virtual program. Students complete 25 hours of Python programming instruction while exploring essential concepts like data analysis, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. With a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio, participants receive personalized guidance during lectures and collaborative group sessions. This summer program for middle school students in Chicago culminates in a hands-on project where students build their own AI applications. Past projects include music genre classification models and algorithms that generate customized educational resource lists.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Class sizes typically range from 12-20 students per course
Dates: 6-week sessions available during summer cohorts,1-week and 3-week options for in-person camps
Application Deadline: Varies for each cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 3 to 8 (varies with each course)
Cost: Online courses $600, in-person programs $990 to $6000 with need-based financial aid
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Northwestern University offers summer programs for middle school students in Chicago through their Center for Talent Development (CTD). Students can choose between online enrichment courses and in-person academic day and residential camps held at Northwestern's Evanston campus and other Chicago-area locations. In-person summer programs help students advance academically through hands-on learning, connect with peers and expert educators, and develop skills beyond the classroom. You can participate in courses across diverse subject areas including English, Entrepreneurship and Economics, Leadership, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Technology. These courses are taught at an accelerated pace, typically 1-2 grade levels above standard curriculum, allowing students to explore advanced concepts. Upon completion, students receive instructor evaluations of their performance.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 30 students per session
Dates: Jun to Aug (Four-week program with three separate sessions)
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Chicago Public School students entering grades 7-8
Cost: Free, fully funded program includes transit, meals, and materials
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
The Science First program at Chicago Botanic Garden offers middle school students an immersive experience exploring environmental science and plant conservation. You’ll work directly with botanists and ecologists on research projects across the garden's 385 acres of diverse ecosystems. Throughout the program, participants develop scientific investigation skills by collecting field data, conducting experiments, and analyzing results under expert guidance. The program emphasizes environmental stewardship through hands-on activities like plant propagation, habitat restoration, and sustainability initiatives. Science First creates valuable networking opportunities as students collaborate with professionals from the garden's research teams and present their findings in an exhibition for families and staff.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited class sizes with 7:1 student-to-adult ratio
Dates: July to August
Application Deadline: Spring registration deadline, specific dates for each program is on the website
Eligibility: Middle school students
Cost: Varies by program, financial aid may be available
Location: School of the Art Institute of Chicago
SAIC's Middle School Program provides middle school students with practical experience in art and design. You can focus on areas like animation, comics, fashion, painting, drawing, or sculpture while working with professional faculty in small groups with a 7:1 student-to-teacher ratio. The two-week summer program for middle school students in Chicago includes regular visits to the Art Institute of Chicago. Classes run Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The curriculum emphasizes creative problem-solving and critical thinking, designed to teach students how to become effective innovators.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective admission
Dates: Various dates in June, depending on the program
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6 to 8
Cost: $500-$600
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Tech's Elevate College Prep is one of the premier summer programs for middle school students in Chicago offering hands-on STEM experiences on a university campus. Students engage in project-based learning activities across various disciplines including robotics, coding, and engineering design. The program combines academic rigor with practical applications, allowing participants to develop critical thinking skills while working alongside Illinois Tech faculty and undergraduate mentors. You’ll have access to state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities where you can conduct experiments and build prototypes. At the end of the session, you will showcase your projects through an exhibition for family members and the Illinois Tech community.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Jun 23 to Jun 27
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to MathCON students from grades 7 onwards
Cost: $2,450 (residential) and $2,150(commuter)
Location: Loyola University, Chicago
MathCON Summer Camp is one of the most competitive summer programs for middle school students in Chicago. Students dive into challenging mathematical concepts through hands-on activities, collaborative problem-solving, and engaging competitions to hone their analytical thinking. The program provides personalized instruction from experienced math educators who help participants develop both foundational skills and advanced problem-solving techniques, including preparation for math olympiads. MathCON's competitive application process ensures a rigorous academic environment where students work alongside equally motivated peers.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment with limited class sizes
Dates: June to August (sessions vary from one to multiple weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6 to 8
Cost: $335 to $435 per weekly session, financial aid available
Location: Science and Arts Academy, Des Plaines, IL (Chicago metropolitan area)
Science and Arts Academy offers engaging Summer Programs for Middle School Students in Chicago that combine academic enrichment with creative exploration. Students in grades 1-8 can participate in hands-on learning experiences across STEM, arts, and humanities fields. The academy's summer curriculum is designed to challenge students intellectually while fostering creativity through project-based activities. You’ll benefit from small class sizes that allow for personalized attention and deeper engagement with complex concepts. These programs provide an excellent opportunity for academically motivated students to maintain learning momentum during summer months while exploring subjects beyond the standard school curriculum.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited enrollment available
Dates: June to August (multiple sessions available)
Application Deadline: Early April (priority consideration) through May
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6 to 8
Cost: $275 to $550 per week depending on program, financial aid available
Location: DePaul College Prep, Chicago
DePaul Prep offers engaging summer programs for middle school students in Chicago looking to enhance their academic skills while enjoying a vibrant campus experience. Students participate in hands-on learning activities across various subjects, including STEM, arts, and humanities. The program balances academic enrichment with recreational activities. Participants benefit from small class sizes, allowing for personalized attention from experienced educators who foster critical thinking and creativity.
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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