Some middle schoolers drift through summer. Others quietly build their future.
You see it every year. One student spends weeks on screens and late mornings. Another spends a few focused weeks in a STEM camp, writing workshop, or pre-college program. They both had “time off,” but they used it very differently. Years later, that gap shows up in confidence, skills, and options.
We found that students can lose about 20% of their school-year reading gains and 27% in math over summer break. By the time they reach seventh grade, those losses can climb even higher if nothing changes.
Keep reading and you’ll learn why these programs matter and which top options can help you build a strong foundation for high school and college.
Why Summer Programs for Middle Schoolers Matter
Middle school is a turning point. You are not a little kid anymore, but you are not in high school yet. This is when you start asking who you are, what you enjoy, and what kind of future feels possible. The way you use your summers during these years can shape that story.
Here’s how you’ll benefit from a summer program:
1. They protect you from summer learning loss
Studies show that many students lose about one-fifth of their reading progress and more than a quarter of their math gains over the summer. Some research using national test data suggests those losses can grow to 36% in reading and 50% in math by the end of middle school.
When you join a structured summer program, you keep using your brain. You solve problems, read, write, and work on projects instead of losing momentum.
2. They help you explore real interests early
Middle school is a safe time to experiment. You can try robotics, storytelling, medicine, or environmental science before grades start to feel high-stakes. Career and interest exploration when you’re in middle school helps you see more paths for your future and gives you language for what you enjoy and why.
3. They build networks and mentors before high school
In many strong summer programs, you meet college students, teachers, and professionals who care about your growth.
These adults can later become mentors, reference contacts, or even future recommendation writers. When you stay in touch, they watch you grow across several summers.
4. They make your future applications more coherent
College admissions officers do not just count activities, they try to understand your story. If you spend middle school and early high school summers exploring similar themes, you start to build a clear pattern.
Maybe you move from a general STEM camp in sixth grade to a coding program in seventh and a research experience in ninth. That shows focus, growth, and genuine interest, not last-minute box-checking.
5. They help close gaps in access to enrichment
Recent national surveys from the NSLA and ACA show that about half of parents wanted their child in a summer program but could not make it happen, often because of cost or logistics.
Low-income students are less likely to access structured summer learning, even though they benefit the most. When you find free summer programs or scholarship-based programs, you gain opportunities that many peers never see.
Now, let’s take a look at the top summer programs for middle schoolers like you, so you can make the most out of your summer.
Top Summer Programs for Middle Schoolers
You will find many summer options online, but they differ in their own ways. The programs below stand out for strong academics, real mentorship, and clear skill-building. Use them as examples of what “high-quality” looks like while you build your own list.
1. International Summer School at Yale
This three-week international summer school lets you live and study on Yale’s campus while joining a diverse group of teens from around the world. It is run by ISSOS, an independent organization that partners with Yale to host students ages 13 to 18.
You choose one academic class, such as business, debate, or creative writing, and one elective, such as theater, outdoor leadership, or photography. Small classes, evening activities, and weekend trips create a full residential experience.
- Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Cost: Around $8,900 USD for a 3-week session (varies by year)
- Grades: Ages 13 to 18 (best for older middle schoolers and early high schoolers)
- Dates: One 3-week session in July to August (dates set each year)
- Application Deadline: Typically late spring; check the current cycle
- Focus: Academic enrichment, leadership, global community, and campus life
If you attend, you will live in a Yale residential college, manage your own schedule, and practice independence with strong supervision. You will leave with new friends from many countries, stronger communication skills, and your first real taste of Ivy League campus life.
2. Ulysses S. Grant Foundation at Yale
The Ulysses S. Grant Foundation is a six-week academic program for motivated middle schoolers in New Haven public and parochial schools. Yale undergraduates design and teach small, single-grade classes that stretch your skills in reading, writing, math, and the humanities.
- Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Cost: $75, with full scholarships available, so cost is never a barrier
- Grades: Rising 6th to 9th graders in New Haven schools
- Dates: Six weeks, late June through early August, weekdays only
- Application Deadline: Usually in February; very limited seats
- Focus: Academic enrichment, critical thinking, writing, and college readiness
If you attend, you will spend your summer in rigorous classes instead of losing ground. You will leave with stronger core skills, more confidence in advanced material, and early exposure to what a college environment feels like.
3. Physics Inside Out at Purdue
Physics Inside Out is a week-long day camp on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus for current 7th and 8th-graders. Faculty and graduate students lead interactive lessons on topics like lasers, planetary science, and modern physics applications. Instead of just reading about science, you run experiments, collect data, and see how research happens in real labs.
- Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
- Cost: Free, with materials and lunches typically provided
- Grades: Current 7th and 8th graders
- Dates: One week each summer (recently mid-June; dates vary)
- Application Deadline: Spring window, often March to April
- Focus: Physics, astronomy, scientific thinking, and lab skills
If you attend, you will learn how core physics ideas show up in real experiments and technology. You will leave with a clearer sense of whether you enjoy STEM enough to keep pursuing advanced science in high school.
4. MIT DynaMIT
DynaMIT is a completely free, week-long science and engineering program run by MIT students on the MIT campus. It serves middle school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in the Boston area.
Sessions are split by age group, with different weeks for rising 6th to 7th graders and rising 8th to 9th graders. You work in teams on design challenges, experiments, and themed projects that make STEM feel hands-on and approachable.
- Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
- Cost: Free
- Grades: Rising 6th to 9th graders from under-resourced or low-income backgrounds
- Dates: Two separate one-week sessions each summer (dates vary by year)
- Application Deadline: Typically early March
- Focus: STEM exploration, engineering design, critical thinking, and teamwork
If you attend, you will spend a week solving problems with other curious students and learning directly from MIT undergraduates. You will leave with new confidence in math and science, plus a better sense of what engineering might look like as a future path.
5. Summer Explorations at Harvard
Summer Explorations at the Harvard Ed Portal offers free, week-long workshops for middle school students from the local Allston-Brighton community. To join, you first become an Ed Portal member, which is also free.
The program uses hands-on projects, collaboration, and design thinking to help you explore topics that reach beyond your regular school day.
- Location: Harvard Ed Portal, Allston, MA
- Cost: Free
- Grades: Current 6th–8th graders who are Ed Portal members or eligible
- Dates: Multiple one-week workshops across the summer (topics change each year)
- Application Deadline: Rolling or set each spring, depending on the year
- Focus: Interdisciplinary projects, collaboration, creativity, and community engagement
If you attend, you will work in small groups on real projects guided by Harvard-affiliated mentors. You will leave with new skills, stronger problem-solving habits, and a better sense of how college-level thinking can connect to your own interests right now.
6. Summer Residential Program at Duke
Duke’s Summer Residential Program gives you a real look at college academics while you live in a supportive campus setting. The program brings motivated students together for small-group learning in subjects that range from engineering to global studies.
You spend your days in discussion-based classes and your evenings in structured activities that help you build confidence, independence, and strong study habits. It is a good fit if you want a serious academic experience without the pressure of grades.
- Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
- Cost: Varies by program
- Grades: Current 6th–11th graders
- Dates: Vary by course
- Application Deadline: April 1
- Focus: Academic exploration, campus life, and early college preparation
If you attend, you will learn how to manage your time on a real college schedule and build relationships with peers who care about learning. You will leave with stronger classroom skills and a clearer sense of what advanced coursework feels like.
7. Step Up to STEM at NC State
Step Up to STEM at NC State is a selective residential program designed for underrepresented students who want to deepen their interest in science and engineering.
You work on hands-on projects in labs and classrooms, guided by supportive instructors who treat you like a developing scientist.
The environment is structured, friendly, and focused on helping you grow your confidence in math, teamwork, and problem-solving.
- Location: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Cost: Free
- Grades: Varies by year (typically rising 6th–9th)
- Dates: Residential sessions offered each summer
- Application Deadline: February 8
- Focus: STEM challenges, leadership, and academic enrichment
If you attend, you will practice skills that make high school STEM courses feel much more manageable. You will leave with new mentors, stronger collaboration habits, and a sense that advanced STEM pathways are within reach.
8. Cornell 4-H Animal Science Programs
Cornell’s 4-H Animal Science Programs give you a close-up look at animal care, agriculture, and basic veterinary practices. You work directly with livestock, learn from specialists, and see how science connects to real farm operations.
This type of hands-on experience is rare for middle schoolers, and it offers an early path into fields like biology, agriculture, or veterinary medicine.
- Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
- Cost: Free
- Grades: Current middle school students
- Dates: June sessions each summer
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Focus: Animal science, livestock care, and agricultural education
If you attend, you will develop a stronger understanding of how animals are raised, cared for, and studied. You will leave with practical experience that is hard to find in a typical classroom, plus a clearer picture of whether a science-based career interests you.
9. State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP) at Columbia University
S-PREP at Columbia supports motivated middle and high school students who want advanced academic preparation in STEM and writing.
You study in a structured environment led by instructors who help you master challenging material through steady practice and personalized feedback.
The program also introduces you to professionals and Columbia affiliates who share their experiences through career panels and workshops.
- Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
- Cost: Free
- Grades: 7th to 12th, with specific eligibility requirements
- Dates: July 8 to August 2
- Application Deadline: May 15
- Focus: Advanced STEM coursework, writing development, and college readiness
If you attend, you will strengthen the skills that help you succeed in honors-level high school courses. You will leave with guidance from educators who understand how to support underrepresented students as they prepare for selective college pathways.
10. NYU College & Career Lab
The NYU College & Career Lab introduces NYC public school students to academic subjects they may not see during the regular school year.
You rotate through themed workshops that highlight different careers, college majors, and real-world problem-solving.
The program is supportive and community-based, making it a strong starting point if you are still figuring out what interests you most.
- Location: New York University, New York, NY
- Cost: Free
- Grades: 7th and 8th graders in NYC public schools
- Dates: July 8 to August 2
- Application Deadline: March 31
- Focus: Career exploration, academic enrichment, and early college awareness
If you attend, you will see how different subjects connect to real careers and build early confidence about navigating college opportunities. You will leave more prepared to make smart choices about your classes and activities once you enter high school.
11. NYU Sounds of New York City (SONYC)
SONYC lets you study the sounds of New York like a scientist, not a tourist. You work with researchers to capture noise data, learn basic coding tools, and analyze what you collect.
The projects connect city life, environmental science, and technology in a way that feels concrete and current. It is a strong option if you like science but also care about how people experience their surroundings.
- Location: New York University, New York, NY
- Cost: Free
- Grades: Ages 12 to 14, NYC residents
- Dates: July 8 to August 4
- Application Deadline: April 14
- Focus: Urban soundscapes, data collection, research skills
If you attend, you will design and complete a real research project, not just follow worksheets. You will leave with experience in presenting findings and thinking about how science can shape city policy and quality of life.
12. Penn GEMS
Penn GEMS is a focused program for girls who want to try engineering in a serious but welcoming setting.
You rotate through labs and workshops, building and testing designs with guidance from Penn students and faculty.
The atmosphere emphasizes curiosity and collaboration over perfection, which is important when you are just starting in STEM.
- Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Cost: $650
- Grades: 6th to 8th graders from the Philadelphia area
- Dates: June 24 to 28
- Application Deadline: March 4
- Focus: Engineering, math, science, and hands-on design
If you attend, you will see women leading in technical spaces and learn what engineering actually looks like day to day. You will leave with new skills, projects you can talk about later, and a community of girls who share your interest in STEM.
13. Brown STEM For Rising 9th And 10th Graders
Brown’s STEM program helps older middle schoolers and early high school students step into more demanding science and math.
You live on campus, follow a set schedule, and complete assignments that look closer to high school honors work.
The experience emphasizes independence, careful time management, and deeper problem-solving rather than quick, surface-level experiments.
- Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
- Cost: $5,498
- Grades: Students completing grades 8–9, ages 13–15
- Dates: July 14 – 26
- Application Deadline: Rolling until full
- Focus: STEM coursework, research thinking, and academic preparation
If you attend, you will practice handling challenging material in a supportive environment before those grades count on a transcript. You will leave more ready for difficult classes and with a better sense of whether you want a STEM-heavy path in high school.
14. CMU Summer Engineering Experience (SEE)
SEE at Carnegie Mellon is built around one central idea: you learn engineering best by designing and building. You spend your days working through guided challenges, from brainstorming ideas to testing prototypes and improving them. Along the way, you see how different engineering fields connect and how they rely on teamwork and clear communication.
- Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
- Cost: $100, with financial aid available
- Grades: Rising 8th and 9th graders
- Dates: June 24 – 28
- Application Deadline: April 10
- Focus: Engineering design, teamwork, and problem-solving
If you attend, you will gain experience taking an idea from sketch to working model and reflecting on what worked. You will leave with stronger collaboration skills and more confidence about joining project-based courses or robotics teams in high school.
15. Women’s Alliance STEM & Humanities Research Institute
This institute gives girls and young women a chance to complete a real research project in either STEM or the humanities. You meet regularly with a mentor who helps you narrow a topic, design a question, and work through readings or experiments. The format is lighter than a full-time camp but still structured enough to keep you moving.
- Location: Virtual / In-person TBD
- Cost: Free
- Grades: 6–12, students identifying as female
- Dates: Once a week for six weeks, late June through early August
- Application Deadline: June 30
- Focus: Independent research, presentation skills, and leadership development
If you attend, you will finish with a project you can describe in future interviews, applications, or resumes. You will leave with experience working one-on-one with a mentor and more comfort sharing your ideas in academic settings.
16. Stanford Middle School Scholars Program (SMSSP)
SMSSP is designed for academically strong students from under-resourced backgrounds who are ready for more challenge. You take interdisciplinary classes that ask you to read closely, discuss big ideas, and complete real assignments with deadlines. Instructors treat you like a serious learner while also teaching you how to manage your workload and ask for help.
- Location: Virtual
- Cost: Free
- Grades: 6th and 7th graders who meet income and residency guidelines
- Dates: July 8 – 26
- Application Deadline: March 29
- Focus: Critical thinking, academic skills, and early college preparation
If you attend, you will see how college-style courses work and learn strategies that make future honors classes more manageable. You will leave with stronger study habits, higher expectations for yourself, and a clearer sense of how far you can go academically.
Comparison Table: Top Summer Programs for Middle Schoolers
Here’s a simple overview of every program so you can compare locations, costs, and academic focus at a glance.
| Program | Location | Cost | Grades | Focus |
| International Summer School at Yale | New Haven, CT | ~$8,900 | Ages 13–18 | Academic study, leadership, campus life |
| Ulysses S. Grant Foundation (Yale) | New Haven, CT | $75 (aid available) | Rising 6–9 | Reading, writing, math, enrichment |
| Physics Inside Out (Purdue) | West Lafayette, IN | Free | 7–8 | Physics, hands-on experiments |
| MIT DynaMIT | Cambridge, MA | Free | Rising 6–9 | STEM, engineering, design challenges |
| Harvard Summer Explorations (Ed Portal) | Allston, MA | Free | 6–8 | Interdisciplinary projects, creativity |
| Duke Summer Residential Program | Durham, NC | Varies | 6–11 | Academic exploration, campus experience |
| NC State Step Up to STEM | Raleigh, NC | Free | Varies | STEM, leadership, enrichment |
| Cornell 4-H Animal Science | Ithaca, NY | Free | Middle school | Animal science, agriculture |
| Columbia S-PREP | New York, NY | Free | 7–12 | Advanced STEM, writing, college readiness |
| NYU College & Career Lab | New York, NY | Free | 7–8 | Career exploration, early college exposure |
| NYU SONYC | New York, NY | Free | Ages 12–14 | Urban science, data analysis, research |
| Penn GEMS | Philadelphia, PA | $650 | 6–8 | Engineering, math, hands-on STEM |
| Brown STEM (Rising 9–10) | Providence, RI | $5,498 | Completing 8–9 | STEM coursework, research thinking |
| CMU SEE | Pittsburgh, PA | $100 (aid available) | Rising 8–9 | Engineering design, teamwork |
| Women’s Alliance Research Institute | Virtual / TBD | Free | 6–12 | STEM or humanities research |
| Stanford SMSSP | Virtual | Free | 6–7 | Interdisciplinary study, academic skills |
Next Steps for Your Summer Planning
Strong summer choices start with clear goals. Think about what you enjoy, the skills you want to build, and the level of challenge you’re ready for right now.
Programs like the ones listed above help you test new subjects, meet supportive mentors, and gain experience that carries into high school. When you take part in these opportunities year after year, you create a steady pattern of curiosity and growth (something colleges pay close attention to later on).
If you want help building a long-term plan, our team spends on average 25x more time with students than the average high school counselor. Our counselors can help guide you through the options and ensure your student is on the right path, from middle school through college admissions.
We are here to help walk you through every step of the way, from applications to attendance, and you’re just a consultation away.
