Stepping into the world of technology can seem intimidating as a middle school student, especially if you’re unsure on where to start – but it doesn’t need to be! There are a number of learning opportunities that you can access remotely, to help you get started on building your foundational skills.

These programs are designed to help you learn at your own pace, offering courses in everything from basic programming and web design to robotics and game development. This can be especially beneficial if you’re thinking about pursuing related fields in the future. The ease of joining an online program also means you can start learning at a time that fits your schedule, making it a convenient and flexible option to expand your skills and knowledge. Not to mention, a lot of these programs are delivered by experts and scholars in the field, making them super valuable opportunities for you!

Below, we've compiled a list of 10 online tech programs tailored to middle school students. 

1. Veritas AI

Cost: AI Trailblazers - $1,790 | AI Junior Fellowship - $2,900. Need based financial aid is available

Program Dates: Upcoming Summer dates can be found here. The AI Trailblazers program runs for 25 hours over 10 sessions and the AI Junior Fellowship is conducted over 12 weeks. 

Application Deadline: Upcoming summer deadlines - April 21 (regular admission I) | May 19 (regular admission II). Apply here!

Eligibility: Middle school students

Veritas AI is a virtual AI program designed for middle and high school students, founded and run by Harvard alumni. For middle schoolers, there are two options offered. The first, the AI Trailblazers boot camp, allows students to explore the basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning, while picking up foundational Python skills. Students will participate in practical AI projects spanning fields such as medicine, finance, and autonomous vehicles, and receive guidance from mentors from leading universities. This option is particularly best suited for beginners.

The second option is ideal for those who have completed the boot camp or have some Python experience. The AI Junior Fellowship allows students to collaborate one-on-one with a mentor to develop their own project or research paper. This program can be a compelling platform to explore AI within the context of various disciplines, enabling students to exhibit their enthusiasm and skills. Find the application form here!

For more detailed information about these programs, check out the program brochure.

2. Stanford Middle School Scholars Program

Cost: $2,495. Limited scholarships are available.
Program Dates: July 8-26, 2024 and August 26, 2024 - December 13, 2024

Application Deadline: March 29, 2024

Eligibility: Low-income students currently in grades 6 or 7 who reside in and attend school in the United States.

The Stanford Middle School Scholars Program is a strong opportunity if you’re interested in data science. The program consists of a three-week online summer course and weekly after-school meetings in the fall. The program caters to low-income students in grades 6 or 7 across the United States. 

With a dedicated team of instructors, with 65% of them holding PhDs in their respective fields, students will engage in lively discussions and interactive classes. These sessions include live, instructor-led discussions and workshops on topics such as high school preparation, academic writing, and math enrichment. The virtual classroom experience fosters real-time interactions with instructors and peers across the United States. Through a combination of academic enrichment, mentorship from experts, and real-world applications such as cryptography and financial mathematics, the Stanford Middle School Scholars Program will equip you with the data science skills you need to succeed.

3. UC Berkeley Coding Academy’s Data Science to AI

Cost: $2,495, Limited scholarships are available

Program Dates: June 17-28, 2024 | July 8-12, 2024

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

Eligibility: Middle school students aged 12-18 years 

If you are a middle school student who wants to explore how data is used in various fields, from social media trends to environmental changes, this is a good option for you. This UC Berkeley's summer course is designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of AI, machine learning (ML), and big data science fundamentals. The academy offers personalized 1-1 classes tailored for students aged 12-18, along with a specialized junior Python coders program catering to ages 7-11.

With this program, students will explore the nuances of Python coding underlying AI and develop ML models using real-world data. This opportunity is perfect for those seeking to enhance their technical skills. The course can accommodate students with varying levels of coding proficiency. Collaborating in small groups, you will conceptualize and execute projects and models. With tools like numpy, pandas, matplotlib, seaborn, and sklearn, you'll get hands-on experience analyzing big data and constructing machine learning models, all while mastering the Python code that powers AI. 

4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program

Cost: $1990 (financial aid is available) 

Program dates: 8 weeks starting June 3, 2024 (Summer cohort)

Application deadline: May 12, 2024 (Summer cohort)

Eligibility: Middle school students

The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an 8-week program that allows you to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore your academic interests and build a project you’re passionate about. The mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT,  Stanford, Yale, Duke and LSE. You can choose from a wide range of subjects and topics including engineering, technology, business, psychology, and social science. This is a strong opportunity for students interested in conducting research at the intersection of tech and other fields.

During this program, spanning weeks 1 to 4, participants will delve into four distinct topics within their selected track. In weeks 5 and 6, the focus intensifies as participants embark on a deep dive into one specific topic area and finally, weeks 7 to 8 are dedicated to project implementation, with participants receiving guidance and support from their mentors as they bring their projects to life. You can find the application form here. 

5. National Computer Camp

Cost: $595 per week

Program Dates: June 24-28, 2024

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8 are all eligible to participate

Running since 1977, the National Computer Camp (NCC) is one of America’s oldest computer camps. At NCC, you can choose to attend a one-week camp or engage in multi-week sessions. The camp curriculum is designed to enhance students’ computer literacy – making room for students at different levels of proficiency. You will have access to an extensive list of courses and activities. This includes diving into programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, C++, and Java, exploring web development through CSS, Web Design, and HTML 5, and enhancing your graphics skills with OpenGL, Flash–Animation, and Photoshop.

If you’re interested in game design, you can start from 2D Game Design to advanced 3D Game Design, including hands-on experiences with Arduino Computer Lab and Minecraft Modding. Additionally, unique offerings like 3D Printing, Cryptography, and even flying the NCC Drone are available to you.

6. MIT RAISE - Creativity and AI Workshop

Cost: Free

Program Dates: Varies. 

Application Deadline: Varies. 

Eligibility: Open to all middle school students 

Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (RAISE) at MIT offers a variety of valuable tutorials for students just starting to explore the world of AI, ML and technology. One of these offerings is the Creativity and AI Workshop for middle school students. The goal of its curriculum is to teach students about creative machine-learning techniques and how they can partner with AI to create art. You will participate in several hands-on activities, both plugged (using digital devices and hardware) and unplugged (activities that don’t directly use digital devices). This course encourages the explorative creation of art with and without AI tools. A strong focus will be given to GANs, which is an AI platform that can generate art and music, among many other forms of media.

Note: RAISE is a curriculum, as opposed to the other programs listed here, so you might have to reach out to your teacher/instructor for more information regarding some of the curricula offered. If you are looking to engage in self-paced learning, RAISE is a pretty good option for you. You can also choose to learn from other workshops and curricula available on the RAISE website, such as Conversational AI Tools and PICaboo. 

Tip: If you’re interested in going through the detailed curriculum, check this out! 

7. Code HS Introduction to Python

Cost: This information is not available at the moment.

Program Dates: Self-paced for 30 hours

Application Deadline: Applications are open year-round

Eligibility: All middle school students are eligible.

The CodeHS Introduction to Python course is an ideal opportunity for middle school students who are curious about data science and want to get started with one of the most versatile programming languages – Python. Through engaging lessons with Tracy, a virtual turtle, you'll learn to command her to create various scenes on a canvas. 

You'll master Python commands, functions, and control structures by solving puzzles and crafting creative programs for Tracy to execute. The learning environment is a blend of digital and hands-on activities, allowing you to write and run code directly in your web browser while also participating in collaborative exercises with your classmates. With 45 lessons, 43 videos, 76 exercises, 11 challenges, and numerous offline handouts, each lesson includes short, formative quizzes to help consolidate your learning and gauge your progress. 

8. Create and Learn Data Science with Python, Pandas, and ChatGPT Class

Cost: $262.80 for six sessions

Program Dates: 6 weeks at ~1 hour per week

Application Deadline: No deadline

Eligibility: All middle school students are eligible. 

Create and Learn Data Science with Python, Pandas, and ChatGPT Class is a live online class, designed for small groups of 2-3 students and lasting 75 minutes per session. Students begin with an introduction to data science, exploring the purpose and features of the powerful Pandas library. You'll delve into essential techniques for data cleaning, data processing, and data analytics, setting a strong foundation for your journey in data science.

You will also learn how to leverage ChatGPT for developing higher quality code and expanding your learning beyond the classroom. This program opens up new avenues for exploration and enhances your coding skills in practical, real-world applications. You will leave with a capstone project where you'll apply everything you've learned to your own dataset. 

9. Johns Hopkins CTY Online Course

Cost: $1,325

Program Dates: Varies by course

Application Deadline: June 5, 2024 

Eligibility: Students in grades 3 - 8 (varies per course) can apply

The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) online courses will allow you to dive into the fields of computer science and technology, as well as other interdisciplinary areas. Among the diverse offerings, you can explore "Arduino® Prototyping," where you'll learn to build and program your own electronic devices, or delve into "Bioethics in the Age of Pandemics," to understand the ethical implications of medical decision-making during global health crises.

Other courses include "Coasters and Corkscrews: Amusement Park Physics," which reveals the principles of physics through the thrilling context of amusement park rides, and "Color of Law," focusing on the intersection of law and societal issues. "Diagnosis: Be the Doctor" offers a hands-on approach to medical diagnostics, while "Disease Modeling" introduces you to the mathematical modeling of infectious diseases, an essential tool in epidemiology. For those inclined towards engineering and design, the "Engineering Design" course challenges students to think critically and creatively to solve real-world problems.

10. Northwestern CTD Online Enrichment Courses

Cost: $600

Program Dates: June 12, 2024 - July 26, 2024

Application Deadline: June 5, 2024 

Eligibility: Students in grades 3-8 are eligible 

The Northwestern's Center for Talent Development (CTD) Online Enrichment Courses cover a wide array of subjects from ‘The Smartest: The Future of Artificial Intelligence’ to ‘Engineering in the Future’. With courses like ‘Scratch: Animations & Games’, and ‘Exploring Genetics’, students can explore the practical and theoretical aspects of various STEM fields, encouraging a deep, hands-on understanding of the subject of choice. Each course is structured to require 2-5 hours of engagement per week. This self-paced approach is supported by weekly guidance from dedicated instructors, who also facilitate online discussions to enrich the learning experience. The program emphasizes the importance of effective communication skills, both via written assignments and participation in online discussions. 

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