Learning computer science in middle school can help you build crucial skills that’ll come in hand in the future. It enhances problem-solving abilities, logical thinking, and creativity.It also fosters a deeper understanding of technology, making students informed digital citizens. If you are interested in technology or related fields, you should consider getting a head start and taking part in computer science programs in middle school.  

How do I choose a computer science program?

Choosing a computer science program involves considering several important factors. The curriculum should be engaging and structured in a way that’s suitable for beginners. The program should cover fundamental concepts such as coding languages, algorithms, and problem-solving techniques. Additionally, you might want to look for programs that allow you to work on projects, encouraging you to apply what you learn in real-world scenarios. Considering the final outcome of the program is also crucial, since it can be a valuable addition to your portfolio.

To make things easier, we have put together a list of 10 computer science programs for middle school students that have been selected based on the above criteria! 

1. Veritas AI 

Location: Virtual.
Fee: AI Trailblazers - $1,790 (need based financial aid available), AI Junior Fellowship - $2,900 
Application Deadline: December 3, 2023 (Winter Cohort). You can apply here!
Program Dates: AI Trailblazers - runs for a total of 25 hours over 10 weekends; AI Junior Fellowship - 12 weeks. Upcoming cohort starts on December 16, 2023.
Eligibility: These programs are open to all middle school and high school students.

Veritas AI is a virtual program for middle school and high school students founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Middle school students can pick from two options -  the first is the AI Trailblazers bootcamp. Through this program, you will learn the fundamentals of python and key concepts in machine learning and artificial intelligence. You'll work on hands-on, real-world projects in areas like medicine, finance, autonomous vehicles, and more under the guidance of mentors from top universities.This is best suited for students who are beginners! 

If you have already gone through the bootcamp or have some experience with python, the AI Junior Fellowship is a good option for you. You get to work 1-1 with a mentor to build out your own project or research paper over 12 weeks. This is a great way to work at the intersection of various topics and showcase your passion. 

You can take a look at the program brochure here. 

2. Science of Smart Cities (SoSC) at New York University (NYU)

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY.   
Fee: Free.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close mid-April.
Program Dates: July - August (tentatively, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Students who live in New York City and will be 12 years old by the start of the program but not older than 14, can apply. Students should have a strong academic record and demonstrated interest in STEM.

Science of Smart Cities (SoSC) is a three-week program designed for middle school students to explore computer science, engineering and technology that enhance city sustainability and safety. Through hands-on activities, demonstrations and experiments, you will dive into topics like coding, physical sciences, and urban science. You will also learn how scientists and engineers apply fundamental knowledge, STEM-based skills and innovative solutions to the real-world, and how microcontrollers, sensors and other hardware work.

Guided by NYU School of Engineering students, you will create your own smart city models, integrating STEM concepts that you learned during the program. The program concludes with presentations to experts and the public, emphasizing real-world applications of your projects. During the final presentations, you are required to demonstrate how your project creatively provides a solution to a real-world challenge. SoSC fosters STEM skills and awareness through interactive learning, preparing young minds for future challenges in city planning and technology. 

3. Sally Ride Science Academy at the University of California San Diego

Location: University of California, San Diego.
Fee: Each courses’ fees differ, ranging from $175 to $450. Scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: The application deadlines vary depending on the course and program schedule. Typically, applications close several weeks before the course starts. 
Program Dates: 4-day workshops held across June and July for different courses. Students can choose more than one course (the dates don’t overlap).
Eligibility: Open to all middle and high school students.

This program offers engaging workshops that cover a diverse range of subjects, including STEM fields like computer science, robotics, engineering and biology. In addition to the traditional STEM subjects, the program also offers workshops in areas such as coding, data science, digital design, environmental science, biotechnology and psychology.

Led by expert instructors and scientists, these hands-on workshops will allow you to explore your varied interests, develop critical thinking skills, and engage in collaborative projects. Most courses are conducted in-person, with some online options. 

4. Computer Science Summer Camp at Oakland University 

Location: Oakland University, Rochester, MI
Fee: $425 (lunch is included).
Application Deadline: There is no information available on this at the moment.
Program Dates: July (tentatively, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Open to all middle school students.

Oakland University offers a range of camps over summer, fall, winter and spring for middle and high school students. The Computer Science Summer Camp is ideal for students interested in the subject, who are just starting to build their knowledge and skills. In the camp, you will learn computer programming, website coding and development, app development for mobile devices, and video game design. Course modules include straight programming as well as GUI object-oriented programming.  You will be encouraged to follow your creativity in open-ended exercises.

Students particularly interested in coding can consider the Adventures in Coding camp as well!

5. Summer Camps at the University of California San Diego

Location: University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA.
Fee: Fees vary for different camps, ranging from $205 to $340. 
Application Deadline: Registrations open in February. There is no information available at the moment on when they close.
Program Dates: All camps are 4-day long, and will be conducted in June and July.
Eligibility: Different camps are available for all middle and high school students.

The University of California, San Diego, offers a variety of summer camps for middle and high school students. These camps cover engineering, Python, Java, graphic arts, robotics and more.

Middle school students interested in computer science can choose from these three camps: Cartoon Animation and Beginning Programming with Scratch, Designing and Prototyping with TinkerCAD, and Creating Awesome Stop Motion Animation. These camps will give students an opportunity to learn, build skill and knowledge in some niche computer science subjects such as programming in Scratch, TinkerCAD, and so on. The camps offer valuable insight which can be a strong building block in your computer science journey.

You can take a look at all the available camps here.

6. Introduction to Computer Science at Harvard University (Online)

Location: Virtual. The course can be accessed on the edX platform.
Fee: Free. To obtain a verified certificate on completion, you’ll need to pay $219.
Application Deadline: The course is open till December 31, 2023, accessible to anyone!
Program Dates: Self-paced, students can begin the course at their convenience. It’s available till December 31, 2023.
Eligibility: This is an introductory course open to anyone.

Harvard University offers several programs taught online via edX.This introductory course, taught by some of Harvard’s senior faculty members, is a strong step for students starting out in computer science.

In the course, you will gain a comprehensive grasp of computer science and programming concepts. This self-paced course covers algorithmic thinking, problem-solving, and diverse languages like C, Python, SQL, JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. You will explore abstraction, algorithms, data structures, security, software engineering, and web development. The course offers engaging problem sets inspired by real-world domains such as biology, finance, cryptography, forensics and gaming. You will engage with a community of like-minded learners with different levels of experience. The course includes a final programming project, which you will present to your peers.

The course caters to everyone, regardless of previous programming experience. Successful completion of programming assignments and the final project earns students a certificate (at an additional cost of $219). The on-campus version of CS50x, CS50, is Harvard's largest course. While the course is self-paced, the university suggests completing it in 11 weeks, devoting 10-20 hours per week. 

7. Summer Computer Camps at CalTech (California Institute of Technology) with iD Tech

Location: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA.
Fee: Fees vary for different camps. More details will be released soon. You can check here.
Application Deadline: Dates vary for different camps, and exact dates for 2024 will be released by the end of 2023. You can check here. Registrations for Summer 2024 will open in November 2023.
Program Dates: Dates vary for different camps, and exact dates for 2024 will be released by the end of 2023. You can check here.
Eligibility: Open to all middle and high school students.

iD Tech partners with several leading universities across the US to offer programming, game development, robotics, and design courses for kids and teens on their campuses. 

iD Tech’s specialized summer computer programs are for kids, preteens, and teens. Tailored to various age groups and experience levels, these camps provide a balanced learning experience. While tech skills are emphasized, students won't be glued to screens all day. In small groups of maximum 8 students per instructor, participants explore STEM subjects like programming in Java, C++, Python, and Scratch, app development for iPhone and Android, Minecraft, game design, robotics with VEX and LEGO, 3D modeling, filmmaking, photography, and web design. The focus is on hands-on learning and collaboration. You will interact with your peers, gaining confidence and exposure to a real college environment. These camps foster skills and connections that can extend beyond the summer experience. 

If you are interested, some of the university courses you can attend include Purdue University, Stanford University, UCLA and Columbia University. You can see all the universities that offer iD Tech courses on-campus here. Note that course availability varies by location, and you’ll find the details of each location’s available courses on their individual pages.

8. Computer Science 101 at StanfordOnline (Stanford University)

Location: Virtual. The course can be accessed on the edX platform.
Fee: Free, with the option of a paid upgrade at $199. 
Application Deadline: The course is available till November 26, accessible to anyone. If you take the paid upgrade, you will have unlimited access to the course material.
Program Dates: Self-paced, students can begin the course at their convenience. It’s available till November 26, 2023.
Eligibility: This is an introductory course open to anyone.

Stanford University offers several programs taught online via edX. This course, taught by a senior lecturer at Stanford, can be a solid starting point for students who wish to explore computer science.

This is a beginner-friendly, self-paced course designed for those with no prior computer science experience. The course will simplify complex computer concepts into easy-to-understand patterns. You will  experiment with simple lines of "computer code" directly in your browsers, exploring the capabilities and limitations of computers. The course covers essential topics such as computer hardware and software. No additional software downloads are required; everything happens within the browser. Whether you're curious about computers, software, or the internet, this course breaks down the fundamentals without requiring any prior technical knowledge. The course covers the nature of computers and code, loops and logic, abstraction, bugs, how structured data works, how the internet works, computer security and more.

It’s recommended you complete the course in 7 weeks, committing 4-6 hours per week.

Bonus!

Lumiere Junior Explorer Program

Location: Remote 

Cost: $1990 (financial aid is available) 

Application deadline: Upcoming spring deadline - 18 February, 2024

Program dates: March 11, 2024

Eligibility: Middle school students

The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a 1-on-1 research program designed particularly for middle school students. Through the program, students will get a chance to work with PhD mentors from top universities like Harvard, Yale, MIT, and more to write research papers in their field of interest. You can pick from a wide range of subjects and topics including engineering, business, psychology, and social science. This is a great opportunity for students interested in interdisciplinary research and want to gain in depth knowledge of a subject. 

Here are a few additional programs and resources for you to go through to get started on your computer science journey! 

1. Stanford Summer Institutes - Introduction to C (this is only open to students in grade 8)
2. Stanford Summer Institutes - Product Design (this is only open to students in grade 8)
3. Carnegie Mellon University offers curriculum and courses for both students and teachers in a range of subjects. This is the material it offers on computer science: CS Academy and CS-STEM Network.
4. MIT conducts a free, week-long science program for economically disadvantaged middle school students on campus, called DynaMIT. Of the various STEM subjects covered in the program, computer science, engineering and technology are included.  
5. Edx courses you can go through - Introduction to Programming with Scratch at Harvard University (Online) and Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) by the University of Michigan

Image Source: NYU Logo