15 Computer Science Programs for Middle School Students in New York State
If you’re a middle school student looking for an accessible way to explore the field of computer science beyond the school curriculum, consider participating in a CS program. From coding and app development to data science and robotics, multiple programs offer experiences to help you develop an academic mindset and learn about your fields of interest. These opportunities let you challenge yourself with real projects while learning about the practical applications of computer science.
Many computer science programs for middle school students are offered in New York at reputable universities and organizations, such as Columbia University or NYU Tandon School of Engineering. You can learn from experienced mentors and meet like-minded students to start building your network. With access to world-class institutions and thriving tech communities, New York gives you the chance to explore computer science in a setting full of resources and inspiration.
To help you get started, we've selected 15 programs for middle school students in New York.
1. NYU Tandon Science of Smart Cities
Location: New York University, New York, NY + Other institutions in NYC
Cost: No cost
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Rising 7th-8th graders
The Science of Smart Cities (SoSC) program at NYU Tandon is a four-week summer program for middle school students interested in the intersection of computer science, technology, and engineering. You’ll learn how to make cities more sustainable through applications of electronics and circuitry, coding, microcontrollers, sensors, and other hardware. You’ll work in teams and design a solution for a real problem set. The program culminates in your team's presentation of your project.
2. Veritas AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Middle school students
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python and gain knowledge about topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous projects completed by students have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and developing a machine-learning algorithm to generate a custom list of educational resources based on select specifications.
3. The City College of New York’s STEM Institute
Location: The City College of New York, New York, NY
Cost: No cost
Dates: July 7 – August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students who reside or attend school within the five boroughs of New York City
The STEM Institute at The City College of New York offers courses for middle school students who are underrepresented and underserved in the STEM fields. Courses include Game Programming, Robotics, App Development, and Rocketry, among others. You’ll learn programming in C# and apply it to assemble fully functional 2D games, and more. Throughout the class, you’ll work on an assigned project, and upon completion of the program, you’ll design a project from scratch and present it at the research symposium.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,690; financial aid available
Dates: Varies based on cohort
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary for each cohort
Eligibility: Middle school students
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program offers an engaging 8-week experience for middle school students. As a participant, you will be paired with a mentor and gain the opportunity to explore your academic interests and develop a passion project. Mentors are accomplished scholars from top-tier institutions like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE. Throughout the program, you will progress through structured phases. You will explore different topics and tracks in the first four weeks. Weeks five and six intensify this exploration, allowing you to focus deeply on a single area of interest. The final two weeks will be dedicated to project creation, where you will work closely with your mentors to bring your ideas to life.
5. Baruch College STEP Academy
Location: Baruch College, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Dates: July 7 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: NYC residents in grades 7-12 with a minimum GPA of 83 overall and an 83 or above in math, science, and English courses
The Baruch College STEP (Science and Technology Entry Program) Academy is a four-week pre-college program for middle school students interested in pursuing careers in the scientific, technical, or health-related fields. You’ll enroll in a single course to focus on your subject area, attend lectures and workshops on fields in the health professions, computer science, engineering, business, and others. You’ll explore advanced topics in science and mathematics through in-depth coursework, labs, and enrichment activities. At the end of the program, you’ll present your project learnings to the college faculty, family, and peers through the virtual showcase.
6. BEAM Pathway Program
Location: NYC and LA, with residential summer components at college campuses
Cost: No cost
Dates: July 6 – 27
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Middle school students from underserved communities and low-income backgrounds
Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM) offers a long-term support model for middle school students from underserved communities who are interested in pursuing a career in science, mathematics, engineering, or computer science. Through advanced learning opportunities in number theory, logic, and applied fields, such as astrophysics and computer programming, BEAM builds a bridge for underserved students, supporting them through high school and college. You’ll start after 6th grade with BEAM Discovery, a five-week summer day program. Here, you'll take courses in four areas: Logic, Math Fundamentals, Math Team Strategies, and Applied Math. The following year, you’ll attend BEAM Summer Away, a three-week residential program. Throughout the program, you’ll be guided by mentors as you explore advanced topics not covered in the school curriculum. If selected for the BEAM Pathway Program, you’ll receive support for your transition to high school and college through weekend classes, individual advising for high schools, summer programs, and college admission.
7. New York Tech’s High School Summer Maker Academy
Location: New York Tech’s Long Island campus or New York City campus
Cost: $250 per program/per session
Dates: Varies by program
Application Deadline: May 6
Eligibility: Middle school students
The New York Tech Summer Maker Academy is a weeklong program for middle school students interested in exploring technology to address global climate change. The program includes two tracks: Clean Water and Sanitation, and Sustainable Cities and Communities. In the first track, you’ll work in teams to build a vehicle for delivering clean water to the water-stressed areas of the world through an artificially created landscape. In the second, you’ll design a tech-first, environment-friendly, low-impact Smart City. Both tracks directly connect to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and involve hands-on skill development in Arduino programming, 3D modeling and printing, laser cutting, and soldering. Each program ends with team presentations and competitions that showcase the projects you’ve built.
8. Programming with Python 2 Columbia University Pre-College Programs
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: For NYC Residential Summer: $12,764, For NYC Commuter Summer: $6,310 per session
Dates: Summer(in-person): July 22 – August 08, Spring(virtual): January 23 – March 29
Application Deadline: December 15 for the spring session
Eligibility: Middle school students who have a foundational knowledge of Python and entry-level programming.
The Programming with Python 2 at Columbia University is an advanced programming course for middle school students. You’ll participate in logic games, programming problems, and hands-on assignments, and develop logical reasoning and problem-solving skills. You’ll have a solid understanding of program classes, objects, iterators, lambda functions, file handling, graphical modules, and numerical analysis modules. You can apply these skills in your future ventures in computer science programming.
9. Summer Discovery Middle School Computer Science & Technology courses at Cornell University
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: Tuition Range – $4,699 - $8,499
Dates: July 12 – 31
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Middle school students
At Summer Discovery’s summer program at Cornell University, middle school students can choose from offerings in Applied Data Science with Python, Robotics, Discrete Mathematics, and Forensic Science. In the Applied Data Science with Python course, you’ll learn the foundational concepts of programming, develop object-oriented design programming skills, and apply them to practical data science scenarios. Through the intersection of data science and programming, you’ll learn to analyze data to inform predictions. Upon completion, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion and a letter of recognition.
10. Girls Who Code Clubs
Location: Remote and in-person options
Cost: None
Dates: Year-round sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students in grades 3-12
At the Girls Who Code Clubs, you’ll explore programming concepts including loops, variables, and functions. You’ll work with a team, using a variety of coding languages including Scratch, JavaScript, Python, and Swift, to design a project addressing a real-world problem. The project-based curriculum includes industry topics like web development, cybersecurity, game design, and artificial intelligence (AI). A key feature of the clubs is the emphasis on community, with activities that build confidence and introduce you to women in the technological fields.
11. Kode With Klossy
Location: Virtual and in-person in San Francisco, CA; site can vary each year
Cost: No cost
Dates: Multiple two-week sessions during the summer
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Women and gender expansive teens who are 13 to 18 years old
The Kode With Klossy Summer Camp is a fully funded, two-week program for middle school students, offering four tracks: Web Development, Mobile Application, Machine Learning, and Data Science. In the camp’s web development track, you’ll develop a website using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, and learn how to improve the UI (user interface) and UX (user experience) of a website. In the machine learning track, you’ll train a chatbot using Python. In the data science track, you will use tools like SQL and Python to explore data visualisation. The mobile app track can help you learn how to code in Swift (Apple’s programming language) and develop an iOS mobile application.
12. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes: Introduction to Java Programming and Introduction to C++
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,080
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Middle school students
The Introduction to Java Programming at Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes is a two-week summer program for middle school students interested in building their fundamentals in Object-Oriented Programming using Java. You’ll learn topics like basic syntax, arrays, searching and sorting algorithms, recursion, and advanced topics like graphical user interfaces. You’ll work on daily problem sets, learn to construct algorithms, and compute them. The course provides a foundation for further studies in the field.
13. Harvard’s CS50: Introduction to Computer Science
Location: Virtual
Cost: Audit for free; $219 for verified certificate
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students
Harvard University's CS50: Introduction to Computer Science is an introductory, self-paced course for middle school students interested in computer science and programming. You’ll learn abstraction, algorithms, data structures, encapsulation, resource management, security, software engineering, and web development. You’ll be introduced to languages like Python, SQL, and JavaScript, plus CSS and HTML. You’ll work with peers on real problem sets from fields like cryptography, finance, and forensics, among others. You’ll develop and present a programming project to your peers at the end of the program.
14. University of Michigan’s Python Basics Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: No cost
Dates: 4 weeks; Self-paced course
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Middle school students
The Python Basics course by the University of Michigan is an introductory experience for middle school students who wish to explore Python 3 Programming. You’ll be taught by professors from the University of Michigan’s School of Information. During the course, you’ll learn to draw reference diagrams, understand the elements of control and data structures, and develop a basic understanding of debugging. The course prepares you to take the complete five-course series of the Python 3 Programming Specialization.
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