15 Math Programs for Middle School Students
If you are a middle schooler who enjoys solving problems and exploring new challenges, math programs can be an excellent way to take your curiosity further. These programs give you the chance to dive into areas of math that go beyond what is usually taught in school, while also helping you build practical skills like logical reasoning, proof writing, and problem-solving.
These programs are often accessible and supported by well-regarded universities and organizations. Since they focus on intellectual growth, community, and exploration, they offer strong preparation for future academic and career paths. You can also work experts in the field and learn from them, while meeting peers who share your interests.
To help you find the right opportunities, we’ve compiled a list of 15 math programs for middle school students.
15 Math Programs for Middle School Students
1. Pasadena City College – Math Academy for Middle School Students
Location: Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~25 students per class
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th graders
Pasadena City College offers a Math Academy that gives rising 7th and 8th graders the chance to strengthen their skills through free noncredit courses. In this program, you can enroll in classes like math basics, pre-algebra, algebra 1A or 1B, or geometry, depending on your current level. Each course has a structured curriculum, with homework and exams, and is capped at about 25 students to keep class sizes small. Topics range from arithmetic with fractions and decimals to graphing equations, quadratic functions, and geometric reasoning. By the end, you’ll receive a letter grade that reflects your progress, providing a concrete measure of what you’ve achieved.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
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: Students in grades 6-8
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 as well as 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 student projects have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications. You can apply to the program here.
3. Stony Brook University – Middle School Math Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: $375
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24 students per program
Dates: July 21 – 24
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6 to 9
At Stony Brook University’s Middle School Math Program, you will take part in interactive sessions designed to strengthen your understanding of core math concepts. Students in grades 6 and 7 practice skills through activities related to algebra, geometry, rational numbers, statistics, and probability, all taught in ways that connect math to real-world problems. Those in grades 8 and 9 move into more advanced material by studying functions such as linear, quadratic, and exponential, while also reinforcing algebra skills like factoring. These hands-on activities foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills, requiring curiosity and persistence from participants.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Deadline: Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines, you can refer to this
Eligibility: Grade 6 - 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program gives you the chance to work one-on-one with a PhD mentor over an eight-week period to create your own research project. Aimed at students in grades 6 through 8, the program is fully online and lets you explore topics from a field you’re interested in. During the first four weeks, you’ll study several different areas to see what excites you most. In weeks five and six, you’ll focus on one of those areas in greater depth. The final stage of the program is dedicated to building your project with close guidance from your mentor, which could take the form of a research paper, presentation, or case study. Throughout the process, you’ll develop skills in critical thinking, writing, and analysis while learning how to carry out independent academic work.
5. Math Corps – University of Michigan
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~60 students
Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application deadline: April 18
Eligibility: 6th–8th graders attending school in the Ypsilanti area
The Math Corps at the University of Michigan is a summer program that combines math instruction with mentorship early on. As a participant, you will work on both foundational and advanced math concepts while also exploring activities such as robotics, modular arithmetic, and probability-based card tricks. This math program for middle school students emphasizes a “kids-teaching-kids” approach, where older students help guide younger ones. Many participants return in later years to serve as mentors, building a long-term community of learners.
6. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) Mathematics Program
Location: Multiple campuses, including Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI; Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA; Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
Cost: Varies by course, campus, and format (residential vs. commuter)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective based on qualifying test scores; 16–18 students in each class
Dates: Varies by course and session
Application deadline: May 16
Eligibility: Varies by course; most options open to middle school students with qualifying scores
The Johns Hopkins CTY Mathematics Program gives middle school students the chance to take rigorous math courses either online or on campus. Depending on your placement, you may study subjects such as Number Theory, Game Theory, Cryptology, or Mathematical Logic, each of which emphasizes reasoning, proofs, and advanced problem-solving. Online courses involve lectures, homework, projects, and exams with opportunities for one-on-one feedback from instructors. In-person courses also include the added experience of living and learning on a college campus. A course like Mathematical Logic, for example, introduces you to formal grammar and rules of inference while practicing how to test the validity of arguments.
7. University of Chicago – Young Scholars Program
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $250 – $1,000 depending on family income; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: June 30 – July 25
Application deadline: April 11
Eligibility: Chicago-area students entering grades 7–12
At the University of Chicago’s Young Scholars Program, you can spend four weeks exploring advanced math topics beyond the standard school curriculum. The program brings together those who enjoy challenges like math competitions or simply want to dive deeper into problem-solving. Each day includes two lectures from UChicago faculty and smaller discussion groups led by undergraduate math majors. The math program for middle school students focuses on one central theme each summer, such as geometry, allowing you to study a subject in depth. Instead of preparing for tests, you will practice creative reasoning and mathematical thinking in a setting that values exploration.
8. Canada/USA Mathcamp
Location: Varies each year; previously held at Lewis & Clark in Portland, OR
Cost: $0 – $6,000 based on family income; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 130 students (65 new students + 55 returning alumni)
Dates: June 29 – August 3
Application deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Students who are 13–18 years old
Canada/USA Mathcamp is a five-week residential program for mathematically talented students, bringing together participants from around the world to study university-level concepts. You will be able to choose from a wide range of daily classes, which might include abstract algebra, topology, real analysis, quantum computation, or even applications of mathematics in linguistics and physics. The program also covers independent projects, where you can work individually or with peers on a topic of your choice and present your findings at the end. Faculty members range from graduate students to well-known mathematicians, and weekly colloquia introduce topics such as the mathematics of origami, string theory, or cognitive science. Outside of class, evenings are filled with optional activities like board games, music, and sports.
9. CyberMath Academy – Summer Math Camp
Location: Harvard Faculty Club, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $3,799 – $3,999 (day participants) | $7,985 – $8,485 (residential participants); exact cost varies based on your registration date
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: July 7 – 18
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students who are 9–18 years old
CyberMath Academy runs a two-week summer camp that focuses on advanced mathematics for motivated students. If you’re in grades 4 through 8, you can take part in courses that cover algebra, geometry, number theory, and combinatorics while solving puzzles and ciphers to practice critical thinking. Classes are taught by experienced instructors, with guest lectures delivered by faculty from universities like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. The program also includes tours of the Harvard and MIT campuses, offering you an early glimpse into college life. Sessions are held at the Harvard Faculty Club, and students stay in residential housing in Harvard Square.
10. Texas State Mathworks Junior Summer Math Camp – Residential (JSMC)
Location: Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Cost: $2,200; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~20%; ~60 students per cohort
Dates: June 7 – 19
Application deadline: Applications open January 1 yearly
Eligibility: 6th – 8th-grade students
The Junior Summer Math Camp at Texas State University is a two-week residential program designed for middle school students who enjoy tackling challenging math. When you arrive on campus, you’ll be placed in a study group with peers and work closely with university professors and counselors. Each day includes math classes, study sessions, recreational time, and camp outings, giving you a full schedule of academic and social activities. The math program for middle school students focuses on problem solving and developing creative approaches to mathematical questions, helping you grow as both a thinker and a collaborator.
11. SigmaCamp
Location: Silver Lake Camp and Conference Center, Sharon, CT
Cost: $1,850; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~40–48 students
Dates: August 2 – 9
Application deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Middle and high school students who are 12–16 years old
SigmaCamp is a one-week residential program where middle and high school students explore advanced STEM subjects alongside researchers from universities like MIT, Yale, and Princeton. If you follow the math track, you will work on challenging problems under the guidance of professional mathematicians while also joining activities that blend theory with hands-on application. A central feature of this math program for middle school students is Semilabs, interdisciplinary workshops where you explore connections between math, physics, computer science, and engineering. You can also participate in elective lectures, daily SigmaTournaments featuring puzzles and math games, and the Junior Instructor Challenge, where campers attempt to teach a concept to their peers. Outside of academics, recreational activities help you connect with other students who share your interests.
12. National Math Camps
Location: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA, or Saint Mary’s School, Raleigh, NC
Cost: $3,500; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Camp Conway (CA): June 15 – 28 (Session 1) or June 29 – July 12 (Session 2) | Camp Sierpiński (NC): July 6 – 19 (Session 1) or July 20 – August 2 (Session 2)
Application deadline: May 11 (Camp Conway) | May 25 (Camp Sierpiński)
Eligibility: Students who are 11–14 years old
National Math Camps are enrichment programs that allow you to explore mathematical topics within a community. Each week, you will pick a Topic Class on areas like graph theory, knot theory, cryptography, or voting systems, and also attend daily Math Explorations classes that teach how mathematicians approach problem-solving. Throughout camp, you will solve puzzles, attend lectures, and work on problem sets that encourage deeper thinking. Alongside academics, the math program for middle school students includes social activities such as talent shows, outdoor games, and evening events, giving you a balance between study and recreation.
13. Epsilon Camp
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Cost: ~$5,920; full financial aid is available for eligible families
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective with multi-round review
Dates: July 13 – 27
Application deadline: Priority admission: January 8, after which applications are accepted on a rolling basis until May 1 or until full
Eligibility: Students ages 7–12
Epsilon Camp is a two-week residential program designed for highly gifted students where you will study topics such as number theory, combinatorics, fractals, and symmetry in classes taught by professional mathematicians. Each day usually includes three structured lessons along with time for puzzles, games, and independent exploration. The curriculum is centered on three skills: abstraction, where you trace ideas back to logical foundations; communication, where you practice proofs and mathematical writing; and exploration, where you make conjectures and test patterns. Students are grouped into levels based on experience, with newer campers starting in courses like Pythagoras or Euclid, while returning campers may advance to Gauss or Conway levels. Alongside your classes, the camp also hosts a parent workshop series to help families better support mathematically gifted children.
14. MathPath
Location: Varies by year; previously at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA
Cost: $6,300; financial aid and early payment discounts available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: June 29 – July 27
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students who are 11–14 years old; admission is based on performance on a challenging set of entrance problems
MathPath is a four-week residential summer program created for students aged 11 to 14 who show a strong interest in mathematics. Each day includes plenary talks that cover topics such as the history of mathematics, guest lectures from visiting scholars, and sessions on communication and collaboration in math. In addition, you’ll take part in breakout courses, which change each week and cover subjects like number theory, induction, combinatorics, or geometry. Homework is light but encourages you to think deeply, with evening “math conferencing time” set aside for discussing problems with faculty and peers. The program also includes informal activities like daily challenge problems and math-related games during free time.
15. Stanford Middle School Scholars Program: Real-Life Applications to Mathematics
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 12 students
Dates: Summer Program: July 7 – 25 | Fall Semester Meetings: August 27 – December 10
Application deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 and 7 from low-income backgrounds who reside and attend school in the U.S.
Through Stanford’s Middle School Scholars Program, you can study advanced topics while also preparing for the transition into rigorous high school courses. The math program for middle school students starts with a three-week online summer course in July and continues with weekly meetings through December. One of the available options, Real-Life Applications to Mathematics, enables you to explore subjects such as cryptography, modular arithmetic, and financial mathematics. These live online classes encourage collaboration with a small group of peers, giving you space to work through problems in real time with instructors.
Image Source - Johns Hopkins University logo