15 STEM Programs for Middle School Students in Texas
If you’re a middle school student who wants to explore how science, technology, engineering, and math can be used to solve real-world problems, STEM programs can be a practical way to dive into it. Through hands-on projects, you can begin building skills in areas like coding, engineering design, research, and data analysis while learning how these tools are used outside the classroom. Instead of only learning concepts from a textbook, you may get to test ideas and troubleshoot problems under the guidance of university professors and industry professionals.
Why should you attend a program in Texas?
Texas is home to a wide range of STEM opportunities offered by universities, school districts, and science-focused organizations that open their labs and classrooms to middle school students. These programs can provide you with early exposure to college campuses, faculty-led activities, and project-based learning experiences. Whether you are a local or out-of-state student, you can explore fields such as engineering, biotechnology, and computer science, with mentorship from experienced faculty in the state.
To make your search easier, we’ve narrowed things down to 15 STEM programs for middle school students in Texas.
If you’re looking for online camps, check out our blog here.
1. STARS Middle School Camp at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Location: UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 30 students per camp
Program Dates: June 26 – July 2 (tentative; subject to change)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Current 7th-grade students
At STARS Middle School Camp, you’ll spend several days on the UT Southwestern Medical Center campus participating in hands-on lab and classroom activities led by middle school teachers and supported by university staff. You will begin with foundational skills, such as using a microscope and scientific observation, before moving on to applied topics, including seasonal changes, the law of conservation of mass, balancing chemical equations, and the science behind making ice cream. The program combines structured lab exercises with interactive challenges, including scavenger hunts and a science-based escape room, designed to reinforce concepts such as cell theory and body systems. Throughout the camp, you will attend tour lectures and guest sessions led by UT Southwestern faculty, providing insight into how scientific concepts are applied in medical and research settings. You will work alongside peers in small groups to practice data collection, classification, and use scientific tools such as phylogenetic trees and dichotomous keys.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Program 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. You can apply to the program here.
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 developing a machine-learning algorithm to generate a custom list of educational resources based on specified criteria.
3. Texas State University’s Junior Summer Math Camp – Residential (JSMCR)
Location: Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Cost: $2,200 (scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Up to 76 students
Program Dates: June 7 – 19
Application Deadline: Application opens on December 1; admissions are on a rolling basis until the camp fills up
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 6–8
Texas State University’s JSMCR is a two-week, in-person program where you live on campus and take part in daily mathematics classes led by university professors. You will explore advanced topics such as number theory, combinatorics, probability, and geometry, then apply those concepts during structured problem-solving sessions and small study groups. Your counselors and instructors will guide you through collaborative work that emphasizes mathematical reasoning, communication, and research-style thinking. The camp also includes guest lectures from academic or industry professionals, giving you a chance to hear how higher-level mathematics is used beyond the classroom. Outside of class, you’ll have access to campus facilities and participate in supervised recreational and weekend activities, including group outings and a glass-bottom boat tour.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; you can apply using this link
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program places you in an online research setting where you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor to investigate a topic of your choice. During the eight-week program, you’ll choose from fields like robotics, AI, biology, or genetics before selecting a focused research question to study in more depth. Mentors guide you through research methods, source evaluation, and project planning as you build your work step by step. A key part of the experience is developing a final product, such as a research paper, presentation, or case study that documents your findings. Throughout the program, you will have weekly check-ins with your mentor to help you track your progress and refine your work.
5. UT PREP Summer STEM Pathway
Location: University of Texas, Austin, TX
Cost: $2,700 (scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 15 – July 23
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising grade 7 and 8 students
At the UT PREP Summer STEM Pathway, you will take part in a five-week academic program that blends advanced coursework with hands-on engineering and math-based challenges. In the first summer, you will attend UT PREP 1 classes where you will study topics such as logic, engineering concepts, and robotics through structured inquiry and problem-solving. You will receive academic guidance and day-to-day mentoring from UT undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and staff. The program also includes campus-based experiences like research lab tours, recreational time at Gregory Gym, and organized social activities that introduce you to the university environment. After completing UT PREP 1, you will have the option to return for additional summers and continue through PREP 2–4 as part of a multi-year STEM learning pathway.
6. Texas A&M University’s Aggie STEM Overnight Camps
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost: $1,499
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: May 31 – June 6 (Week 1) | June 7 – 13 (Week 2) | June 21 – 27 (Gaddis Girls Camp)
Application Deadline: April 25
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–12
At Texas A&M University’s Aggie STEM Overnight Camps, you will spend six days and nights on the College Station campus exploring how science, engineering, and technology are applied to real-world problems. You will work through project-based classes in engineering design, coding, physics, and mathematical modeling, with hands-on activities that change each summer based on the camp’s theme. The program is led by Texas A&M faculty and STEM professionals, giving you opportunities to learn directly from people working in research and technical fields. You will also take part in guided tours of campus STEM labs to see how university facilities support scientific study and innovation.
7. STEM Stars Summer Camp at UT Dallas
Location: University of Texas, Dallas, TX
Cost: $175
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited spots available
Program Dates: July 21 – 25 (tentative; based on previous years)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: 4th–8th grade students aged 9–15
As part of the STEM Stars Summer Camp at UT Dallas, you will spend a week at the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science working on hands-on engineering projects focused on Arduino programming, electronics, 3D design, and robotics. You will begin by learning how to build basic circuits and program microcontrollers using sensors, LEDs, and digital and analog inputs. You will then work on a team-based project, where you design, test, and refine your work under the guidance of mentors and real engineers. You will practice coding skills such as conditional logic, loops, and thresholds. The experience includes a structured project presentation at the end of the week, where you explain how your team’s design works and what problems it addresses.
8. UTEP Youth Science and Engineering Camps – Insights' Astro Camp: Launch into the Ultimate Space Adventure!
Location: University of Texas at El Paso, TX
Cost: $150 (early bird discounts available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: March 9 – 13
Application Deadline: Rolling; apply by December 15 to avail early-bird discounts
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
At Insights' Astro Camp, you will explore the science and engineering behind what it would take for humans to live and work in space. You will begin by studying the basic elements of life, human needs, and the effects of radiation and space travel through guided classroom activities. The camp focuses on problem-solving and discussion, prompting you to analyze actual challenges in space exploration. You will work in small groups with guidance from professional instructors and staff, practicing collaboration and scientific reasoning. A defining feature of the camp is its focus on connecting biology, physics, and engineering to practical questions about long-term space missions.
9. UTEP Youth Science and Engineering Camps – A.I. Adventures – Intro to Machine Learning
Location: University of Texas at El Paso, TX
Cost: $200 (early bird discounts available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: March 9 – 13
Application Deadline: Rolling; apply by December 15 to avail early-bird discounts
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
UTEP Youth Science and Engineering Camps’ A.I. Adventures – Intro to Machine Learning course gives you the chance to explore how artificial intelligence and coding come together to create interactive digital games and simulations. You will work with block-based programming tools to build simple machine learning models that can recognize images and text, then apply them to your digital projects. You will work in pairs or small teams to test and improve your projects, guided by problem-solving exercises and feedback from experienced instructors. The program includes opportunities to discuss how AI is used in different industries and technical fields.
10. Rice University’s Forensics Investigators Program
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $599/week (scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited number of seats available
Program Dates: June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: Rolling until seats fill up; registration opens on February 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–7
Rice University’s Forensics Investigators Program lets you step into the role of a forensic scientist and gain insight into how evidence is collected and analyzed in real-world investigations. You will work through practical activities that involve identifying, classifying, and examining different types of evidence, including fingerprints, DNA, and blood patterns. The program sheds light on how scientific methods are applied to real-world crime scenes. Instruction is guided by program staff who support you as you learn about evidence analysis and cutting-edge forensic techniques.
11. Rice Computer Engineering Design Academy
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $699 (scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited number of spots available
Program Dates: June 8 – 12
Application Deadline: Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis; registration opens on February 2
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 6–8
The Rice Computer Engineering Design Academy introduces middle school students to Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Arduino, and rapid prototyping. You will spend a week working in a hands-on lab environment where you learn how computer engineering tools connect to real-world design and manufacturing. You will explore CAD programming, microcontrollers, and basic robotics while building and testing prototypes. The program places a strong emphasis on rapid prototyping, including the use of 3D printers and microelectronics to turn digital designs into tangible objects. Rice instructors and staff will provide guidance throughout the design process, helping you troubleshoot and improve your projects.
12. Rice University’s Tapia STEM Camps
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $2,500 per student (discounts and scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: More than 110 students
Program Dates: July 5 – 10 (Session 1) | July 12 – 17 (Session 2) | July 19 – 24 (Session 3)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering grades 8–12
At Rice University’s Tapia STEM Camps, you will spend six days living on campus while working on hands-on science and engineering projects alongside Rice students and instructors. You will choose a focused project for the week, such as simulating carbon capture and storage or designing a heatsink to explore heat transfer in electronics, and work on it through guided activities and team collaboration. You will learn from course materials designed by Rice researchers and interact with university students, professors, and STEM professionals throughout the camp. You may also have the chance to participate in the camp’s STEM Fair, an interactive science and engineering showcase with booths and mini projects led by university students across fields like physics, geology, and mathematics. The experience also includes a field trip within Houston, often to a site like NASA Johnson Space Center, to connect classroom projects with real-world STEM environments.
13. Rice Bio Academies – BioEng Track
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $599/week + $3 registration fee (scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited number of spots available
Program Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: Rolling until spots are filled; registration opens on February 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–8
At Rice Bio Academies’ BioEng Track, you'll dedicate a week on campus exploring how engineering design relates to human anatomy and solving real-world challenges. You will study the muscular and skeletal systems, then apply those concepts by designing and building a functional prosthetic prototype through guided lab sessions. Using an empathy-driven design process, you will test, revise, and improve your models as you work through each stage of development. Rice University faculty and graduate students will lead the activities, providing instruction on basic research tools and engineering methods. You will also participate in interactive labs, team engineering challenges, and guest speaker events that showcase real-world applications of bioengineering.
14. Plano Independent School District (ISD)’s Computer Science Summer Bridge Program
Location: Clark High School, Plano, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Around 140 students
Program Dates: June 1 – 4 (Session 1) | June 8 – 11 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: April 17
Eligibility: Current 8th-grade students
At Plano ISD’s Computer Science Summer Bridge Program, you will spend several mornings at Clark High School learning to program solutions using the Python programming language in a structured, classroom-based setting. You will complete coding exercises and small projects to develop your skills in logic, problem-solving, and fundamental computer science concepts. There are separate classes for beginners and novices, tailored to your previous experience. The program features sessions on computer science careers and opportunities to interact with professionals, offering insight into real-world coding applications. Transportation is provided from your neighborhood high school campus, making the program accessible to grade 8 students across the district.
15. Plano ISD Exploration
Location: Hendrick Middle School, Robinson Middle School, or McMillen High School in Plano, TX
Cost: $300 + a 4.5% software fee (discounts available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 1 – 18
Application Deadline: April 17
Eligibility: Students in grades 1–7
Plano ISD Exploration lets you attend three summer courses of your choice that focus on engineering, science, computer science, art, or communication in a school-based, hands-on setting. You might get to build and program systems using LEGO SPIKE Prime, write and test Python code, or learn to fly and navigate vertical robot drones, depending on the course you choose. You may also choose options that involve habitat design challenges and conservation activities that connect environmental concepts to real-world ecosystems. A unique aspect of the program is the chance to blend technical STEM courses with creative and communication-focused classes like video production or podcasting, all within the same summer schedule.
Image source - RICE University