15 Online Courses for Middle School Students
If you are curious, motivated, and want to learn beyond what school offers, structured academic online courses for middle school students can be a solid option. These courses provide early exposure to practical skills such as coding, research, writing, and data analysis, without the pressure of grades or exams. Since these programs are online, you can learn from anywhere and manage your time more independently.
How Are Courses Different From Other Programs in Middle School?
Courses are generally more flexible than camps, internships, or multi-week enrichment programs. Many are self-paced or require only a limited weekly time commitment, allowing you to balance academic responsibilities, extracurricular involvement, and personal interests. Through these courses, you can develop skills in coding, structured argumentation, scientific analysis, and academic reading and writing.
To help with your search, here are 15 online courses for middle school students.
If you are looking for online programs, check out our blog here.
1. Making the Case: Effective Legal Arguments – Johns Hopkins CTY
Cost/Stipend: $1,365; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: January 28 – March 11; March 25 – May 6
Application Deadline: January 5; February 17
Eligibility: Grades 7–11
This course introduces you to how legal arguments are formed, analyzed, and challenged. You explore the American judicial system by working through historical and fictional court cases. Much of the learning happens through close reading, structured discussions, and careful reasoning rather than memorization. You participate in live Zoom sessions where you share opinions, respond to classmates, and receive instructor feedback. Independent assignments help you organize your arguments clearly in writing. The course works well if you enjoy debate, structured thinking, or explaining ideas logically.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohorts; selective mentoring ratio
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (spring); 25 hours over 2 weeks (summer)
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Grades 6–8
This program introduces artificial intelligence concepts in a structured, age-appropriate manner. You begin by learning Python fundamentals before moving into data analysis and machine learning topics. Small-group sessions make it easier to ask questions and get help when concepts are confusing. You apply what you learn through guided projects, similar to models students have built in past cohorts. The program also includes discussions on AI ethics, helping you consider how technology affects people. It is a good fit if you like problem-solving and want an early look at AI beyond buzzwords.
3. Dream It, Code It, Build It – Johns Hopkins CTY
Cost/Stipend: $1,365; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: March 24 – May 5
Application Deadline: February 17
Eligibility: Grades 7–10
This course focuses on turning an idea into a real, working mobile app. You use MIT App Inventor, which allows you to build apps using visual blocks rather than complex syntax. Each week, you work through hands-on coding tasks while gradually designing and improving your own app. You also learn how to debug problems and think through user experience. Optional extensions let you add advanced features if you move quickly. By the end, you understand how apps are planned, tested, and launched, not just how they look on the surface.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 8-week sessions run in multiple cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Several rolling deadlines throughout the year
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
This program is designed for middle school students who enjoy thinking deeply and asking big questions. You work one-on-one with a PhD mentor from universities such as Harvard, MIT, or Oxford, which makes the learning experience feel highly personal and focused. In the first few weeks, you spend time exploring different ideas and reading broadly, without pressure to settle on a topic immediately. As the program progresses, you narrow your interests to a clear research question and begin to shape a structured project. The final weeks focus on writing, revising, and strengthening your reasoning with direct mentor feedback. Because the program is fully virtual, you can manage the workload alongside school while still doing serious academic work.
5. Pixar in a Box – Khan Academy
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Unlimited
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Middle school
This course shows how math is used behind the scenes in animated films. You learn how concepts like geometry, algebra, and trigonometry help animate characters and scenes. Videos from Pixar artists explain real challenges faced during production. Interactive tools allow you to experiment with lighting, motion, and camera angles. You also complete small creative projects that apply these ideas. The course is especially engaging if you enjoy both creative storytelling and technical thinking.
6. Intro to Computer Science – Python (Khan Academy)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Unlimited
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Grades 6–8 beginners
This course introduces coding step by step using Python. You start with simple ideas like variables and gradually move into loops, functions, and conditionals. Everything runs directly in your browser, which removes setup barriers. Projects help you see how code solves real problems, not just abstract exercises. Debugging lessons teach you how to identify and fix mistakes patiently. By the end, you develop a solid foundation in computational thinking.
7. Project STEM: CS Fundamentals in Scratch
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open
Dates: Flexible; 9–12 weeks or longer formats
Application Deadline: Year-round
Eligibility: Grades 6–9+
This course introduces computer science in a highly visual, beginner-friendly format. You use Scratch, a block-based programming language, which means you focus more on ideas and logic instead of worrying about typing code correctly. Throughout the course, you build interactive projects, such as games and animations, that respond to user input. The lessons encourage you to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them as part of the learning process. Inquiry-based activities help you understand why certain programming choices work better than others. The course also introduces concepts such as user-centered design and data in a simple manner. It works well if you like learning by building things and seeing results quickly.
8. Middle School Biology – Khan Academy
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment, unlimited
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Grades 6–8
This course gives you a structured introduction to biology concepts commonly taught in middle school. You explore topics such as cells, organisms, ecosystems, and evolution through short videos and interactive practice. Complex ideas such as photosynthesis or natural selection are broken into smaller, manageable parts. Practice questions provide immediate feedback, helping you catch misunderstandings early. Progress tracking also helps you see which topics need more attention. It is a steady, reliable way to build strong scientific fundamentals.
9. Middle School Physics – Khan Academy
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Middle school
This course introduces physics through visuals, simulations, and real-world examples. You study motion, forces, energy, waves, and electricity using interactive tools that show how things move and change. Simulations make abstract concepts such as gravity and friction easier to understand. You work through problems that connect physics to everyday situations, like sound or motion. The course focuses more on reasoning than memorization. You can pause, review, and repeat lessons whenever something feels confusing. It is designed to prepare you smoothly for high school-level physics concepts.
10. Middle School Earth and Space Science – Khan Academy
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open, unlimited
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Grades 6–8
This course explores how Earth systems and space phenomena work together. You learn about weather patterns, climate, plate tectonics, and natural resources through videos and models. Interactive simulations allow you to test predictions and observe outcomes. Space science units introduce the solar system, gravity, and planetary motion. The course also connects environmental changes to ecosystem health. Practice exercises strengthen scientific thinking and observation skills. The self-paced structure makes learning easy and stress-free.
11. HarvardX: Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Part 1 – The Electrical Properties of the Neuron
Cost/Stipend: Free to audit; $249 for verified certificate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; 679,000+ learners enrolled
Dates: January 28 – April 1
Application Deadline: None; self-enrollment
Eligibility: Introductory level; no prior experience required
This course introduces how neurons use electrical signals to transmit information in the nervous system. You will study topics like resting potential, passive membrane properties, and how action potentials are generated and transmitted. The course uses interactive simulations in which you build neuron models and explore how electrical signals propagate across membranes. You will also learn how to run simple neuroscience experiments at home using low-cost tools. Lessons are structured so you can move at your own pace while still covering core college-level concepts. This course works well if you want to strengthen your biology background before or during other science programs.
12. HarvardX: Cell Biology – Mitochondria
Location: Virtual (HarvardX / edX platform)
Cost/Stipend: Free to audit; $149 for verified certificate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; 157,000+ learners enrolled
Dates: January 28 – May 6
Application Deadline: None; self-enrollment
Eligibility: Introductory level; no prior experience required
This course focuses on how cells produce energy, with a detailed look at mitochondria and cellular metabolism. You will learn how cell structure supports function and how ATP is produced by molecular machines such as the F1F0 ATP synthase. The course also explains how cells process nutrients to support mitochondrial activity. You will be introduced to experimental techniques used in labs to study mitochondrial structure and function. Lessons connect cell biology to real-world topics like disease and development. This course is helpful if you want a stronger foundation before or during biology- or medicine-focused summer programs.
13. UTokyoX: Basic Analytical Chemistry
Cost/Stipend: Free to audit; $59 for verified certificate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; 38,000+ learners enrolled
Dates: January 28 – April 6
Application Deadline: None; self-enrollment
Eligibility: Introductory level; no prior experience required
This course introduces the core principles and techniques used in modern analytical chemistry. You will learn how to evaluate accuracy and precision in experimental data using statistical methods. The curriculum covers techniques such as titrations, spectrophotometry, chromatography, and electrochemical analysis. You will also study how chemical equilibria affect quantitative measurements. Lessons focus on how these methods are applied in life sciences, environmental science, and geochemistry. This course is useful if you want a stronger foundation in lab methods before joining research-based science programs.
14. Grammar – Khan Academy
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Middle school
This course focuses on improving grammar and sentence structure. You learn about punctuation, verb tenses, clauses, and modifiers through short lessons. Targeted exercises help reinforce each rule. Editing-style questions teach you how to spot mistakes in real writing. Writing practice encourages the application of grammar in context. Quizzes provide explanations, not just scores. It supports clearer writing across all subjects.
15. 6th Grade Reading and Vocabulary – Khan Academy
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Grade 6
This course builds reading comprehension and vocabulary together. You read passages from science, history, and literature. Lessons focus on identifying main ideas, making inferences, and understanding the author's intent. Vocabulary practice emphasizes word roots and context clues. Videos demonstrate strategies for analyzing different text types. Longer passages help develop reading stamina. It supports academic reading across subjects and grade levels.
Image source - Khan Academy