12 Programs for Middle School Students in Boston
As a middle school student, structured programs can be a great way for you to learn beyond the school curriculum and build life skills. These programs can help you prepare for high school and beyond, gain industry experience, and build valuable connections. Whether your interests lie in medicine, computer science, robotics, biotechnology, or engineering, the right program can offer you opportunities to dive into a field and explore its practical applications.
Boston is a great location to find such learning experiences, thanks to its high concentration of reputable universities, research institutions, and technology companies. Engaging in a Boston-based program can be an opportunity to gain access to advanced academic resources and explore the broader industry ecosystem (e.g., biotech, engineering, and healthcare). Local students can benefit from the ease of access to these programs. On the other hand, if you are an out‑of‑city student, you can experience a vibrant academic environment and make new connections in the city.
To help you with your search, we have put together a list of 12 programs for middle school students in Boston.
1. MIT DynaMIT
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA (10 minutes away from Boston, MA)
Cost: None
Application deadline: Not specified
Dates: Mid to late August (separate one-week sessions for rising 6th and 7th graders and for rising 8th and 9th graders)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6 –9
MIT DynaMIT is a free week-long program for middle schoolers. Here, you will work on hands-on STEM challenges with guidance from MIT undergraduates. The program takes place on MIT’s main campus, giving you access to labs and spaces where you can experiment directly with available materials and tools. Topics vary each summer, but often include subjects like coding, forensics, electricity and magnetism, and materials science. Every day, you will group activities to learn new concepts and work on projects to apply what you have learned. You will also work on a capstone project during the week, which you will present to other students and families on the last day.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial assistance available
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines; You can apply to the program here.
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over two weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort; dates vary
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that allows middle school students to learn about the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will explore the basics of Python along with topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. You will learn through lectures and group sessions that follow 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 customized list of educational resources based on specified criteria.
3. Dive In Commonwealth
Location: Commonwealth School, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Application deadline: March 15
Dates: July 6 – August 14 + select Saturdays during the school year
Eligibility: High-achieving middle school students from low-income families living in and around Boston
This multi-year summer program is designed for Massachusetts middle school students looking for academic preparation opportunities. Over six weeks in the summer, you will take core courses in subjects like English and math, along with electives such as computer science, biology, and theater. The program also continues during the school year with Saturday sessions that help reinforce what you have learned and provide guidance as you begin thinking about high school options. Additionally, the program offers field trips, creative activities like art, and time set aside for sports and social interaction. This combination allows you to stay engaged, build skills across different areas, and connect with other students in a structured setting.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies according to program; financial aid available
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Academically strong middle school students
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an online research opportunity designed for students in grades 6 – 8. Over the course of eight weeks, you will work one-on-one with a mentor who holds or is pursuing a Ph.D. at a leading university, such as Harvard, MIT, or Stanford. The program allows you to choose a topic that interests you—this could be anything from artificial intelligence or environmental science to history or business. You will meet with your mentor weekly to learn how to frame research questions, organize information, and develop your ideas. During the program, you will also work on your project in stages, with the goal of writing a short research paper by the end.
5. Boston After School & Beyond Summer Programs
Location: Multiple venues across Boston, MA
Cost: Varies; free options are also available.
Application deadline: Varies by program; check provider sites
Dates: July – August + after-school year-round
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8; specific requirements can vary by program
Boston Beyond operates by partnering with local museums, colleges, and nonprofit organizations, bringing together skill-based camps in multiple locations. As a result, it offers various programs in arts, STEM, physical education, and college/career preparation for school students. The curriculum varies by provider but typically offers academic support, hands-on activities, and mentorship. Accessibility is a focus here, with many programs offering free participation to Boston students. Field trips, outdoor learning, and activities in real-world settings are common parts of the program.
6. Museum of Fine Arts Boston ’s Teen Studio Art Classes
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Cost: Tuition varies by session and class; members receive discounts
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment
Dates: Summer, spring, winter, and fall classes with varying dates
Eligibility: Students, ages 12 – 17
This program offers studio-based art classes for middle and high school students interested in developing their skills in areas like drawing, painting, mixed media, and other visual arts. Classes meet once a week in small groups of up to 12 students, allowing you to get regular feedback and guidance from instructors who are practicing artists and educators. You will also have the chance to explore different materials and techniques, often drawing inspiration from works in the museum’s collection. Through hands-on projects, you will build technical skills while exploring your ideas, all in a setting where you can connect with others who are also interested in visual art. Whether you’re just starting out or have prior experience, the program is designed to support a range of skill levels and encourage you to think about art through different cultural and historical lenses.
7. Kode With Klossy Summer Camp
Location: Virtual and in-person; sites can vary each year
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Not specified
Dates: Two weeks in the summer; dates vary by year
Eligibility: Women and gender expansive teens, ages 13 – 18
Kode With Klossy’s Summer Camp is a free two-week introduction to coding/programming, software development, and machine learning. As a participant, you will explore tech and computer science disciplines through one of four tracks. In the camp’s web development track, you will gain experience working with HTML, JavaScript, and CSS and develop an online platform. The mobile app track covers coding in Swift (Apple’s programming language), allowing you to create an iOS mobile application from scratch. The machine learning track covers AI and ML concepts such as algorithms, natural language processing, and datasets. In the data science track, you will examine data and draw insights using SQL, Python, and data visualization tools.
8. Berklee College of Music’s Youth Musical Theater Summer Program
Location: Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA
Cost: $1,100/week (or $900 with early registration) + $50 nonrefundable registration fee
Application deadline: Not specified; applicants can register by January 26 to get a discounted cost
Dates: Week 1: July 27 – July 31; Week 2: August 3 – 7
Eligibility: Students, ages 12 – 14
The Youth Musical Theater Summer Program offers one- and two-week experiences for middle school students interested in performing arts. Each day includes a mix of activities such as warm-ups, theater exercises, and workshops focused on acting, singing, dancing, and writing for the stage. You will engage in small group work and full ensemble sessions and build collaboration skills. Throughout the program, you will prepare for a final performance that gives you a chance to share what you've learned with family and friends. Designed for students in Massachusetts, this program focuses specifically on building skills in musical theater, providing a space to develop creativity while working with like-minded peers.
9. Stanford Middle School Scholars Program (SMSSP)
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Application deadline: March 20 (tentatively)
Dates: July 7 – 25 (summer course) + weekly sessions from August 27 – December 10 (tentative)
Eligibility: U.S. students who are in grades 6 and 7 and belong to low-income backgrounds
This no-cost academic program offered by Stanford is designed to help middle school students build the skills needed for advanced high school courses. It begins with a three-week summer session and continues into the fall with weekly online meetings. You will engage in courses that focus on subjects like math, democracy, and social movements, each taught by instructors from Stanford Online High School, many of whom hold advanced degrees. You will learn in small groups and work closely with peers and instructors. The program encourages critical thinking, independent learning, and applying knowledge to broader issues. It also offers opportunities to prepare for admission to competitive high schools.
10. Code.org’s AI for Oceans
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application deadline: None
Dates: The courses are available all year round
Eligibility: Open to all
AI for Oceans is an educational course developed by Code.org and Microsoft that introduces middle school students to artificial intelligence through the lens of marine biology. Here, you will work with machine learning tools and resources, including a pre-trained model from the TensorFlow MobileNet project and a Support-Vector Machine, to explore how AI can be used to study and solve environmental problems. You will learn about marine ecosystems and examine how technologies like AI can help address issues such as ocean pollution and climate change. Activities focus on interpreting ocean-related data, modifying AI models, and exploring how technology might support environmental research. This can be an opportunity to explore your interests in computer science, biology, and environmental studies.
11. Wolfram Middle School Summer Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $500
Application deadline: July 6
Dates: July 26 – 31
Eligibility: Middle school students who identify as girls and gender-nonconforming individuals, as well as students who were assigned female at birth, ages 11 – 14
The Wolfram Middle School Summer Camp is a one-week program designed for middle school girls who want to develop skills in programming and computational thinking. Led by instructors from Wolfram, the camp includes hands-on workshops and guided projects that introduce you to coding, design, and problem-solving using computational tools. In addition to daily exercises, you will attend sessions covering topics such as natural language processing, machine learning with finance data, computational poetry, and agriculture-related technologies. The program also includes virtual group activities like trivia games, livecoding sessions, and discussions based on shared interests, providing a mix of academic and social experiences.
12. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,080; financial aid available
Application deadline: March 20
Dates: Session One: June 16 – 27; Session Two: July 7 – 18
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 – 11
This Stanford program offers middle and high school students access to entirely virtual college-level courses over the summer. You can choose from 70 intensive courses across the sciences, humanities, math, business, and social sciences, with options ranging from creative writing and biosciences to game design and C++. Each course typically consists of virtual lectures, class discussions, homework, and project work. Some courses also allow you to work on problem sets, complete collaborative exercises, and engage in case study analysis. As a participant, you will study alongside peers from around the world, gaining experience in cross-cultural collaboration as well as advanced academics.
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