15 Summer Programs for Middle School Students in Georgia
If you are a middle school student looking to explore your academic or extracurricular interests beyond school, consider a summer program. Summer programs can help you dive into an area of interest through advanced instruction and practical exposure, and develop new skills while connecting with experts and like-minded peers. These programs can also help you build routines for learning, practice working with others, and feel more confident trying new challenges in a supportive setting.
Why should you attend a program in Georgia?
Georgia is home to various universities and organizations that run a variety of summer programs for middle school students. These programs span disciplines across STEM, entrepreneurship, and the arts, providing skill-building opportunities in creative writing, 2D animation, engineering, coding, medicine, public speaking, and more. Open to both local and out-of-state students, programs in the state offer you a chance to explore Georgia’s academic culture.
To make your search easier, we have put together a list of 15 summer programs for middle school students in Georgia.
If you are looking for online programs, check out our blog here.
1. Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Program
Location: Virtual or in-person at various university campuses, including Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Not specified
Dates: Three weeks in the summer
Eligibility: Middle school students enrolled in Atlanta metropolitan area schools
The Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Program is a free summer program for middle school students conducted across the U.S. As a participant, you will explore various topics and fields in STEM on a university campus. You will engage in activities like experiments, projects, and lab exercises, and gain exposure to coding and app development, 3D printing, and augmented reality. Additionally, you will work on developing design thinking skills and learn about social entrepreneurship. The program also offers insights into career paths in STEM.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program
Dates: 25 hours over two weeks (on weekdays)
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines; you can check details and apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
AI Trailblazers is a 25-hour program that introduces you to artificial intelligence through structured instruction and hands-on coding exercises. The curriculum first focuses on Python programming fundamentals before moving on to concepts like data analysis, regression, classification, and neural networks. Instruction takes place in small groups, allowing you to receive personalized feedback and ask questions during live sessions. You will work with real datasets to understand how machine learning models are trained and evaluated. Topics covering ethical considerations on the use of AI are integrated throughout the curriculum. The program ends with a guided project that demonstrates your understanding of AI and data science concepts.
3. Breakthrough Atlanta’s High School Readiness Program
Location: Breakthrough Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Dates: Six weeks in the summer (runs for three summers starting in the summer before 7th grade) + school year sessions on Saturdays
Application deadline: TBA; applications open in November.
Eligibility: Rising 7th – 9th grade students
Breakthrough Atlanta’s High School Readiness Program is a free program designed to help you develop critical thinking skills, attend classes in a range of subjects, including math, science, English, language, arts, and social studies, and preview the upcoming school year's content. During the summer, you will attend core subject classes and creative elective classes in areas like photography, sports, public speaking, and coding. The program continues during the school year with Super Saturday Sessions, where you will get to develop non-academic skills, go on field trips, and engage in interactive activities that will help you explore a career of your interest. The program is structured to help you build study habits, explore learning styles, develop personal values, and prepare for your future career and academics.
4. Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program (JEP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program; financial aid is available
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines for cohorts across the year; you can check details and apply here.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer sessions
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an eight-week virtual research-focused experience where you will work individually with a Ph.D. mentor. In the first part of the program, you will explore multiple subject areas to understand different academic approaches and research styles. Weekly meetings will help you build skills in formulating research questions, evaluating sources, and organizing findings. After choosing a focus area, which can be a STEM topic of choice, you will develop a structured research plan under the guidance of your mentor. You will finish by completing a research paper, case study, or presentation that reflects the full research process. analytical, and writing skills that support academic growth as you prepare for high school and future coursework.
5. Atlanta Public Schools Level Up Summer Math Academy
Location: Various APS middle schools, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 2 – 27
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th-grade APS students; registration is by invitation only, so you will have to contact your middle school counselor to be invited/eligible for the next year.
APS Level Up Summer Academy is a four-week program for high-achieving middle schoolers interested in mathematics. Here, you will explore key concepts covered in accelerated math courses and develop and share ideas and perspectives on math with peers. Each session is led by experienced math teachers, who will guide you through problem sets, assignments, and advanced math exploration. The program is structured to prepare you for future math academics.
6. ACCA Career Exposure Camp
Location: Atlanta College and Career Academy, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 9 – 13
Application deadline: March 29
Eligibility: Current 6th – 8th grade APS students
ACCA Career Exposure Camp is a week-long enrichment program designed for middle schoolers where you will explore high-demand and high-wage career paths in the Metro- Atlanta area. The camp is structured to highlight the importance of post-secondary education and lifelong learning in building a successful long-term career. You will spend the week learning about different career pathways, including dental science, patient care, culinary arts, graphic design, and criminal investigations.
7. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Online and in-person camps (sites vary by year)
Cost: Free
Dates: Multiple two-week camps in the summer; dates TBA
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Women and gender expansive teens who are 13 – 18 years old
Kode With Klossy’s Summer Camps are designed for middle and high school students interested in learning coding. As a participant, you will spend two weeks learning through one of four tracks: mobile app development, machine learning, website development, and data science. The curriculum covers track-specific core concepts and offers exposure to programming languages like Python, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and Swift. You will use what you learn to build projects focused on website creation, chatbot programming, app development, or data-driven tasks. At the end of the summer camp, you will leave with a project that demonstrates your coding skills.
8. CEISMC Summer P.E.A.K.S. @ Georgia Tech
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $400 – $650
Dates: One- or two-week programs in June and July
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 6th – 8th graders
CEISMC’s Summer Program for Enrichment and Accelerated Knowledge in S.T.E.A.M (P.E.A.K.S.) runs one- to two-week sessions for middle school students spanning various areas in math, arts, and the sciences. You will engage in hands-on experiential activities, find opportunities to build problem-solving skills while working on exercises, and explore STEAM disciplines. You will work on real-world projects with peers, receive guidance from Georgia Tech faculty, and explore concepts beyond the standard middle school curriculum. Themes vary by year, but are typically focused topics in STEM and the arts, with past offerings structured around coding, data science, environmental science, and psychology.
9. Emory University’s Middle School Summer Debate Workshops
Location: Emory University/Atlanta Urban Debate League, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Not specified
Dates: TBA
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 6th – 12th grade students
A collaboration between Emory University and Atlanta Urban Debate League, Middle School Summer Debate Workshops are designed to help you develop and sharpen your debate skills over the summer. As a participant, you will learn the fundamental techniques for structured debates, covering topics such as evidence evaluation, argument and rhetoric building, confident public speaking, and improved research literacy. You will have the opportunity to develop social-emotional skills to become an effective and informed advocate. You will also practice debating with peers and high schoolers during the program.
10. University of Georgia’s Summer Academy Camps
Location: University of Georgia (UGA) Center for Continuing Education, Athens, GA
Cost: Varies by camp; typically, $530/camp
Dates: June – August (multiple week-long camps within this window); exact dates vary by camp
Application deadline: Rolling; registration opens on December 1.
Eligibility: Students, ages 7 – 17
The University of Georgia Summer Academy Camps are designed for middle and high school students who want to explore a field of interest through hands-on experiences. Camps span a variety of areas, including creative writing, coding, design, engineering, animation, storytelling, and communication. Each camp runs for about a week and is structured to help you explore an area of interest through hands-on exercises, which can be simulations, lab experiments, research, workshops, and collaborative activities. For instance, in the Mission Microbe – The Outbreak Investigation camp, you will tackle a simulated food-borne illness outbreak and investigate the spread of germs in a laboratory setting. The Creative Writing: Worldbuilding camp covers the essentials of crafting a backdrop for your stories through one-on-one and group writing workshops.
11. MSM S.T.E.A.M Academy (Morehouse School of Medicine)
Location: Morehouse School of Medicine Campus, Morehouse University, GA
Cost: $850
Dates: June 1 – 26
Application deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Rising 5 – 8th graders
The MSM S.T.E.A.M Academy offers elementary and middle schoolers opportunities to learn about STEAM disciplines. The program is designed to build curiosity about science and health careers in young minds. Here, you will participate in hands-on inquiry-based learning experiences to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills and explore STEAM fields. You will have the opportunity to engage in a range of activities, including conducting experiments, building models, exploring the human body and its functions, and understanding the connection between human life and science and medicine. You will also learn about the mechanics behind athletic performance, money management, and coding/programming.
12. Atlanta International School Summer Camps
Location: Atlanta International School’s Buckhead and Sandy Springs campuses, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Varies by camp
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering 4K – 10th grade
Atlanta International School Summer Camps offers students a range of camps focused on design, robotics, chess, athletics, filmmaking, and various other areas. You can also opt for language summer camps that allow you to explore new cultures and learn different languages, including French, Chinese, German, and Spanish. Each camp offers project- or activity-based learning experiences along with opportunities to improve your communication skills, access to interactive sessions, and problem-solving skill-development. For instance, the Filmmaking and Editing camp covers core steps, from camera work and lighting to production techniques, and allows you to produce, film, and star in your own original video projects under the guidance of local filmmakers.
13. Atlanta Junior Rowing Association Youth Rowing Summer Camp
Location: Atlanta Junior Rowing Association (AJRA), Roswell, GA
Cost: LTR Camp: $275/session | Returning Rower Camp: $475
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions in the summer; exact dates TBA
Application deadline: Varies by camp
Eligibility: Learn-to-row (LTR) camps: Rising grade 7 – 12 students | Returning Rower camps: Returning D-Squad and Rec Team athletes or those who have attended two weeks of LTR camps
The Atlanta Junior Rowing Association runs rowing camps for middle school and high school students of various skill levels. The Learn to Row camp, suitable for first-time rowers, allows you to learn about the sport, terminology, equipment, and safety measures. The camp begins with a basic workout and moves on to rowing on the Chattahoochee River. Another option is the Returning Rower Camp, which is an advanced option for those with some rowing experience. It covers the technical aspects of rowing, small boat training for advanced learners, and the application of the rowing stroke for less experienced participants.
14. Camp Southern Ground Summer Camp
Location: Camp Southern Ground, Fayetteville, GA
Cost: $250 – $2,100 (tiered pricing based on financial need; check details here)
Dates: Multiple sessions between May and July
Application deadline: 14 days before the start of the session
Eligibility: Students, ages 7 – 17
Camp Southern Ground Summer Camp offers students an opportunity to explore nature up close. Over the course of a week, you will spend time outdoors, meet peers from diverse backgrounds, and engage in healthy eating habits. The program focuses on three main goals: building personal skills, promoting health, and fostering strong communities. The camp offers a tech-free environment and opportunities to connect with the food you eat and interact with peers, all while staying close to the natural world.
15. APS Xanadu Summer Program
Location: The Bethune Building, Atlanta, GA
Cost: APS students: $400 | Non-APS students: $600; limited scholarships available
Dates: June 3 – 27 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application deadline: March 7 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising 1st–8th-grade students residing in the metro Atlanta area
APS Xanadu Summer Program is a summer enrichment experience designed for talented and high-achieving students. Here, you will explore academics, athletics, and fine arts through structured courses led by teachers. You can choose from courses such as “IMPACT,” which focuses on community management, and “Xtreme Xperiments,” which focuses on the science behind various phenomena. You will also have the opportunity to participate in a final showcase to share your work with family at the end of the program.
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