10 Debate Programs for Middle School Students
Are you a middle school student looking for a fun and fulfilling extracurricular activity? Participating in debate programs during middle school can impact your future by enhancing your communication skills and persuasiveness, which are valuable both academically and socially.
Debate programs teach you how to research and analyze information effectively while fostering teamwork and cooperation. Additionally, public speaking practice will boost your confidence, helping you in future interviews and interactions. Participating in debate activities can set a strong foundation for continued success in high school and beyond.
This blog will cover 10 debate programs for middle school students.
The Richmond Debate Institute is a summer program that aims to introduce middle and high school students to debate. The Middle School Debate Camp held at VCU School of Business focuses on public forum debate, a format where you'll pair up to research, prepare speeches, and participate in mock debates.
The camp features debate games and speaking drills, and the week ends with a tournament judged by volunteers. Every year, the debate topic is chosen by the National Speech and Debate Association. You’ll receive lessons from experienced instructors and feedback that will help you become a better debater.
Location: VCU School of Business
Program Dates: July 22 – July 26, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost: $475
Eligibility: Middle school students aged 10-13 years
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Bay Area Debate helps middle and high school students improve in speech and debate. The program focuses on critical thinking, communication, and argumentation. The program includes local and national tournaments, guided by experienced coaches. It emphasizes teamwork and prepares you for success in debate and academics. To apply, you have to fill out a form listing your extracurricular activities and answer an essay question about why you want to participate in speech and debate.
There are multiple program options for middle school students, each focusing on a different debate format, such as Competitive Parliamentary Debate and Competitive Congressional Debate. You'll participate in practice debates, public speaking exercises, and competitions, enhancing your research and analytical skills.
Location: Virtual or in-person in Cupertino, CA
Program Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Cost: No information is available
Eligibility: Middle school students are eligible for this program
Application Deadline: Rolling. Apply here.
The University of Miami’s Hurricane Debate Institute offers a summer debate program for grades 6-8 that aims to enhance your communication skills. You'll engage in impromptu and prepared speaking, group problem-solving, and formal debate styles like Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, and Policy Debate. The program also addresses speaking anxiety.
The curriculum includes lectures on ethos, pathos, and logos, practical research, and speech types exercises. Tuition varies by attendance duration (one, two, or three weeks) and includes a non-refundable application fee. You’ll receive personalized feedback and a certificate of completion at the end of the program. Apply here.
Location: University of Miami campus, FL
Program Dates: June 10 – June 28, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost: $525 for one week, $975 for two weeks, $1,400 for three weeks, plus a $75 nonrefundable application fee
Eligibility: Rising 6-8th grade students
Application Deadline: May 10, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
The Harker School's Summer Speech and Debate program focuses on competitive debate and public speaking, offering courses in Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas, Congressional Debate, and various speech events. Each day includes instruction, writing practice, and practice rounds, tailored to different experience levels. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, research, and persuasive speaking.
You'll apply what you learn in a structured environment, with access to coaches who have worked with national champions. In the past, students have debated topics like U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East and the right to housing. This program prepares you for tournaments and improves your academic skills.
Location: The Harker School, San Jose, CA
Program Dates: July 15-26, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost: $2,025
Eligibility: Rising 6-10th grade students
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025. Applications typically open in January
The Debate and Public Speaking Camp – Level I (Beginners) is a two-month program for middle schoolers to develop public speaking and debate skills. The course includes eight live sessions with interactive lectures, practice speeches, and feedback. You'll learn speechwriting, argument construction, and delivery techniques, ending with practice tournaments.
Expect to spend 2-4 hours per week on homework, preparing speeches, and reading current events. The program emphasizes hands-on learning with speech practice, peer feedback, and verbal assessments. Led by an educator with a background in law and education, the camp is designed to build your confidence and communication skills.
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Multiple year-round sessions
Cost: $160
Eligibility: Students aged 9-14
Application Deadline: Rolling
The DebateAble: Debate for Middle School program focuses on critical thinking and public speaking through discussions on topics you’re interested in. You'll learn to listen actively, formulate arguments from multiple perspectives, and evaluate evidence. The course ends with a debate match to apply your skills. The program aims to help students appreciate different points of view.
Offered by UW Youth & Teen Programs in collaboration with DebateAble, a Seattle-based organization serving elementary and middle school students, this online course uses Canvas and Zoom for real-time learning. It includes a mix of synchronous and asynchronous activities to foster teamwork and confidence in public speaking.
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: TBA for 2025. Two sessions were available in 2024:
July 29 – August 9, 2024
August 12 – August 23, 2024
Cost: $750
Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th graders
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
The Barkley Forum offers a comprehensive debate workshop for middle school students focused on critical thinking, organization, teamwork, and research. Established in 1995, the program combines educational and recreational activities, with instruction from experienced coaches and competitive debaters.
You'll receive daily lab instruction to improve speaking skills and learn strategies for different debate positions. The curriculum covers argument analysis, evidence use, and practice debates, preparing you for the year's resolution. Group lectures and discussions cover both affirmative and negative arguments in policy debate. The workshop ends with a practice tournament to apply your skills in a supportive environment.
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Program Dates: TBA for 2025. Two sessions were available in 2024:
July 8 – July 12, 2024
July 15 – July 19, 2024
Cost: No information available
Eligibility: Rising 6th-8th grade
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
The Middle School Public Debate Program (MSPDP) is designed to enhance debate skills in a structured environment. Serving over 40,000 students annually, the program emphasizes sound pedagogy, rigorous practice, and community engagement. Run by Claremont McKenna College, it partners with educational institutions like Tulane University for effective training.
In each debate, teams of three collaborate, building teamwork and negotiation skills. You'll have 20 minutes before each debate to strategize and organize arguments, promoting genuine understanding and effective communication without pre-written speeches. Previous editions have debated topics like whether the sport of boxing should be banned.
Location: Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, CA
Program Dates: TBA for 2025. The 2024 program dates were:
June 16 – June 21, 2024
July 7 – July 12, 2024
July 25 – August 1, 2024
Cost: Range from $900 – $1,750 depending on session and whether you are commuting or residential. See the cost breakdown here
Eligibility: Middle School students ages 10-14
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025. Applications typically close in June
The Middle School Program at the Institute for Speech and Debate introduces students to various speech and debate formats, including Congressional Debate, Public Forum Debate, and Original Oratory. Over two weeks, you’ll develop skills in research, public speaking, and collaboration through interactive activities.
You will attend lectures and labs on public speaking, do one-on-one work, and play logic games. The program concludes with a final project on one selected event during the second week, preparing you for competitive speech and debate and enhancing academic presentations.
Location: University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Program Dates: Two sessions are available:
June 28 - July 11, 2025
July 13 - July 26, 2025
Cost: Financial aid is available. The cost of attending is:
For residential students:
2 weeks: $3,799
1 Week: $2,699
For commuter students:
2 weeks: $2,499
1 Week: $1,899
Eligibility: Middle school students
Application Deadline: May 31, 2025. Enroll here.
The Middle School Debate Camp at the University of Texas at Dallas, now in its eighth year, has trained over 700 students since 2014. The camp offers high-quality instruction in traditional and contemporary debate strategies with a low teacher-student ratio of 8:1 for personalized attention.
Programs include Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum debates, tailored to various experience levels. The curriculum focuses on critical thinking, communication, and competitive success, preparing students for local and national tournaments. The camp aims to build confidence and a passion for debate, positively affecting students' academic and social lives.
Location: The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
Program Dates: Three sessions are available:
Middle School – Lincoln-Douglas: June 30 – July 13
Middle School – Public Forum: June 30 – July 13
Middle School – Intro to Public Speaking: July 7 – July 13
Cost: Ranges from $900 – $2,400 depending on program and whether you commute or live on campus. See the cost breakdown here. Scholarships are available.
Eligibility: Middle school students
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025. Applications typically close in July
One more option - The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure!
To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at maya.novak-herzog@lumiere.education or go to our website.
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 for 2024, you can refer to this page!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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