As a middle schooler, it’s good to venture beyond traditional classroom settings to pursue subjects that you are truly interested in. If fields like artificial intelligence spark your interest, these summer programs offer a chance to dive into these areas while fostering hands-on experience, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. 

Below, we’ve compiled a list of 5 Free AI programs specifically designed for middle school students. These courses will help you develop valuable technical skills, gain practical experience and knowledge, and pursue your academic goals. It also helps greatly that they will not put any financial strain on your parents or guardians. Read on!

1. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program

Location: Virtual

Cost: Financial aid is applicable however there is a tuition fee

Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Apply here!

Program Dates: 8 weeks | Multiple cohorts in the year 

Eligibility: Grades 6-8

The Junior Explorer Program is tailored for middle school students (Grades 6–8) to discover their academic interests while developing a project they’re passionate about. This 8-week virtual program allows participants to delve into diverse subjects, including mathematics, artificial intelligence, history, and social anthropology, among others. You will receive personalized, one-on-one mentorship to guide you through the process of building your projects and refining your ideas.

Given the program's rigor, shortlisted applicants must complete an interview to ensure alignment with the program's objectives and expectations.

2. Stanford Middle School Scholars Program

Location: Online

Cost: Free

Application Deadline: March 20

Program Dates: 

• Summer Course: July 7 - July 25

• Fall Semester Meetings: August 27 - December 10

Eligibility: All applicants must be in Grade 6 or Grade 7 and must be attending school in the US. 

The Stanford Middle School Scholars Program (SMSSP) offers a transformative, tuition-free learning opportunity for 6th and 7th graders across the U.S. This program includes a three-week online summer course followed by weekly fall semester meetings, focusing on academic enrichment, high school preparation, and skill development in writing, math, and growth mindset. 

You will benefit from a supportive, like-minded community of peers and personalized guidance from Stanford educators, gaining essential skills for academic success. While no prior advanced preparation is needed, a commitment to learning and active participation is vital for maximizing the program’s potential.

3. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers

Location: Online

Cost: Need-based financial aid is available 

Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines

Program Dates: 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort

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. 

By the end of the program, you will have worked on a hands-on project in a subject of your choice! Previous projects done by students have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.

4. Machine Learning Specialization (Stanford & DeepLearning.AI) | Coursera

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free enrollment

Application Deadline: No deadline

Program Dates: Self-paced

Eligibility: Anyone

The Machine Learning Specialization course, offered online by Stanford University and DeepLearning.AI, provides an engaging introduction to artificial intelligence and machine learning concepts. Designed for young learners, this program balances hands-on coding exercises with visual explanations of foundational topics like supervised and unsupervised learning, neural networks, and decision trees. 

You will gain practical experience building models using Python and tools like TensorFlow and sci-kit-learn, preparing them to explore AI's real-world applications. With no prior coding or math experience required, this course fosters curiosity and critical thinking while empowering students to solve problems creatively. A computer with a basic setup is all that's needed to get started.

5. Girls Who Code | Clubs

Location: Virtual or Online

Cost: Free of cost

Application Deadline: Rolling applications. Apply here

Program Dates: Not Mentioned

Eligibility: Applicants should be girls from Grades 6-12

The Girls Who Code Summer Clubs program offers female middle school students a free and flexible opportunity to explore computer science in a supportive, all-female environment. Through interactive online or in-person sessions, participants engage in coding projects, build technical skills, and form new connections with peers and mentors. Designed for grades 6-12, the program includes comprehensive guides, tutorials, and facilitator support to ensure an enriching experience. As a middle schooler, you’ll gain hands-on coding experience and discover how computer science can make a positive impact on the world. No prior preparation is required—just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm for learning! Apply here

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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