8 Data Science Summer Programs for Middle School Students
Data science is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after skills, and middle school is the perfect time to begin building a foundation in this dynamic field. By participating in summer programs, you can gain hands-on experience, develop crucial analytical skills, and explore your interests in problem-solving and technology.
These programs offer a relaxed environment in which you can dive deep into data science without the pressure of school-year commitments. This will give you a head start on your future academic and career path in data science.
When selecting these summer programs, we focused on several key factors to ensure they provide a meaningful and engaging introduction to data science:
We prioritized programs that go beyond lectures and offer interactive projects and real-world applications of data science concepts. The programs we selected encourage students to work with real data, solve problems, and explore applications in fields like business, healthcare, and environmental science.
Since middle school is often a student's first exposure to data science, we looked for programs designed to introduce fundamental concepts in a way that is approachable and engaging.
We included both in-person and virtual options, to ensure that students from different locations can participate. Cost and financial aid availability were also considered to highlight programs that are accessible to a wide range of students.
Check out our list of 8 Data Science Summer Programs for middle school students:
Location: Online
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary for each cohort. March 9 for the summer cohort
Program Duration: 8 weeks
Cost: $2,400; financial aid available
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6 – 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program offers an engaging 8-week experience for middle school students. As a participant, you will be paired with a mentor and will get to explore your academic interests and develop a passion project. Mentors are accomplished scholars from top-tier institutions like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
Throughout the program, you will progress through structured phases. You will explore different topics and tracks in the first four weeks. Weeks five and six intensify this exploration, allowing you to focus deeply on a single area of interest. The final two weeks will be dedicated to project creation, where you will work closely with your mentors to bring your ideas to life.
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
Program dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Cost: $1,9790; need-based financial aid is available
Financial assistance: Need-based financial aid is available
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. 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.
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Program Dates: July – August (specific dates available on the website)
Cost: Starting from $1,999
Eligibility: Open to middle school students aged 12–14
The UC Berkeley Coding Academy provides middle school students with an immersive virtual learning experience, diving into Python, Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI core concepts. The program offers live online lectures with one-on-one support, alongside a robust curriculum of slides, problem sets, and project-based learning. You will develop portfolio-ready projects, ideal for college applications, internships, or science fairs. Advanced classes like Deep Learning and AI Applications are also available for continued growth.
Location: San Diego, CA
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: Typically during July and August.
Cost: TBD
Eligibility: Middle school students
UC San Diego’s Sally Ride Science Academy offers middle schoolers an exciting introduction to Python and machine learning. Through hands-on projects, you will build an image classifier using Google’s Teachable Machine, integrate it into a webpage and a Raspberry Pi, and learn key programming concepts like loops, conditionals, and functions. This course not only strengthens your coding skills but also provides a strong foundation in AI and real-world applications, making it an excellent starting point if you’re someone eager to explore the intersection of technology and innovation.
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Application Deadline: May 9
Program Dates: June 23-27; July 7 – July 11
Cost: $950 commuter, $2,100 residential; need-based financial aid available
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 – 8
MST@MSU is an intensive, research-driven STEM program designed for middle schoolers eager to explore advanced topics in mathematics, science, and technology. You’ll be joining daily two-hour research sessions that provide deep dives into subjects like engineering, robotics, and data science. Whether you attend as a commuter or residential student, MST@MSU offers a unique opportunity to challenge yourself, work with mentors, and build a strong foundation for future STEM studies.
Location: Pomerene Hall, Columbus, OH
Application Deadline: March 30
Program Dates: July 7 – 11
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Middle school students in Ohio entering grades 7 – 9 in autumn
The Data Science Summer Camp at Ohio State University is a free, week-long program introducing middle school students to core data science concepts, including data analytics, scientific methods, and real-world applications. You will explore how data can shape decisions while examining how biases in gender, race, and culture influence data interpretation. Through hands-on, team-based projects, you’ll strengthen your problem-solving and analytical skills with guidance from mentors. The program also provides valuable opportunities to connect with college students and professionals in the field, giving insight into future educational and career paths.
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Application Deadline: Applications open; deadline unspecified
Program Dates: June 29-August 18
Cost: $1,500 enrollment fee + $100 application fee
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6 – 8
This program, offered through Summer Discovery, introduces middle schoolers to Python programming and applied data science. You’ll begin with fundamental concepts like binary computation, algorithms, and object-oriented programming, then explore how data science intersects with AI, statistics, and engineering. The hands-on curriculum emphasizes data visualization, machine learning, and problem-solving through coding projects. By the end, you’ll have developed skills to analyze real-world data and apply computational thinking across disciplines.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Application Deadline: Currently unspecified
Program Dates: July 6 – July 25
Cost: $6,499 (commuter) | $8,999 (residential)
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6 – 8
Summer Discovery at Yale University provides middle school students with a blend of academic learning and enrichment activities, including workshops and excursions. One highlight is the Applied Data Science with Python course, which teaches programming basics before advancing to data analysis, visualization, and machine learning. Through hands-on coding projects, you’ll develop problem-solving skills while gaining insights into how data science shapes innovation. The program offers a structured yet engaging introduction to computational thinking, preparing you for more advanced studies in STEM.
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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