8 Summer Math Programs for Middle School Students
If you are a middle school student excited about STEM, diving into a math program during the school break can help boost your passion for the subject, streamline future interests, and jumpstart your academic journey early on. Spending just a few weeks in the summer learning math can boost problem-solving skills, and analytical thinking, and make it easier to keep up during the school year! In this blog, we have curated a list of some of the best summer math programs for middle school students offering an immersive and engaging learning experience.
1. MathPath
Location: Location changes annually; 2024’s camp will be held at the University of Kansas City, MO
Cost: $5950 program fee; need-based financial aid available.
Program Dates: TBD for 2025, typically four weeks from June to July
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; recommended submission by mid-February for the best chance of acceptance.
Eligibility: Students aged 11–14 can apply, provided they turn 11 before the start date and do not turn 15 until after the program ends.
MathPath is a 4-week summer camp designed for middle school students with an intense passion for mathematics, immersing you in a culture of learning and like-minded peers. This program covers topics that aren’t typically included in school curriculums such as symbolic logic, combinatorics, and induction. Some recent course offerings even include Fair Division, non-Euclidean Geometry, Cryptology and Codes, Heavenly Mathematics, Origami, Mathematics, and Special Relativity.
Location: Both virtual and in-person programs are offered. Multiple locations are available depending on the courses selected.
Cost: On-campus summer program tuition ranges from $3,099 to $6,819; Online programs range from $191 to $2,127; financial aid is available.
Program Dates: Varies based on the course(s) selected; online courses are year-round.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the program.
Eligibility: Programs are offered for K2-12 students.
The CTY Program at Johns Hopkins University is a well-known program that offers a wide range of subjects including multiple residential mathematics courses for middle school students over the summer. This year’s courses include Mathematical Logic, Number Theory, Paradoxes and Infinities, Probability and Game Theory, among others, covering a wide range of mathematical applications with other subjects that aid in building foundational knowledge that will give you an edge in mathematics. The Center for Talented Youth is a great program for academically gifted students, making it a great opportunity for ambitious middle schoolers looking to enrich their learning alongside their typical school curriculum.
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost:
$2,150 for the 1-week program; $4,700 for the two-week program; covering all costs including housing, meals, and activities.
$1,525 for the 1-week commuter program; $3,050 for the 2-week commuter program. Financial aid is available.
Program Dates: There are 1-week and 2-week programs students can choose from. Dates run between June and July as per 2024’s schedule. The exact dates might vary, and for the 2024 program, there are 4 ten-day sessions.
Application Deadline: TBD for 2025. Rolling admissions typically open around December and close by April.
Eligibility: Current 6th to 11th grade students.
The pre-college summer program at Duke University is a prestigious and competitive program that immerses students in Ivy League collegiate life — creating an invaluable academic experience for any student. You can choose from multiple mathematics courses like Cryptography, Mathematical Logic & Proofs, and Sports Analytics. You’ll also have the option to integrate Humanities, STEM, and Social Sciences into your course curriculum. Best of all, you’ll have the opportunity to mingle with fellow peers, be mentored by Ivy League professors, and shadow PhD students during the program. We’ve covered more on this well-known program in our rundown here.
Location: Both virtual and in-person programs at the Georgia Institute of Technology are offered.
Cost: The P.E.A.K.S. program costs between $400 to $650; The online STEAM whistle workshop has a registration fee of $225. Financial aid is available for the P.E.A.K.S. program but not for the STEAM whistle workshop.
Program Dates: TBD for 2025. Multiple 5-day camps, typically from June to July.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; programs typically take place during the summer from June to August.
Eligibility: K-12 students are eligible to apply.
The Center at Georgia Tech offers a range of workshops, courses, and other forms of collaborative learning to help K-12 students understand the integration of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). The Summer P.E.A.K.S (Programs for Enrichment and Accelerated Knowledge in STEAM) Program are 5-day residential programs offered on campus at Georgia Tech that gives rising 6th-8th grade students the chance to enhance learning across STEAM subjects through experiential activities! Here is the list of available courses for P.E.A.K.S.
Participating in these programs can significantly benefit middle school students by fostering early interest and proficiency in STEAM fields like mathematics, building a solid foundation for future academic and career pursuits. Check out our in-depth review of P.E.A.K.S here. You can also consider the STEAM whistle workshops which host engaging online projects and learning opportunities that can be attended from the comfort of one’s home.
Location: Both virtual and in-person programs at the Northwestern University campus are offered.
Cost: Varies based on chosen program and the number of courses selected. Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions. While the application deadline is not strictly mentioned, you can reference the Summer 2024 dates.
Program Dates: Varies depending on the program; The 3-week camp has 2 sessions: one in June, and another in July. The one-week camp has 3 sessions throughout July.
Eligibility: Students from grades 6–8 in good academic standing are eligible to apply for courses during the summer. Learn more about the exact criteria here.
Since 1982, Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development (CTD) has offered comprehensive camps, programs, and services to accelerate the academic journey of ambitious students. CTD offers a range of math courses (some of which offer credit!), that you can pick up over the summer. Courses cover subjects like Algebra, Math for Sports, Geometry, Stock Market, and Mathematical Modeling. You can select and apply for the courses of your choice through the myCTD platform, and then send in your application form for the summer program. Courses can be online or in person, making this a flexible opportunity for students. This is particularly beneficial for middle school students as it allows them to advance their math skills and explore diverse topics, preparing them for future academic success.
Location: Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania, PH
Cost: $5300 program fee; financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: TBD for 2025. Rolling admissions open from Spring; applications received before April receive full consideration, and any applications after that will be admitted based on cohort availability.
Program Dates: 5 weeks, typically between July and August.
Eligibility: While high school students are given priority, middle school students can also apply. Students who are not within the 14-17 age bracket will need to provide more information during the application process.
MathILy is a five-week intensive residential summer program for mathematically gifted secondary students and is also open to academically advanced middle school students. The core curriculum focuses on discrete mathematics, with additional topics shaped by class interests. Root Class topics include combinatorics, graph theory, binary linear algebra, infectious disease modeling, and number theory, with potential subjects like proof techniques, combinatorial game theory, and ring theory. MathILy-Er, the alternative camp, caters to students who are earlier in their academic or mathematical journey but are still seeking a rigorous five-week residential experience.
Location: North Carolina State University, Durham, NC
Cost: The program is free for all accepted participants, covering all costs including housing, meals, and activities.
Program Dates: 1 week, typically in July.
Application Deadline: TBD for 2025. Expect applications to open by December 2024.
Eligibility: Available to current 8th-grade students residing in North Carolina only.
North Carolina State University’s Step Up to STEM is an integrative one-week summer program designed for underrepresented minority students entering ninth grade — aiming to ignite their interest in STEM fields, including mathematics! Participants engage in an interdisciplinary curriculum that includes interactive workshops, hands-on experiments, and collaborative projects, all guided by NC State’s distinguished faculty and student mentors.
The program covers science, mathematics, and biomedical engineering, with a strong writing component. Enrichment activities, such as planetarium shows, hip-hop writing workshops, baseball games, lab visits, board game nights, sports, STEM career panels, ice cream socials, and university campus tours, can further enhance your social and academic development through on- and off-campus events.
Location: Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Cost: Varies based on the type of camp selected. $400 for the Half-day camp; $2,000 for the 12-day camp; need-based scholarships are available.
Program Dates: For the 2025 cohorts, you can expect a ten-day camp in June, and a twelve-day camp in July, per this year's schedule.
Application Deadline: Open enrollment. Round 1 applications take place by February; Round 2 applications by March; Round 3 (final round) by April.
Eligibility: Slightly-competitive admission, students currently in grades 6–8 can apply.
The Residential and Half Day Junior Summer Math Camps (JSMC) at Texas State University are immersive, full-time summer programs for middle school students passionate about mathematics. The half-day camp is a 10-day excursion open to grades 3-8 students. Alternatively, they offer a residential camp that is 12 days and only for middle school students. Throughout the duration of the camp, you will engage in daily math classes taught by university professors, participate in study groups, and enjoy recreational activities and outings. Note that this program only has 60 available openings so it is best to apply as early as possible! This program aims to develop creative and critical thinking skills, preparing you for advanced math courses and careers in STEM fields.
One more option — The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a comprehensive program tailored for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests while building a project they are passionate about. Students get mentorship from scholars at top research universities like 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 Growth, Khushi Malde, at khushi.malde@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!
Trisha Malhotra, an Ashoka University alumna, has 5 years of experience being a freelance writer and currently writes for Lumiere Education. She is passionate about music, reading, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as well as a devoted cat parent.
Image Source: MathPath logo