In middle school, summer programs allow students to explore subjects of interest early and to experience residential life in preparation for later applications to boarding schools or private high schools. Summer programs suitable for students in grades 5 through 8 fall into three broad types, each with different application requirements and timelines. Most programs have not yet published complete information for 2027, so the year of each figure is noted below.
Three Types of Middle School Summer Programs
Academic programs
Qualifying test required
Johns Hopkins CTY and Northwestern CTD offer courses at levels matched to students' academic ability; most courses require above-grade-level test scores or other proof of eligibility.
Suited to students clearly advanced in a subject
Boarding school programs
Experience East Coast residential life
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, and Choate Rosemary Hall offer summer programs of about five weeks for middle school students and review essays, recommendations, and transcripts.
Suited to families considering boarding schools
Math camps
Selection by the program's own test
MathPath admits students ages 11 to 14, and AwesomeMath offers online courses; both select students through their own admission tests.
Suited to students who enjoy mathematics and competitions
Middle School Summer Program Application Timeline
- 1
September to October
Choose target programs
Review each program's grade requirements, whether a test is required, and whether it is residential or day.
- 2
October to December
Complete qualifying tests
Students applying to CTY first take an above-grade-level test such as the SCAT, SAT, or ACT, or submit existing scores.
- 3
November to January
Applications open; prepare materials
Applications for Access Exeter, Andover, and Choate open in November, and CTY enrollment opens in early December. Essays and recommendations should be prepared in advance.
- 4
February to April
Selective program deadlines
The 2026 deadline for Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes was March 13, and the MathPath deadline was April 12. Popular residential spaces fill even earlier.
Academic Programs: Qualifying for CTY and CTD
Johns Hopkins CTY
- Create a MyCTY account first; $55 per student
- Take an above-grade-level test (SCAT, SAT, ACT, and others) or submit existing scores
- CTY-Level courses are about 2 grade levels above the student's grade, and Advanced courses about 4 grade levels above
- Advanced courses accept only scores from testing arranged by CTY; Emerging courses require no scores
- Eligibility, once earned, does not expire
Northwestern CTD
- For grades 6 through 12 (based on the grade entered in the fall)
- Eligibility may be established in either of the following ways: a transcript with a teacher recommendation, or test scores
- Test scores may come from an above-grade-level test or from a high percentile on a grade-level test such as MAP or iReady
- Courses are offered at three levels: Indigo, Magenta, and Emerald
Requirements and Costs for Eight Middle School Summer Programs
Johns Hopkins CTY
Qualifying test- Grades
- Day programs for grades 2 through 8; residential from grade 5 (some sites) and from grade 7 at all sites
- 2027 dates
- Summer A June 27 to July 16, Summer B July 18 to August 6 (tentative)
- 2027 enrollment
- Opens early December 2026; closes May 10 for Session A and June 7 for Session B
- Cost
- Priced by course; 2027 courses not yet published
Residential sites in 2026 included Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
Northwestern CTD
Grades or recommendation- Grades
- Grades 6 through 12
- 2026 dates
- Three-week courses June 28 to July 17 and July 19 to August 7
- 2026 deadline
- One week before each session begins
- 2026 cost
- Three-week day program $3,025; residential $5,430
Access Exeter (Phillips Exeter Academy)
Essays and recommendations- Grades
- Currently in grades 7 through 8
- 2027 dates
- July 5 to August 5
- Application
- Opens November 2026; the 2026 policy was rolling admission through April 15
- 2026 cost
- Residential $11,500; day $8,000
Applicants whose first language is not English must score 100 or higher on the TOEFL iBT.
Andover Summer Lower School Institute
Essays and recommendations- Grades
- Rising grades 7 through 8
- 2027 dates
- June 29 to August 1, five weeks
- Application
- Opens in November; rolling review from December; no review after May 15
- 2026 cost
- Residential $11,350, plus a $400 activity fee and a $200 health fee
Choate Summer Programs (middle school)
Essays and recommendations- Grades
- Completed grade 6 or 7; minimum age 11
- 2027 dates
- June 26 to July 30
- 2026 application
- Priority deadline January 31, then rolling admission
- 2026 cost
- Five-week residential academic program $11,240
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Transcript- Grades
- Currently in grades 8 through 11 and age 13 by the start of classes
- Format
- Live online classes, two weeks
- 2026 deadline
- March 13; decisions in mid-May
- 2026 cost
- $3,200
MathPath
Admission test- Age
- 11 to 14
- 2026 dates
- June 28 to July 26, residential
- 2026 deadline
- April 12
- 2026 cost
- $6,600; financial aid may cover the full cost
AwesomeMath Summer Program
Admission test- Age
- 12 to 18
- Format
- Online, three weeks per session
- 2026 application
- Five rounds; the first on January 14 and the last on May 26
- Cost
- $1,275 to $1,575 per course
Financial aid is not offered.
The information above comes from each program's website, verified September 27, 2026. Figures marked 2026 are the most recently published; for 2027 arrangements, follow each program's website.
Other Middle School Summer Programs Worth Knowing
- Canada/USA Mathcamp: admits students ages 13 to 18 for a five-week residential program. The 2026 deadline was February 23, and the cost ranges from $0 to $7,500 depending on family circumstances.
- UC Irvine COSMOS: a four-week residential science program in the UC system that admits only California residents and, among middle school students, accepts only exceptionally accomplished students who have completed 8th grade. The 2026 application period was January 7 to February 6.
- Duke University middle school programs: the former Duke TIP has been reorganized as Duke Pre-College Programs, which plans to announce its 2027 courses and dates in October 2026.
Preparing Middle School Summer Program Application Materials
Boarding school summer programs and math camps both require essays and recommendations, which closely resemble private school application materials. For guidance on essays, see the Student Essay and Parent Statement Writing Guide; for guidance on whom to ask for recommendations and how to send them, see Application Platforms, Recommendations, and Materials Checklist.
The EDUBUS Selective Summer Program Applications service plans summer program lists for middle school students and prepares them for qualifying tests and application materials.
