Build to prepare low-income 6th and 7th graders for an academically intensive high school, Stanford Middle School Scholars Program engages students in various topics including mathematics, academic writing, and study skills.

Non-credit

Online, live

Overview:
Scholars enroll in one of three two-week summer courses in July. From mid-August through March, scholars meet weekly in small cohorts led by Stanford Online High School instructors and staff, covering topics such as applying for independent (private) high schools, academic writing, time-management, math enrichment, and study skills.

Summer Course List:
Reading, Writing, and the Human Condition
In this class we’ll read complex works of fiction (All Systems Red by Martha Wells) and nonfiction (James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time.) Both these works explore questions of justice, identity, and how to live in the world. We will focus on understanding the reading in depth, exploring historical context, looking for themes and discussing their implications.

Media Literacy in the Post-Truth Era
In this course, students will develop skills to help them cut through the algorithms and find more balanced, truthful sources of information. Through the analysis of various forms of digital content, secondary readings, and in-class discussions, students will learn to recognize and distinguish between misinformation (unintentional mistakes), disinformation (fabricated or deliberately manipulated content designed to fuel conspiracy theories or rumors), and malinformation (information published solely for personal or corporate interest).

"Questioning Questions": Learning through research experiments in Physics
In this class we'll introduce you to physics through the lens of experiments, as we aim to study how things work in order to make accurate predictions about the world around us. We'll practice systematic approaches to collecting data and analyzing patterns by conducting fun experiments and documenting our inferences through multiple lab reports.

Summer Course and Academic Year Meetings
Scholars enroll in one three-week summer course in July. From mid-August through March, Scholars meet weekly covering topics such as academic writing, time-management, math enrichment, and study skills.
Instructors
65% of Stanford OHS instructors hold Ph.D.'s in their fields. Stanford OHS instructors work closely with Scholars to help them reach their full academic potential, and introduce them to the professional methods, skills, and intellectual habits of different academic disciplines.
Tuition Free
Stanford Middle School Scholars Program is tuition-free. We aim to increase access and opportunity for aspiring low-income students.
Community
The program’s summer courses and academic year meetings will have approximately 12 students. Our engaging learning community fosters connection with like-minded peers, instructors, and guest speakers.
Supporting Your School
Collaboration between program staff, instructors, and families is essential to students' success. Parents and legal guardians attend at least one conference with program staff, and are invited to attend parent and legal guardian outreach events.

Summer Course

Jul 10 - Jul 28

3 weeks

Online

0 USD

Stanford Middle School Scholars Program is tuition-free. We aim to provide low-income middle school students with access to leading instructors, and the opportunity to build skills that prepare them to apply to and succeed in academically-rigorous high schools.

Financial Aid

No financial aid is available. (Program is free)