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Program Goals

Ignite middle school courses are specifically designed for middle school students in grades 6–8 and:

• Allow students to learn about concepts found in high school STEM Academy courses, such as programming, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and numerous science fields
• Introduce students to STEM skills and concepts using age-appropriate delivery methods that strengthen a student’s STEM identity
• Focus on exploration, curiosity, perseverance, and adaptability through hands-on, real-world examples and project-based learning

Review our middle school course catalog to learn more about STEM Academy offerings. Courses are scheduled based on instructor availability, so not all courses are offered each session.

Program Cost

Ignite courses require a $39-per-course commitment fee for each six-week session. All course commitment fees are used for scholarships issued by the APL STEM Program Management Office. Financial assistance is available upon request by contacting stemacademy@jhuapl.edu. Payment for each course must be made within seven days of notification of selection or the spot will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.

Eligibility

• STEM Academy Ignite courses are for students in grades 6–8. Priority for all courses goes to students from the state of Maryland.
• All middle school courses are conducted in person, and reliable transportation to APL throughout the session is required. APL is not accessible by public transit and is located in Laurel, Maryland.
• Students must be committed to attending at least five of the six classes offered each session and meeting the time requirements for each class (5–6:30 p.m. ET). Students who do not meet the attendance requirement will not be eligible for a certificate of completion for the course.