Program Overview

SMSSP Group Photo
Scholars attend one three-week online summer course, and weekly online after-school meetings August-December. Scholars are required to attend both the summer and fall semester components of the program.

Summer

During the summer, scholars meet each day for a live, virtual classroom discussion led by a Stanford OHS instructor. Scholars experience enriching academics as well as social activities that build community and inspire lifelong learning. Active participation by scholars ensures a lively, online community of engaged learners.

Summer Course:
July 7 - 25, 2025
9:30am–12:00pm Pacific Time, Monday - Friday

Fall Semester

During the fall semester scholars meet once a week with their cohort and instructor after school. Scholars participate in course related discussions and engage in focused workshops offered by the Stanford OHS Office of Admissions, Stanford OHS Counseling, Stanford OHS Student Life, and Stanford OHS Writing and Tutoring Center. Workshops are designed to prepare scholars to apply to Stanford OHS and other rigorous schools and programs.

Fall Semester Meetings:
August 27, 2025–December 10, 2025
4:15pm–5:15pm Pacific Time, Wednesdays

 

Summer Courses

Applicants to the Stanford Middle School Scholars Program will rank the following summer courses in order of their preference. Students will be admitted to and will attend only one of the four courses.

Democracy & Dissent

What happens when your idea changes the world and threatens your life? In this course, we will explore the life and thoughts of famous dissenters. In the first week, we will read The Trial and Death of Socrates as told by the ancient philosopher Plato. We will ask what was so revolutionary about Socrates’ philosophical questioning that it led democratic Athens to sentence him to death for corrupting the youth. In the second week, we will explore works by more recent famous dissenters including Martin Luther King Jr. 's “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” We will ask why King thought love was more powerful than hate and why that love drove him to break the law. Along the way, we will ask timeless questions about faith, justice, and their role in a good life. By the end of the course, Scholars will refine their critical thinking skills and use them to think about their roles as citizens of their own communities. 

U.S. Social Movements through Graphic Novel

Graphic novels provide Scholars the ability to learn about difficult and sensitive topics in a way that is accessible. This course will introduce Scholars to three transformative social movements in U.S. History that took place in the 20th and 21st centuries. We will examine the 1950s-60s Civil Rights Movement, and the global Women’s Rights Movement and the reinvigorated Environmental Movement of the 21st century. Scholars will gain a better understanding of the facets of each movement, the contributions of major actors and the passage of key civil and human rights legislation through captivating narration and vivid imagery. Through our analysis of the required texts, class discussions and short writing assignments, Scholars will emerge from the course with the capacity to think critically about the historical events in question as well as the ability to convey their thoughts about these transformative moments in U.S. History through writing.

Media Literacy in the Post-Truth Era

It's common today for youth to get their news from TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, or Twitter. More precisely, social media algorithms select news for them based on their contacts, likes, and previous online activity. This can produce a skewed information landscape, a fact that has serious implications for democracy and the institutions that support it. In this course, Scholars 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, Scholars 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). Beyond this, they will develop strategies for finding more reliable information from a range of sources. As a final project, Scholars will analyze how different sources have reported a given news item and help their audience to reach a reliable and verifiable understanding of it.

Real-Life Applications to Mathematics

In this course Scholars will connect mathematics with real-life examples. Math skills will be introduced and reviewed in connection with cryptography and financial mathematics. We’ll start with decoding and encoding early types of codes like Caesar’s Cipher. Using modular arithmetic, we will cover Vigenere’s Cipher to Public Key Encryption, an introduction to the RSA cryptosystem. Scholars will also discuss financial mathematics, such as interest rates. For example, we’ll ask what is the real cost of merchandise when you buy something with a credit card? What is the power of compounding when you are investing? What is a credit score? By the end of the course, Scholars will be comfortable visualizing and solving many real-life math problems.

Meet Our Instructors

Elyse Banks

Elyse Banks

U.S. Social Movements through Graphic Novel

Hina Kato

Hina Kato

Real-Life Applications to Mathematics

Photo of a column

Laura Méndez-Ortiz

Media Literacy in the Post-Truth Era

Joseph Rees

Joseph Rees

Democracy & Dissent

Attendance Policy

Scholars are expected to be present and participate actively in each live class meeting. Scholars are required to be present with their webcam on during each instructional session. Scholars attend the specific section in which they are enrolled, as doing so is part of building a strong classroom community.
Summer Attendance
The summer program is three weeks in duration. Attending all live course meetings and activities supports the successful completion of the summer course.
Fall Semester Attendance
Attending all fall semester course meetings and workshops supports the successful completion of the program. Students should only miss class for health, religious, or other warranted reasons. Scholars with excessive absences may be required to attend a scholars support conference with program staff and their parent and/or legal guardian in order to remain in the program. Failure to attend the scholars support conference or the accumulation of additional absences will put a scholar at risk of not completing the program.

Commitment to the Program

Scholars should not have any commitments that conflict with live online class sessions.

Family Engagement

Parents and legal guardians are invited to support their Scholars by attending orientation, parent engagement events, as well as meeting during the program with the Stanford OHS Admissions team or the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Access.

Technology Requirements

We will work with students to ensure that they have the technological devices needed to participate in the program, but a reliable and consistent internet connection is required for effective participation. Students may request technical equipment through the SMSSP Device Lending Program upon acceptance to the program.

Online Experience and Platforms

Computer
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Participants will need to have daily access to a computer that is capable of running the latest versions of internet browsers, plug-ins, and software. Your computer should be able to run the latest versions of Chrome or Firefox, while also meeting the system requirements for Adobe Connect and Canvas. Mobile devices are to be used only as a back-up if a computer is not working.
Internet Connection
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Students must have a reliable broadband internet connection that is robust enough to handle video conferencing with minimal difficulties. Our courses take place in an interactive environment which includes having all students on camera, chat, videos, and presentations. We highly recommend that students use a wired ethernet connection.
Headphones and Microphone
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If you are using a laptop with a built-in microphone, we recommend that you use headphones during live class sessions to avoid echo or feedback. Using a headset with a microphone will help ensure that you have clear audio when participating in class.
Webcam
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Participants should have a built-in or external webcam to support daily participation in class. In order to be marked present students must turn their video on, and actively participate.
Suitable Learning Environment
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Do your best to choose a learning space where you are comfortable being on camera and are able to contribute to class. A space with limited distractions and noise is ideal.

It's been incredible to see SMSSP students build community within their cohorts, engage with academic material from their Stanford OHS instructor, and interact with Stanford OHS student leaders. We have a really special group of students in the program.

Nicole Varveris

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging & Access