Applications Open! Enroll for Summer 2027 at 2026 Tuition Pricing Until Sept 30
Investigate real data with Python and Pandas in this three-week data science course for middle school students on Bryn Mawr College’s campus.
Course Description
How can a collection of numbers reveal a pattern, test an idea, or help someone make a prediction? Students begin by asking where data science appears in everyday life, then set up Anaconda and Jupyter notebooks to explore Python syntax, variables, expressions, and different data types.
Hands-on investigations make statistical thinking concrete. Students review mean, median, mode, and outliers through card-based activities, then use Pandas DataFrames to import, clean, slice, and analyze datasets. They practice removing missing values, isolating columns, creating bar graphs, pie charts, and histograms, and choosing labels and formats that make a visualization clear.
As their skills grow, students examine correlation versus causation, consider how interpretation changes a data story, and explore introductory linear regression. Capstone checkpoints guide each student from selecting a dataset and question to building a documented Jupyter notebook with analysis, visualizations, and conclusions. The course concludes with student presentations that explain both the findings and the reasoning behind them.
This three-week course is part of Summer Discovery’s Institute for the Gifted program on Bryn Mawr College’s campus in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The program is available to commuter students. Beyond class, students take part in campus activities, make new friends, and build confidence and independence in a college setting.
What Will You Do?
• Set up and use Anaconda and Jupyter notebooks for Python
• Write Python expressions and work with variables and data types
• Import, clean, slice, and analyze datasets with Pandas
• Calculate summary statistics and examine correlation versus causation
• Create data visualizations and explore introductory linear regression
• Build and present a capstone Jupyter notebook based on a chosen dataset
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Use basic Python syntax and a Jupyter notebook workflow to investigate data
• Clean, analyze, and visualize a dataset with Pandas and appropriate graphs
• Present a data-supported conclusion while explaining limits in interpretation
Students will leave with a capstone Jupyter notebook and a clearer understanding of how programming, statistics, and communication work together in data science.
Why Data Science Skills Matter
Data science helps students move from noticing a pattern to asking whether the evidence actually supports it. Python and Pandas provide a practical way to organize information, calculate summary statistics, and test questions across a full dataset instead of relying on a few examples.
Cleaning data develops attention to detail because missing values and inconsistent formats can change a result. Visualization develops communication because the choice of graph, scale, labels, and title affects what an audience understands. Discussing correlation versus causation adds healthy skepticism and reminds students that human judgment remains essential when interpreting numbers.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for middle school students who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th grade and are curious about coding, statistics, patterns, or how evidence can answer real-world questions. It is a strong fit for students who enjoy puzzles, asking why, organizing information, and explaining what they discover.
Students should be ready to practice Python, troubleshoot code, discuss interpretations, and develop a capstone project through several checkpoints. The course begins with foundational Python and Jupyter notebook skills before moving into data analysis.
View the eligibility requirements for the Institute for the Gifted on our FAQ page. A completed program application is required.
Why Bryn Mawr?
Bryn Mawr gives middle-school students a welcoming place to explore challenging ideas, create, and meet peers who share their interests. Its historic, tree-lined setting near Philadelphia makes the day feel distinctly advanced while allowing students to return home each afternoon.
The commuter-day format combines active academics with a clear daily routine, shared activities, and Summer Discovery support throughout the program day. Students can test new interests, contribute to discussions and projects, and become more confident navigating a college setting without an overnight stay. For families, Bryn Mawr offers a thoughtful balance of substantive learning, friendship, guidance, and age-appropriate independence in a structured day-program environment.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification of completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College