Middle School · Grades 5–9
Online Middle School Debate Team
Welcome to Speech & Debate
Ascend's Online Middle School Team is a year-long program of live online speech and debate classes for students in grades 5–9. Students meet with their coaches on Zoom once or twice a week from September to June and compete at tournaments throughout the year — no school team, and no experience, needed.
If you're in grades 5–9, we'd like to invite you to join.
Through the prism of Congressional Debate, we introduce middle school students to the world of speech and debate through multiple online classes every week and online competition opportunities throughout the school year.
Congressional Debate bridges the presentation and pathos skills learned in speech events and the research and argumentation skills learned in traditional debate events. Students gain an understanding of a wide variety of the most prescient issues facing the United States and the world. Participating in middle school speech and debate sets students up for early success in high school speech and debate.
The Extracurricular for the Age of AI
In the Age of AI, the ability to speak clearly, persuade confidently, and lead decisively is your child's unfair advantage. Ascend trains the uniquely human skills that no machine can replicate — the ones that create leaders and changemakers.
Built by national-champion coaches, Ascend equips your child with the tools that AI will never master.
Enrollment
Join the Online Middle School Team
Classes run September through June, and the second semester starts in January. Choose Base for one session a week or Super for two. Questions? Schedule a call with us.
Base
One two-hour session a week, on Wednesday or Saturday.
- Second semester: $999.99 (January to June)
- Full year: $1,749.99 (September to June)
- Wednesday 4:30 – 6:30 PM PT or Saturday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT
- Tournament eligibility and all recordings
Super
Two two-hour sessions a week, recommended for students who want to see the fastest growth.
- Second semester: $1,499.99 (January to June)
- Full year: $2,249.99 (September to June)
- Wednesday & Sunday (Ascend Red) or Tuesday & Saturday (Ascend Black)
- Tournament eligibility and all recordings
Joining now for the rest of the fall? First Semester (September to December) is $799.99 with both weekly sessions. Enroll — First Semester
Need financial aid? Email us at info@ascendspeech.org or schedule a call.
Why Start Early
Why Middle School Speech & Debate?
- ✓Speech and debate is one of the largest academic extracurriculars in the world — proactive students begin in middle school.
- ✓College admissions committees value students with notable accomplishments in speech and debate. For many who start in high school, the wins that matter most occur in 12th grade — after applications are submitted.
- ✓Starting in middle school maximizes students' likelihood of winning the tournaments that make a difference on applications while demonstrating multi-year commitment.
- ✓Want to discuss the role of speech and debate in the college admissions process? Schedule a call now!
Logistics
Program Logistics
Every session is two hours. Base students come once a week, on Wednesday or Saturday. Super students come twice a week, as Ascend Red (Wednesday and Sunday) or Ascend Black (Tuesday and Saturday). Everyone follows the same curriculum and competes at the same tournaments. You'll choose your day or team when you register.
- Wednesday4:30 – 6:30 PM PT
- Sunday10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT
- Tuesday4:30 – 6:30 PM PT
- Saturday10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT
All sessions are hosted on Zoom. Super doubles the number of speeches a student gives and the feedback they get, so it is the faster way to improve.
Our middle school program is led by Ascend's Chief Operating Officer, Aditya Chordiya, one of the most accomplished coaches in competitive speech and debate.
Competition
Academic Year Schedule
Classes run from September 2026 through June 2027. Students will have opportunities to compete under the Ascend name — ideal for students without their own teams.
| Tournament | Month | Format |
|---|---|---|
| James Logan Spooktacular Middle School Forensics Fest | October 2026 | Union City, CA |
| NSDA Springboard Scrimmage | November 2026 | Online |
| Ascend Middle School Classic | November 2026 | Online |
| Regent Legacy Invitational | December 2026 | Online |
| NSDA Springboard Scrimmage | January 2027 | Online |
| Stanford Invitational | February 2027 | Online |
| Harvard Invitational | February 2027 | Online |
| NSDA Springboard Scrimmage | March 2027 | Online |
| Middle School Tournament of Champions | May 2027 | Online |
| NSDA National Tournament | June 2027 | Richmond, VA |
What You Get
Key Features
Expert Coaches
Our coaches include a former national champion and years of coaching experience. Students receive expert mentorship throughout every session.
Tournaments
By joining Ascend, you can compete at the best middle school tournaments in the country, preparing students for the highest levels of competition.
Community
Meet ambitious middle schoolers from across the country. Build friendships that last a lifetime and find teammates you'll compete alongside for years.
Lectures
From topic and skills lectures to presentation coaching, the lessons students learn will enhance both their knowledge of the world and their public speaking abilities.
Practice Skills
The best way to internalize anything is by putting it into action. At Ascend, students practice against peers in a coach-guided setting.
Experience
There are other middle school academies, but none bring the level of experience that Ascend brings. You deserve experts, not rookies.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The team is built to introduce middle school students to speech and debate. Beginners and experienced debaters are both welcome.
Yes. Students compete under the Ascend name at tournaments throughout the year, so they don't need a team at their own school.
Every session is live on Zoom with Ascend coaches. Sessions mix topic and skills lectures, presentation coaching, and practice rounds against other students with a coach guiding. Each session is two hours: Base students come once a week and Super students twice.
Each session is two hours. Base is one session a week (Wednesday or Saturday), and Super is two (Wednesday and Sunday, or Tuesday and Saturday).
Weekday sessions run 4:30–6:30 PM Pacific, which is 7:30–9:30 PM Eastern. Weekend sessions run 10:00 AM–12:00 PM Pacific, which is 1:00–3:00 PM Eastern. Students join from across the country, and every session is recorded.
Sessions are recorded, and team members have access to all recordings, so a missed class can be watched later.
Students act as members of Congress. They give short speeches for or against a proposed law, answer questions from the other students, and learn to respond to what has already been said. It combines the presentation skills of speech events with the research and argument of debate, which is why we start students there.
Yes, absolutely! Please email us at info@ascendspeech.org or schedule a call on our Calendly to discuss your request.
The Middle School Team is designed for students in grades 5–9. If you are outside these grades but still interested, we'd love to discuss your specific circumstance. Schedule a call now.
Ascend does not offer refunds.
Absolutely! Our programming is tailored to both students who have been part of the middle school team as well as those new to the program.