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The Robotics & Engineering Pathway

The K-12 robotics pathway is unusually well-structured. Kids who start with LEGO-based programs in elementary often progress through tabletop competitions in middle school and into industrial-scale builds in high school. The same skill set — design, fabrication, programming, teamwork — deepens at every stage. Done well, this pathway is one of the strongest signals selective engineering colleges look for.

The progression, grade by grade

7 programs in this pathway, ordered from earliest grade to most advanced. Click any step for full details.

Grades 4–8

FIRST LEGO League Challenge (FLL Challenge)

Entry-level robotics for grades 4-8 using LEGO SPIKE Prime kits.

Team $300–$1,500 Open enrollment

Grades 5–12

SeaPerch Underwater Robotics (SeaPerch)

Build an underwater ROV from PVC and motors — entry-level ocean engineering.

Team $250–$600 Open enrollment

Grades 6–12

Future City Competition (Future City)

Design a city of the future to solve a real engineering problem. Team-based, project-heavy, MS-focused (with an HS division added recently).

Team $25–$100 Qualifier-based

Grades 6–12

VEX Robotics Competition (VRC)

World's largest robotics competition with VEX V5 hardware.

Team $1,000–$5,000 Open enrollment

Grades 7–12

American Rocketry Challenge (TARC)

The world's largest student rocket contest. Team event for grades 7–12 — design, build and launch a rocket that hits a specific altitude and flight time.

Team $125 Qualifier-based

Grades 7–12

FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)

Mid-sized robotics for grades 7-12 using metal kits and Java/Blocks programming.

Team $1,500–$6,000 Open enrollment

Grades 9–12

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)

High-school robotics with industrial-grade kits and a new game every January.

Team $5,000–$25,000 Open enrollment