Somerville Public Schools offers robotics programming for students across many grade levels. Please see below for brief overview of our programs.
Robotics at Somerville High School
FRC6201 The Highlanders is our high school competitive robot building team. During the fall, students develop skills and teach new members the skills they will need in order to contribute. The competition design and build season starts in January and culminates in a several exciting weekend competitions against other local schools in March and April. The team meets in the afternoons at Somerville High School in the robotics classroom and the FabLab. The team also regularly gives back to the community by attending local events that foster interest in engineering and technology within Somerville. Visit the Highlanders Team FRC6201 website to learn more.
Robotics in Grades K–8
Robotics programming at Somerville Public Schools is proudly student-led. High school robotics team members design, test, and deliver hands-on curriculum to engage younger students in robotics projects. With highly qualified educators ensuring a safe and supportive environment, students learn to see themselves as future innovators and leaders in STEM. All programs are free.
Summer Program
Four week-long summer sessions are offered to explore LEGO SPIKE Prime, XRP, Micro:bit, 3D printing, and laser cutting. One of these week-long sessions is set aside for the SPS summer program for English language learners.
Somerville Robotics League (SRL)
A school-based intramural robotics program, SRL uses LEGO SPIKE Prime robot kits for a series of activities and trainings before high school student coaches unveil the annual game. At the end of the program, all teams compete at Somerville High School in the game challenge or showcase their innovation project. The program runs in the fall and serves Grades 5 thru 8. SRL meets once per week after school.
FIRST Lego League (FLL)
Each year FIRST Robotics releases a new theme, a set of challenges, and an innovation project for teams around the world to compete. FRL offers more complex challenges and a higher stakes finale competing against teams from around the state. The program is designed for Grades 6 thru 8 and runs two afternoons per week, August to December.
Girls Who Code (GWC)
Students of any skill level join a sisterhood of supportive peers and role models using computer science to change the world. GWC offers fun activities like coding micro controllers and working on LEGO robotics. This is a spring program for Grades 6 thru 8, meeting one afternoon per week in the FabLab at Somerville High School.