Robotics in Somerville Public Schools

LATEST: Watch the livestream of the World Championships. Houston, TX. Thursday, April 30 through Saturday, May 2, 2026

Somerville High School’s Robotics Team is headed to the World Championships following a standout performance at the New England Championships earlier this month, where they won their competitive division. The achievement marks another milestone for one of the school’s most accomplished programs, reflecting the skill, dedication, and teamwork of the students as well as the support of their coaches, mentors, and families. 

Competing against top teams from across the region, the team has demonstrated exceptional innovation and collaboration throughout the competition, ultimately securing their place among the best in the world. The Somerville community congratulates the Robotics Team on this remarkable accomplishment and looks forward to their continued success as they represent the district on the global stage in Houston.

About Robotics

Robotics team members are young engineers learning real-world professional skills as they collaborate with each other, other teams, staff members, volunteers, and community members. The team meets after school, but it is an important (and fun!) extension of the school day for its members; they apply their academic knowledge, from math to carpentry to marketing, to solve problems as they arise. The competition gives students a problem, then asks them to apply skills they know or learn to develop a collaborative solution. Robotics transcends engineering, and has “the mechanism to give kids the idea they belong in STEM,” according to SPS Innovation Specialist Jason Behrens. Perhaps most importantly, students learn to work toward a common goal as a team of peers.
 

Robotics at Somerville High School

Founded in 2016, the Somerville High School Robotics Team is a student-led program serving students in grades 8–12, supported by dedicated mentors and alumni who provide ongoing guidance. The team designs and builds robots to compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition while also engaging in local events that promote interest in engineering and technology across the community. Rooted in STEM, the program welcomes students of all experience levels, emphasizing collaboration, learning, and mutual support. Through hands-on experience and teamwork, the group is committed to fostering both technical skills and a positive, inclusive educational environment for all participants.

FRC6201 The Highlanders is the high school's 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.