Power up for the 2026 K12 Robotics Competition!
Is your child curious, creative, and ready for a challenge? The K12 Robotics Competition is a fun way to build STEM skills—and compete for a $500 prize!
Code. Compete. Shine.
Students in grades 4–12 from any U.S. school are welcome—whether they attend a K12-powered school or not! They’ll compete in grade-level groups: 4–6, 7–9, and 10–12.
Your child can go it alone or team up with one or two friends. Each team needs a registered adult instructor—this can be a parent, teacher, or other trusted adult. Instructors get access to training resources and weekly support sessions to help students succeed.
All students need is the Virtual Robotics Toolkit (VRT)—just $50 for a full-year license. It’s a powerful software platform where students design, program, and test robots in a virtual space. No physical robot required!
Sign up by 5 PM (ET) on November 12, 2025. After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with next steps and a link to purchase the software. Be sure to include accurate contact information so we can send helpful updates, reminders, and support throughout the season.
Note: Parents or guardians must register on behalf of students under 13.
Competition Schedule
The first three rounds of competition will take place virtually. The top 9 teams—3 in each grade band (4–6, 7–9, 10–12)—will be invited to the national competition in June 2026.
November 12, 2025
Registration deadline
January 9–16, 2026
Initial Friendly Challenge
February 13–20, 2026
1st-Round Qualifier
March 13–20, 2026
2nd-Round Qualifier
June 2026
In-Person National Competition
Prizes
Initial Friendly Challenge
One team will be declared the winner in each grade band. All members of each winning team will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.
1st-Round Qualifier
All registered teams are eligible to participate. The top 10 qualifying teams in each grade band will be declared the winners of the 1st-Round Qualifier. Each winning team will receive a certificate and be invited to compete in the 2nd-Round Qualifier.
2nd-Round Qualifier
Only qualifying teams from the 1st-Round Qualifiers are eligible to participate. The top 3 qualifying teams in each grade band will be declared the winners of the 2nd-Round Qualifier, for a total of 9 winning teams.
Each winning team will be invited to the in-person national competition in June 2026. K12 will cover the costs of the hotel and transportation to and from the competition site and hotel for each finalist and a single chaperone per finalist. Teams are responsible for airfare/transportation to and from the national competition in Reston, Virginia.
Final Round
Only qualifying teams from the 2nd-Round Qualifiers are eligible to participate. The team with the highest score in each grade band will be declared the National Winner, for a total of 3 winning teams. Each winning team member will receive a trophy and $500.
Big opportunities. Small price!
Most national robotics competitions can cost hundreds to join—but not this one! All your student needs is the Virtual Robotics Toolkit software, available for just $50 for a full-year subscription. It’s a budget-friendly way to give your child access to a high-quality robotics experience—no expensive equipment required!
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or Learning Coach, you won’t be on your own. We offer weekly help sessions where you can get hands-on support, ask questions, and get advice on the software and challenges.
Need more flexibility? On-demand training is also available—covering everything from VRT basics to robot design and coding strategies.
Training schedules and access info will be sent to all registered participants in advance.
Before registering, please take a moment to review the official rules and regulations. You’ll be asked to agree to these terms during sign-up.
Hear What Students Have to Say
What’s it really like to compete? Students from the 2025 competition shared their experiences—from tackling tricky code to celebrating big wins.
*All statements reflect each person’s experience at the 2025 Robotics Competition.
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