FIRST® Robotics Season (FIRST®)

Provided By

FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)

FIRST® provides programming for students in grades PreK–12 through FIRST® LEGO League, FIRST® Tech Challenge, FIRST® Robotics Competition, and FIRST® Championship. Its purpose is to encourage collaboration in and exploration of robotics and increase student coding and programming skills. Age-appropriate concepts and techniques are introduced in each program. These concepts are designed to help prepare participants for potential future STEM careers.

Logic Model

Program Activities

Students

Build their habits of STEM learning (grades PK-1)

Learn about the fundamentals of engineering (grades 2-4)

Engage in research, problem-solving, coding and engineering (grades 4-8)

Design, build, and program robots (grades 6-12)

Engage in problem-solving (grades 6-12)

Develop community partnerships to support work (grades 6-12)

Promote STEM in local community (grades 6-12)

Compete in an alliance format against other teams (grades 6-12)

Program Near-Term Outcomes

Students

Increase engineering skills

Increase teamwork skills

Increase awareness of STEM career pathways

DSEC Near-Term Outcomes

Students

Increased student engagement and interest in STEM (formal and informal)

Increased participant STEM competencies (skills, knowledge, abilities, and confidence)

Increased participant awareness of, and interest in, STEM research and careers

Participant Perspectives

Participant perspectives reflect survey responses from 2025-2026, the first year of survey administration.

Of 19,032 student participants, 203 responded to the survey.

Students

Grades K-5

Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree

FIRST LEGO League helped me get better at building and making things.

14.8% 37% 48.1%

n = 27 valid responses

FIRST LEGO League helped me get better at working with others.

44% 56%

n = 25 valid responses

When I grow up, I want to have a job in STEM.

52% 48%

n = 25 valid responses

Grades 6-8 (career interest)

Not at all interested
A little interested
Moderately interested
Very interested

FIRST Robotics Seasons increased my interest in STEM careers.

22.2% 71.6%

n = 176 valid responses

FIRST Robotics Seasons increased my interest in DoW STEM careers.

11.3% 24.4% 36.9% 27.4%

n = 168 valid responses

Grades 6-16

Disagree
Slightly Agree
Moderately Agree
Strongly Agree

FIRST LEGO League helped me get better at building and making things.

8.3% 50% 41.7%

n = 12 valid responses

FIRST LEGO League helped me get better at working with others.

8.3% 33.3% 58.3%

n = 12 valid responses

When I grow up, I want to have a job in STEM.

8.3% 8.3% 41.7% 41.7%

n = 12 valid responses

The FIRST Robotics Competition increased my understanding of the engineering process.

24.2% 71.9%

n = 153 valid responses

The FIRST Robotics Competition increased my teamwork skills.

28.1% 66.7%

n = 153 valid responses

FIRST Tech Challenge increased my understanding of the engineering process.

20.5% 69.2%

n = 39 valid responses

FIRST Tech Challenge increased my teamwork skills.

23.1% 66.7%

n = 39 valid responses

Program Data

Program data includes participants from both years of Base Period (2024-2025 and 2025-2026).

Students

36,267 total student participants

Student Grade Level

Military-Connected Students

Category	Count	%
Military-connected	17,535	48.3%
Not Military-connected Student	18,732	51.7%

Other programs from Partner

FIRST® Championship (FIRST®)