ACPS students shine in 10th annual robotics competition

Elementary and middle school teams compete for spot in state tournament

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Around 200 students from 18 elementary and middle schools in Alachua County, Florida took part in the 10th annual ACPS robotics competition on Thursday. Teams competed in the VEX IQ robotics challenge, vying for a spot in the Central/North Florida State VEX competitions and a chance to advance to the VEX World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri.

Why it matters

The annual robotics competition is an opportunity for ACPS students to showcase their STEM skills and problem-solving abilities. Participation in these events helps develop critical thinking, teamwork, and technical skills that are valuable for future careers in technology and engineering.

The details

During the district competition, about 50 teams displayed their ability to develop and operate robots to perform specific tasks in front of judges. Participating students also took part in team skill contests and a teamwork challenge that required teams from different schools to work together to earn points. The competition was sponsored by Gas South and other community partners, including the Education Foundation of Alachua County (EFAC).

  • The district competition kicked off with qualification team challenge matches at 11:30 a.m. and concluded with the awards ceremony a little after 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2026.
  • The Central/North Florida State VEX competitions are slated for early March 2026.
  • The VEX World Championship is scheduled for late May 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The players

Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS)

The public school district serving Alachua County, Florida, which organized the annual robotics competition.

Glen Springs Elementary School

The elementary school that won the Teamwork Champions Award and the Excellence Award.

Westwood Middle School

The middle school that won the Teamwork Champions Award and the Excellence Award.

Fort Clarke Middle School

The middle school that won the Teamwork Champions Award.

Chris Dodyk

An instructional technology coach at ACPS who was interviewed about the team aspect of the competition.

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What they’re saying

“It's really incredible to see these kids, especially in a competition, when they score a high score...because it might be like the first victory that they've achieved in a long time or ever.”

— Chris Dodyk, Instructional Technology Coach, ACPS (Mainstreet Daily News)

What’s next

The top-performing teams from the ACPS district competition will advance to the Central/North Florida State VEX competitions in early March 2026, with the possibility of competing in the VEX World Championship in late May 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The takeaway

The annual ACPS robotics competition provides a valuable opportunity for students to develop critical STEM skills and showcase their problem-solving abilities in a competitive setting. The event's continued success over the past decade highlights the district's commitment to fostering student interest and excellence in technology and engineering.