Welcome to the ultimate proving ground for future engineers. At Southern Prep, our Robotics Program is both a class and an after-school club (Ranger Robotics). It is the hands-on application of our core STEAM curriculum. Students learn the entire engineering process, from concept design and mechanical build to advanced programming and competitive strategy.
The skills learned in Robotics are integrated across the curriculum, strengthening performance in core subjects:
Math: Applied geometry, trigonometry, and physics for calculating lift ratios, speed, and trajectory.
Science/Technology: Understanding gear ratios, simple machines, sensor feedback (e.g., encoders, distance sensors), and circuit fundamentals.
We compete in the VEX Robotics Competition (VRC), the largest and fastest-growing middle and high school robotics program in the world. This experience provides unparalleled real-world skills:
Applied Engineering: Students utilize the Engineering Design Process to build and iterate complex robots that can solve the annual game challenge.
Strategic Approach: Success requires teamwork, rapid troubleshooting under pressure, and developing high-level game strategies with alliance partners.
Competitive Program: Our teams aim for top accolades, including the Excellence Award (the highest honor) and the Design Award, which recognizes a professional, well-documented engineering notebook.
The program integrates multiple disciplines, ensuring students develop a diverse, career-ready skillset:
Hands-On Design: Students work with the VEX V5 system, designing drive trains, lift mechanisms, and end-effectors (intakes).
Structural Integrity: Learning to build robust, efficient, and reliable machines that can withstand the rigors of competition.
Troubleshooting: Mastering the essential skill of identifying, isolating, and solving mechanical or code-based problems rapidly, a skill vital for any engineering or technical career.
Documentation: Maintaining a detailed Engineering Notebook, which documents design iterations, budget, testing results, and strategic decisions.
VEXcode V5: Utilizing a professional coding environment that supports both Block-based Coding (for beginners) and advanced text-based languages like Python and C++.
Autonomous Programming: Developing complex code that allows the robot to operate independently during the autonomous portion of the match.
Thank you for your interest in Southern Preparatory Academy. Located in Camp Hill, AL, Southern Prep educates students in grades 7-12.
Please complete the following form in order to receive our Admissions Packet via email. If you have a specific question or would like to arrange a campus tour, please call the Admissions Office at 256-790-9202 or 256-496-8864.