Heights Middle Takes First in Indiana Data Science Competition

Photos courtesy Hamilton Heights Schools

Hamilton Heights Middle School earned top statewide honors in the 2026 Nextech Stats Challenge, a data‑science competition involving more than 60 teams from across Indiana. The student group, Anderadigus, was named the Middle School Division Champion of the Quick Pick Data Challenge, while the Midwest Maniacs won the Top 10 pick – where participating teams picked the 10 ten teams at the event.

Under the leadership of teacher Jennifer Froman, students used real NCAA basketball data to build predictive models, write code, and test their algorithms — applying computer science skills in a real‑world, high‑engagement challenge. The project was supported by the high school’s coding program and HHMS Principal Dr. Bret Bailey, creating a cross‑school collaboration that strengthened students’ learning and confidence.

Students completed the challenge through Code.org’s CS Discoveries curriculum, a free, teacher‑approved platform that has become a powerful resource for HHMS. Their success earned them a celebratory pizza and dessert party, but the real reward was the pride they felt in seeing their code perform successfully against teams from across the state.

Froman shared that this was her first year participating in the challenge with her 8th graders. “I took a risk, and they amazed me,” she said. “The kids were engaged from start to finish — they had a blast.”

Nextech works to expand access to computer science, AI, and emerging technologies for all Indiana students. Their programs show that CS is more than coding — it’s problem‑solving, collaboration, and curiosity in action. Through hands‑on learning and real‑world experiences, Nextech helps students across every zip code discover new opportunities and prepare for futures they may not have imagined.