Acera students among top 1-5% in national math competition

Four students at the Acera School in Winchester earned awards in the Spring 2024 American Mathematics Competition (AMC). Corin Ross-Montenegro and Kevin Shi of Belmont earned Honor Roll of Distinction awards, designating a top 1% nationally. Jonah Clark of Andover and Alexander Mahoney of Medford received Honor Roll awards, designating a top 5% placement nationally.

The AMC Math Contest is an international math competition for middle and high school students. The contest encourages students' interest in math, develops their problem solving skills, and inspires them to excel. More than 300,000 students have participated in the AMC competitions this year.

Acera is hosting a free Math Festival during National STEM Week on Sunday, April 7th from 10AM to 12PM at 5 Lowell Ave. in Winchester. To register, visit the school’s website at aceraschool.org.

Acera, a nonprofit K-9th grade STEM school, places its students in math classes based upon start of year assessments that clarify what each student is ready to learn, regardless of age. All math classes occur at the same time, allowing students to be placed in classes based on what they are ready to learn, rather than by age or grade.

Viktor Grigoryan, Acera’s Math Curriculum Coordinator, sees real student bonding and support as a result of contests like AMC.

“After every math contest we host, the hallways are abuzz with mathematical conversations, and students asking each other and the teachers about certain problems, or continuing to collaborate on some of those problems,” he said. “Math is indeed a bonding activity, and that’s another reason we math-enthusiasts enjoy it so much!”

“Ability-based math classes free students to learn without constraints due to age or curricula,” said Acera founder and director Courtney Dickinson. “We have found that in this type of framework, new possibilities open up for math experiences for all kids. Math class becomes a place where kids get to learn in a way that fits their thinking style and readiness in applied and game-based ways. The satisfaction of figuring out hard problems – and applying a wide array of strategies to get there – enables students to manifest a growth mindset every day.”