MATHCOUNTS

MATHCOUNTS is a nonprofit educational organization focused on making mathematics engaging and accessible to students in grades six through eight. Its programs are designed to support students with a wide range of abilities, while strengthening confidence, persistence, collaborative skills, and attitudes toward mathematical problem-solving. Although the organization is best known for its national competition, its wider program portfolio also includes noncompetitive mathematics clubs, educational resources, alumni scholarships, and former video-based learning activities. The organization was established in 1983 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and CNA Insurance. Its founding purpose was to increase middle-school interest in mathematics and to encourage students to see mathematics as an active, social, and practical discipline rather than only as a classroom subject. The first national-level competition took place in 1984, after which the Competition Series expanded through middle schools and regional mathematics networks across the United States. The Competition Series is organized through school, chapter, state, and national levels. Students generally begin through a participating school, although students whose schools do not offer the program may compete as non-school competitors. At the school level, coaches may select up to 14 students to continue to chapter competition, with four students forming the official school team. Later rounds combine individual and team performance, and advancement numbers vary by jurisdiction. At state level, the leading four individual competitors typically represent their state at the national competition, accompanied by a state team coached by the winning school-team coach. The standard competition format contains Sprint, Target, and Team rounds, with an optional Countdown Round. The Sprint Round emphasizes speed and accuracy through 30 problems completed in 40 minutes. The Target Round presents four pairs of problems, generally allowing six minutes for each pair and permitting calculator use. The Team Round gives four-member teams 20 minutes to solve 10 problems, emphasizing communication and collective reasoning. The Countdown Round is a fast-response event whose implementation can vary by location; at the national level, the top 12 individual competitors enter a bracket-style contest, and its winner is recognized as the national champion. Competition topics include algebra, geometry, counting, probability, and number theory. MATHCOUNTS also operates the National Math Club, a free program through which schools and community groups can organize recurring mathematics activities. Registered leaders receive online games, explorations, and problem sets. Clubs that meet specified participation requirements can earn Silver or Gold status, with recognition and prizes associated with those levels. The organization additionally provides scholarships for alumni, including an award recognizing a particularly influential MATHCOUNTS experience and a Community Coaching Scholarship for alumni who establish programs at underserved schools. The organization has adapted its programming in response to changing circumstances. The 2020 national competition was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the only interruption to the national event since 1984. A replacement MATHCOUNTS Week activity used 2020 State Competition problems through the Art of Problem Solving website, and the 2021 National Competition was conducted online. MATHCOUNTS formerly operated the Reel Math Challenge, later called the Math Video Challenge, in which four-student teams explained solutions to handbook problems through real-world videos; that program ended in 2023, while the National Math Club continued to offer a related video-project opportunity. Today, MATHCOUNTS remains a prominent U.S. middle-school mathematics enrichment brand supported by corporate, professional, government, and education-sector partners.

MATHCOUNTS was created in 1983 through a collaboration among the National Society of Professional Engineers, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and CNA Insurance. The initiative was established to address interest in mathematics among middle-school students and to provide an extracurricular setting in which students could develop mathematical confidence and problem-solving ability. Its first national competition followed in 1984. The organization’s principal program became the MATHCOUNTS Competition Series, a multi-stage structure connecting school-based activities with chapter, state, and national events. The format combines individual tests with team problem-solving. Its core rounds are the Sprint Round, which measures accuracy and speed; the Target Round, which emphasizes more difficult problem-solving and permits calculators; and the Team Round, which assesses collaboration. An optional Countdown Round tests rapid response and is used in different ways at local and regional events. At the national competition, it determines the individual national champion after the leading competitors enter a bracket-style contest. As participation expanded, MATHCOUNTS developed a national network that reached schools and students in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories and overseas school systems. Students normally qualify through their schools, but non-school competitors can participate where school programs are unavailable. The national event traditionally brings qualifying students and coaches together for several days, with individual and team honors, prizes, and scholarships. In 2007, MATHCOUNTS broadened its mission beyond competitive mathematics by introducing the National Math Club. The program enables schools and community groups to establish free clubs and access activities such as games, explorations, and problem sets. Clubs can earn Silver or Gold recognition based on participation and creative collaborative work. The organization also created alumni scholarships, including support for alumni whose middle-school experience had a major personal influence and for alumni who bring MATHCOUNTS programming to underserved schools. A video-centered educational initiative began in 2011 as the Reel Math Challenge and was later renamed the Math Video Challenge. Teams of four students created videos explaining solutions to handbook problems in real-world contexts. The program was discontinued in 2023, although the National Math Club retained a related project format. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the first cancellation of the national competition since 1984. In 2020, MATHCOUNTS offered a replacement MATHCOUNTS Week event using State Competition problems on the Art of Problem Solving platform. The 2021 national event was conducted online. Across its history, MATHCOUNTS has maintained a dual identity: a rigorous competition series for advanced participants and a broader mathematics-enrichment platform intended to make problem solving appealing to students of varied ability levels.

• 2023

  Math Video Challenge discontinued

  [1]Mathcountsen.wikipedia.org

  The former Reel Math Challenge, later known as the Math Video Challenge, ends after more than a decade of operation.

• 2021

  National Competition held online

  [1]Mathcountsen.wikipedia.org

  MATHCOUNTS conducts its national competition online while continuing pandemic-era adaptations.

• 2020

  National competition interrupted by COVID-19

  [1]Mathcountsen.wikipedia.org

  The national competition is not held for the first time since 1984. MATHCOUNTS Week provides an online replacement using State Competition problems.

• 2011

  Reel Math Challenge launches

  [1]Mathcountsen.wikipedia.org

  MATHCOUNTS begins a student video initiative in which four-person teams explain mathematical solutions through real-world scenarios.

• 2007

  National Math Club launches

  [1]Mathcountsen.wikipedia.org

  MATHCOUNTS introduces a free, noncompetitive club program offering mathematics games, explorations, and problem sets to schools and community groups.

• 1984

  First national competition

  [1]Mathcountsen.wikipedia.org

  MATHCOUNTS holds its first national-level competition, beginning the recurring national event that became the organization’s signature program.

• 1983

  MATHCOUNTS is founded

  [1]Mathcountsen.wikipedia.org

  The National Society of Professional Engineers, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and CNA Insurance establish MATHCOUNTS to increase middle-school engagement with mathematics.

A national nonprofit mathematics education brand that combines rigorous competition with inclusive, engaging, and collaborative enrichment for middle-school students.

• Mathematics competition · 1983

  Competition Series

  The Competition Series is MATHCOUNTS’ principal offering for students in grades six through eight. It progresses through school, chapter, state, and national levels and combines individual and team performance. The recurring format includes a 30-question, 40-minute Sprint Round; a calculator-permitted Target Round consisting of four timed problem pairs; and a 10-question Team Round completed by four students in 20 minutes. An optional Countdown Round adds a rapid-response format and determines the national individual champion.

• Mathematics enrichment program · 2007

  National Math Club

  The National Math Club provides a noncompetitive alternative to the Competition Series. Schools and community groups can register clubs at no cost and receive online access to games, explorations, and problem sets. Clubs may qualify for Silver or Gold status through recurring meetings and creative collaborative projects, with associated recognition and prizes.

• Scholarship program

  MATHCOUNTS Alumni Scholarship

  This scholarship recognizes alumni for whom participation in a MATHCOUNTS program during middle school was especially influential. It forms part of the organization’s effort to maintain relationships with former participants and highlight the longer-term educational impact of its programs.

• Scholarship program

  Community Coaching Scholarship

  The Community Coaching Scholarship supports MATHCOUNTS alumni who create programs at underserved schools. It connects alumni participation with the expansion of access to mathematics enrichment for students who may not otherwise have a local program.

• Student media and mathematics program · 2011

  Math Video Challenge

  Originally called the Reel Math Challenge, this program asked teams of four students to produce videos explaining solutions to MATHCOUNTS School Handbook problems in practical or imaginative settings. It was intended to develop mathematical communication and teamwork in addition to solving ability. The program was discontinued in 2023.

• 2023

  Discontinuation of the Math Video ChallengeOther

  Background

  The student video initiative had operated under the Reel Math Challenge and later Math Video Challenge names since 2011.

  Action taken

  MATHCOUNTS discontinued the Math Video Challenge.

  Aftermath

  A similar video-project opportunity remained available through the National Math Club.

  Source

• 2021

  Online delivery of the National CompetitionStrategy

  Background

  MATHCOUNTS continued operating during the pandemic after the previous year’s national event was canceled.

  Action taken

  The organization conducted the 2021 National Competition online rather than using its traditional in-person format.

  Aftermath

  The online event allowed the national program to continue while in-person competition conditions remained affected by the pandemic.

  Source

• 2020

  Cancelation of the 2020 National CompetitionOther

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person educational events and made the usual national competition format impractical.

  Action taken

  MATHCOUNTS canceled the 2020 national competition and offered MATHCOUNTS Week online through the Art of Problem Solving website using problems from the State Competition.

  Aftermath

  The 2020 event became the only national-competition interruption since 1984, and the organization held the 2021 National Competition online.

  Source

1. 1Mathcountsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2MATHCOUNTS official websitemathcounts.org