Andersen Elementary’s halls were quiet on a recent Wednesday afternoon, except outside sixth-grade teacher Serenity Fisher’s classroom. Through the walls, students could be heard talking over one another and loudly calling out responses to Fisher’s questions. But it wasn’t random chaos; it was a meeting of the Math Olympiad. 

Since 1979, Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS) has challenged young mathematicians with problems designed to strengthen critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. In 2025, more than 4,077 teams and approximately 90,000 students from all 50 states, three U.S. territories, and 30 foreign countries participated in the competition.

Each week from November through March, fifth- and sixth-grade students who choose to participate in the school’s Math Olympiad meet with Ms. Fisher during small-group instruction time. Serving as an extension of the core curriculum, the program allows students to deepen their mathematical thinking while receiving the support they need. Together, they tackle challenging problems that push them beyond what they learn in the classroom and encourage creative approaches to familiar concepts. The skills they develop are put to the test each month in Math Olympiad contests. 

There are no calculators here — just pencils and their own expanding brain power. Instead of following a set formula, students learn to approach challenges from different angles, explain their thinking, and learn from their mistakes. It’s a chance to think differently, work collaboratively, and discover new ways that math can be both challenging and fun.

“It’s great to see them stretch outside their comfort zone,” said Ms. Fisher, who leads the program. “I’m consistently impressed with how they motivate themselves and one another to think outside the box.”

For the nationally developed Math Olympiad contests, students must individually work through five complex problems in just 30 minutes. The questions range from straightforward computations to algebra to data analysis. “Some of the questions would challenge a middle or high school student, but here we have elementary students tackling high-level math problems and having fun,” said Principal Dr. Tiffany Lewis. 

Scores from the contests are reported to the MOEMS organization, which includes member schools from around the globe. Last school year, Andersen’s Math Olympiad students scored in the top 10% of more than 4,000 teams worldwide, with 12 students earning individual awards. “Our students have incredible potential, and the Math Olympiad provides the rigorous platform they need to test their analytical limits and showcase their problem-solving prowess to the world,” Dr. Lewis said.

“It’s fun to get together with other people who like math,” said sixth-grade student Spencer Anderson. “We don’t get to do this in our regular class.”

The strong rapport built during practice translated into a competitive advantage during Math Field Day. At this year’s event, teams from 13 Orange County schools competed in tests of students’ skills in discrete math (including statistics and probability), geometry, algebra, engineering, and mental math. Andersen finished first in algebra, third in discrete math, and third overall. 

At its core, Math Olympiad is about helping students discover what they’re capable of while enjoying the learning experience. 

Sixth-grader Rachel King’s older brother participated in the Math Olympiad while at Andersen. His overall score on the monthly contests was 24, just one point shy of a perfect 25. “We’re taking the final Math Olympiad test today, and she is so close,” Ms. Fisher said. “If she gets a full five points on this test, she’ll have a perfect score.”

After the cacophony in Ms. Fisher’s classroom dies down, the students get serious as the tests are handed out. A nail-biting half an hour later, test papers are collected, and the questions are reviewed as a group. As each answer is revealed, Rachel’s face brightens. She did it! She earned her perfect score. “Rachel is my first student in 18 years to earn a perfect score,” Ms. Fisher said, beaming. “I’m so proud of her!”

As Ms. Fisher announces Rachel’s accomplishment, students loudly congratulate their friend.   

“This is what I love about Math Olympiad,” Ms. Fisher said. “These students are engaged and excited about math, and they support one another. The more kids who can see math and numbers as a positive, as fun, the more beneficial it is for everyone.”