Cambridge Math Circle

We are raising money to bring high-quality math enrichment to underserved students in Cambridge Public Schools. Elementary and middle school math is a key to high school, college and many careers. Most scientists, programmers and mathematicians say that they became inspired to pursue their careers by an enrichment program in elementary or middle school. 


Our city currently has a great divide: some schools have math enrichment clubs, while others don’t, some families have the resources to send their kids to private enrichment classes, and others don’t. For the past year and a half, The Cambridge Math Circle has been bringing fun, challenging, math to underserved students in Cambridge, through clubs that meet at public schools and public libraries. We need to raise $15,000 dollars, in the next few weeks, to be able to launch all of the Fall classes with our school and community partners, including Haggerty Elementary, Putnam Avenue Upper School, Rindge Avenue Upper Campus, Vassal Lane Upper School, the Cambridge Community Center and Collins Library branch. 


Our work is already having an impact: over 90% of students surveyed at the elementary school level reported that they enjoy coming to school more and that they like their regular math class more as a result of the club run by The Cambridge Math Circle. Thus far, 50-90% of the participants (middle school and elementary) have been girls, and over 60% have been children of color. By studying math that is not part of the regular curriculum, e.g. logic, spatial reasoning, probability, combinatorics, etc., students who may not have success in more traditional math classes get to experience it, which translates to how they feel about themselves as learners. Having other kids see this success helps elevate the children’s confidence even further. Students for whom regular math class is easy get to experience a challenge.


Another important aspect of The Cambridge Math Circle’s program  is social: students from different grade levels, and different classrooms at the same grade level, get to problem solve and play challenging games together, helping make community connections that wouldn’t otherwise exist. Adult supervision encourages kids to learn to win and lose gracefully, and to persevere in the face of challenging problems. High adult- to-student ratios allow us to make sure that no child is left to struggle alone for too long.


Your donation helps make it possible for any  student, in these schools who is interested to take part in enrichment math, and  could have a lifelong impact on that student. A donation of $200 pays for a session for 10-30 students. Every contribution helps get us on our way!


To learn more about The Cambridge Math Circle, go here: http://www.cambridgemathcircle.org .