Why Improving Math Outcomes Still Matters And What We Can Do About It

As we begin a new school year, we thought it was a good time to reflect on our mission - now 3.5 years since we began operating. In early 2022, Math Medic Foundation published an article titled “4 Ways That Improving Math Outcomes Helps Us All.” In it, we identified four key ripple effects that occur when students are supported to succeed in math. Today, those outcomes are just as urgent, and just as hopeful, as ever.

But a great deal has changed since then too.

Teachers continue to navigate the aftershocks of pandemic-related learning loss, increasingly polarized education policies, and growing concern over the relevance and equity of our school systems. Yet despite these challenges, thousands of teachers have doubled down on the heart of this work: helping students believe in themselves as mathematical thinkers.

As one of those teachers, we want to remind you of the power you hold, offer encouragement as you prepare for the school year ahead, and share how the four outcomes we originally named continue to guide our work - and how they might guide yours.

The Four Outcomes: 3.5 Years Later

In our original article, we shared four reasons why improving math outcomes doesn’t just benefit individual students, it benefits society at large. Here’s a quick recap, with a few updated reflections.

1. Students Are More Likely to Graduate

This outcome hasn’t changed. Rather, it’s become even more pressing. Research continues to show that success in Algebra I is one of the strongest predictors of high school graduation. A 2023 study by the Education Trust reconfirmed that students who complete Algebra I by the end of 9th grade are significantly more likely to graduate on time and pursue postsecondary education.

Unfortunately, data from several states now shows that many students, especially students from low-income backgrounds, are being held back by uneven math instruction, inequitable course placement, and diminished access to rigorous math pathways.

But here’s the hopeful part: We, the classroom teachers, can disrupt that. Every time we give students a sense of belonging in your math class - when we frame mistakes as learning opportunities, invite multiple solution strategies, or affirm a student’s mathematical thinking - we are boosting their odds of success. Not just in math class, but in school and beyond.

2. Students Have Access to More Postsecondary Opportunities

In today’s world, math proficiency isn’t just about getting into college, it’s about keeping doors open. Whether students plan to pursue a four-year degree, a trade certification, or go directly into the workforce, strong math skills dramatically expand their options.

And students know this. According to a 2024 ACT report, more than 80% of high school students say they believe math will be important in their future careers. But far fewer feel confident in their math skills, and that gap can shape their decisions long before they graduate.

Teachers have the power to narrow that gap.

Helping students feel confident and competent in math sends a clear message: You are capable, and your future is full of possibilities. A strengths-based approach - one that values student reasoning, highlights diverse contributions, and connects math to real-world contexts - can transform student trajectories.

3. Students Have More Career Options

Since 2021, the need for a mathematically literate workforce has only grown. Fields like healthcare, data analytics, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing all rely on mathematical thinking, oftentimes in ways that traditional math education doesn’t make obvious.

As Dr. Jo Boaler points out in Limitless Mind (2019), students who learn to see math as flexible, visual, and creative are better equipped to adapt to the kinds of thinking the modern workforce demands.

This school year, we have an opportunity to show students that math isn’t just a set of procedures to memorize. It’s a language for solving problems, exploring patterns, and modeling complex systems. When students experience math as relevant and empowering, they’re more likely to pursue careers that rely on it.

4. Students Are More Likely to Break the Cycle of Poverty

This remains one of the most transformative outcomes, and perhaps the most urgent. According to the Brookings Institution, math achievement is one of the strongest predictors of future income and economic mobility.

But poverty is not simply a result of individual effort or skill. There is a structural component as well, and unfortunately, sometimes schools reinforce rather than disrupt those structures.

That’s why supporting student success in math is about more than good instruction. It’s about recognizing and challenging the gatekeeping practices that disproportionately impact students from historically marginalized communities. It’s about changing our beliefs, our systems, and our support networks so that every student has a chance to thrive.

A New Outcome: Students Strengthen Their Sense of Identity and Agency

If we were writing that original article today, we’d add a fifth outcome:

Improving math outcomes helps students build a stronger sense of identity and agency.

At Math Medic Foundation, we’ve spent the past three years learning from teachers and students across the country. And one message has come through clearly: When students experience math as a space where they are seen, heard, and valued, they are more likely to take ownership of their learning, and to see themselves as powerful thinkers who can shape their own futures.

This is especially true when teachers adopt pedagogical practices that affirm students’ identities, such as:

Allowing for multiple solution paths
Valuing the reasoning process over the “correct” answer
Encouraging student-to-student discourse
Naming and celebrating student strengths
Making connections between math and students’ lived experiences

When these practices are in place, students don’t just get better at math, they start to believe, “I belong here.”

Looking Ahead: What This Means for the Year to Come

As we prepare to welcome students into our classrooms, we invite you to carry these five outcomes - not as pressure, but as purpose.
Improving math outcomes isn’t about boosting test scores or racing through the curriculum. It’s about believing that our students are capable of deep mathematical thinking, and that our everyday decisions, however small, can either open doors or close them.

Here are a few ways we might live out that belief this year:

Start with strengths. What do your students already bring to the table—culturally, linguistically, mathematically? Use those as the foundation for new learning.
Focus on identity and belonging. Create routines that help students see themselves as mathematicians. Invite them to share how math shows up in their lives.
Teach for understanding. Prioritize deep reasoning, multiple representations, and real-world connections. Use instructional routines like Notice & Wonder, Which One Doesn’t Belong, or Contemplate then Calculate to spark rich thinking.

Final Thoughts

3.5 years into our work, we remain convinced: When we improve math outcomes, we improve lives.

This school year, may you find joy in the learning, strength in your community, and hope in the countless small moments where students surprise you with their brilliance.

And if you’re ever looking for tools, connection, or inspiration, know that Math Medic Foundation is here cheering you on, learning alongside you, and working to create a world where every student can succeed in math.

Pete Grostic, Ph.D

Executive Director

Please join Math Medic Foundation in our mission to improve math outcomes for all. You can contact us to get involved or donate here.

08/04/2025