NWS Math Students Excel at National Math Competition
- 02/11/2026
- Category: Student Voices Awards & Recognitions Featured
Northwest students recently participated in the highly competitive American Mathematics Competition (AMC), the preeminent math challenge for K-12 students. Three of our students performed exceptionally well, and one of them, Eloise Z., achieved the Honor Role of Distinction by placing in the Top 1% of all national competitors!
Maddy L. and Annie G. also excelled among the stiff competition, scoring in the Top 25% among all participants. Northwest students Yijing L., Daniel L., Peirui G., and Shania J. also competed in this event.
It was incredible to have these seven students turn out for the AMC competition this year. It was inspiring every time they met.
The AMC encourages lifelong mathematical exploration, discovery, and achievement. It attracts over 300,000 students from across all 50 U.S. states, as well as over 30 countries, all of who share a passion for math. Specifically targeting middle and high school students, this contest engages students in exciting problem-solving puzzles at three grade levels: AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12.
Each level consists of a timed 25-question competition (40 minutes for grade 8, and 75 minutes each for grades 10 and 12), and covers topics like algebra, geometry, number theory, probability, trigonometry, and calculus.
Math Department Chair, Jacob Tafejian, is incredibly proud of this group of students, and also coaches them weekly in the Mathletes Student Interest Group. "They all worked hard to prepare," he shares, "and they used their free time to have fun working through these very challenging math problems." Eloise Z. also worked with a private tutor ahead of the competition.
Northwest's interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum encourages students to explore the intersections of math, science, art, the humanities, and modern languages.
Upper School students complete at least three years of math, with the option to pursue advanced and more challenging courses based on their level of interest. Classes include Algebra, Calculus, Advanced Calculus, Geometry, Statistics, and Advanced Topics in Mathematics.
