Enhancing Algebra 1 Scores by 20 Points at a Low-Income School through Upscaling Challenge and Teamwork
At West Jones High School (WJHS) in Mississippi, the introduction of the Math Nation platform has significantly enhanced the teaching and learning of Algebra 1.
The Math Nation platform offers guided lesson notes, lesson videos, practice, activities, and assessments, providing a comprehensive resource for students. This online math platform is aligned with state standards and offers remedial support for foundational math or pre-algebra concepts.
In the 2017-2018 school year, WJHS saw a notable improvement in Algebra 1 proficiency. The school's Algebra 1 proficiency rate jumped to 59%, a gain of 22 percentage points. Remarkably, the teacher's students' proficiency numbers climbed even higher, jumping from 38% in 2017 to 66% in 2018 and continuing to rise.
The teacher at WJHS uses the Math Nation platform every day, employing every component to ensure student buy-in. The teacher also emphasizes meeting students where they are and building from there to improve student understanding. Each learner can access individualized remediation tools on the platform to address any unfinished learning.
If students miss school, they can watch the videos at home to catch up on missed work, freeing up teacher's time for more focused instruction. The teacher also shares teaching strategies and activities with colleagues, fostering growth in teaching skills and expertise in Algebra 1.
The teacher established an Algebra PLC meeting on Thursdays at WJHS, facilitating ongoing collaboration with colleagues. Every nine weeks, the PLC does a common assessment across the district to monitor student progress towards standards and drive decisions. The PLC also shares data to analyse what worked well and what didn't, and help each other improve.
While direct data or case studies on Math Nation's effectiveness in improving Algebra 1 proficiency rates in Mississippi public schools are not readily available, research generally supports that targeted, well-implemented math interventions, including differentiated instruction and foundational skill development, improve Algebra 1 outcomes. The success at WJHS suggests that Math Nation may be an effective tool in this regard, although further research is needed to confirm this.
In 2024, 75% of WJHS students scored at the proficient level or above in Algebra 1, exceeding the state average and the district's other high schools' proficiency rates. This achievement underscores the potential of Math Nation to boost Algebra 1 proficiency in Mississippi public schools.
- The Math Nation platform, used extensively at West Jones High School (WJHS), is a beneficial resource for student learning and personal growth, offering guided notes, videos, practice, activities, and assessments.
- In the 2017-2018 school year, WJHS experienced a notable enhancement in Algebra 1 proficiency, due in part to the implementation of the Math Nation platform, with the school's rate jumping to 59%.
- The teacher at WJHS emphasizes meeting students where they are and building from there, using the Math Nation platform to ensure student buy-in and provide individualized remediation tools for unfinished learning.
- The success at WJHS in improving Algebra 1 proficiency rates suggests that the Math Nation platform may be an effective education-and-self-development tool, although further research is needed to confirm this.
