McKinney, Texas – Four formidable McKinney ISD 4th and 5th grade math students will be headed to Chicago in May for the National Final of the annual MathCON mathematics competition.

This online math contest for students in grades 4–12 draws thousands of competitors from across the country each year, with only the top percentile receiving invitations to compete at the finals, which are held in person. From among the more than 600 competitors expected to attend, the highest three scorers in each grade level will receive the coveted gold, medal or bronze MathCON medals.

MISD’s MathCON National Final Qualifiers

Christian Kuhn (5th Grade)—Wilmeth Elementary

Daniel Rhee (4th Grade)—Reuben Johnson Elementary

Emily Chung (5th Grade)—Wolford Elementary

Oleksandr Derkachov (4th Grade)—Press Elementary

Austin Nobles (4th Grade)—McNeil Elementary (Austin qualified as an alternate and will go to Chicago in place of one of the MISD qualifiers who is not able to attend.)

MISD’s MathCON National Final Alternates

Levi Auchter (4th Grade)—Webb Elementary
Dylan Johnson (5th)—Wilmeth
Margaret Baker (5th)—McClure
Aiden Reynolds (5th)—McGowen
Jack Shahan (4th)—Bennett
Bennett Cartwright (4th)—Wolford
Callie Holland (5th)—McGowen
Jacob Berman (5th)—Bennett

All of MISD’s 4th and 5th grade gifted and talented students, who are served through the district’s ALPHA program, took part in the MathCON online qualifier test in February. This is well beyond the math that most of us remember from 4th and 5th grade.

For the initial online round of competition, participants had 45 minutes to answer 32 questions drawn from algebra, combinatorics, geometry and number theory. For those who may be curious about the level of difficulty and want to put their own knowledge of these math disciplines to the test, the MathCON weekly practice tests can be found here.

“We were floored to discover that 85 MISD fourth graders and 101 fifth graders earned Outstanding recognition,” said MISD Elementary GT Coordinator Trey Wright. “We’re proud of all our ALPHA students and excited to see how our Formidable Four will do in the Windy City!”

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