No. National Math Stars has no costs or fees associated with it.

We choose National Math Stars based on two criteria: demonstrated level of math ability and need for the program.

We assess math ability on the basis of existing test scores and our own admissions assessments. We’re looking for students who not only excel on math courses or exams, but who show passion for the subject and are ready to stretch further. If your child is always asking you mathematical questions, can’t get enough of STEM books and videos, or loves solving puzzles in their spare time, that could be a sign that they are a good fit for the program.

Need for the program encompasses a variety of dimensions. We’re trying to answer the question, “What will this program enable a student to do, that they wouldn’t otherwise accomplish?” We especially encourage applications from students who are low-income, first-generation, rural, or from racial demographics historically underrepresented in advanced mathematics. However, none of these is a requirement for acceptance into the program, and our application includes a chance to explain why being a National Math Star will benefit your trajectory.

Most (but not all) National Math Stars families show some financial need. In our 2024 cohort, over 80% of Stars came from families earning less than $125K per year. However, we have no hard income cap on eligibility for the program, and we understand that every family is different. Income does not always reflect level of need, and we take unique circumstances into account when considering how much value National Math Stars could add to a student’s trajectory.

We intend for every cohort to include students from every income quartile (including the highest-earning quartile), and we make our admissions decisions accordingly. That said, we see many applicants from high-income families who do extremely well on our admissions exams, and our program does not have room for all of them. If you’re a high-income family considering applying to the program, please understand that being accepted is possible, but your odds of admission are low.

We are also in the process of piloting additional support programs for lower-need families with mathematically extraordinary students! In future, we expect to work with even more families from across the income spectrum. We encourage you to apply to our program even if your level of need might not meet this year’s selection criteria, as that gives us a chance to invite you to participate in these pilots, should they be a good fit.

Most National Math Stars spend 3-5 hours per week on core program activities. These activities include participation in math enrichment classes, regular math mentoring sessions, homework for classes, family advisor meetings, and community gatherings. (This estimate does not include time spent on additional STEM extracurriculars – such as robotics or coding – which National Math Stars can help find and fund, but which are not a required part of the program.) Please note that we will work with each accepted family to build a participation schedule that fits your unique needs. Our goal is to support you and your child in reaching their fullest potential.

Not usually. National Math Stars is a supplemental program that is meant to build on, and go beyond, what your child is already learning in school. Some National Math Stars do work on their advanced coursework during school time instead of regular math classes, but only when their parents and the school agree that this is beneficial to their learning.

You should receive an automated email confirmation within an hour of submitting your application. If you do not receive an email confirmation, please email us at admissions@nationalmathstars.org. All applicants will be notified about whether they have been selected as finalists in July. Finalists will be invited to participate in a proctored exam and family interview. (National Math Stars covers all costs.)

While you are welcome to submit an application (we may expand our age range in future years), we are only accepting students that are currently in 2nd or 3rd grade OR ages 7-9 for the 2025 cohort.

We are working hard to expand our programming into other states! However, for the 2025 National Math Stars cohort, we are only accepting students who reside in Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan or Wisconsin.

If you have any further questions or need support in submitting an application, please contact us at admissions@nationalmathstars.org.