Every spring, the School District of Lancaster fills with the excitement of a unique kind of competition, one that centers not on athletic ability, but on mental agility, strategic thinking, and a genuine love of math. The annual Math 24 tournament is a celebration of what happens when learning feels like discovery.
In Math 24, students are presented with four numbers and are challenged to combine them using addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division to make exactly 24. The simplicity of the goal is part of the brilliance. Behind each equation lies critical thinking, pattern recognition, number sense, and a deep understanding of mathematical operations. It’s a challenge that encourages students to think flexibly and creatively under pressure, skills that are essential not only in math, but in life.
Students from grades 4 through 8 begin their journey by competing in preliminary rounds at their home schools. The top-performing students earn the opportunity to represent their peers at the district-wide Math24 tournament. At the district level, the competition intensifies with multiple rounds that introduce more complex cards, including double-digit numbers and variables at the middle school level. With each stage, students are pushed to apply their skills in new and increasingly demanding ways.
| Elementary top 8 | Name | School |
| 1st | Theodore Yule | Lafayette |
| 2nd | Nico Rodriguez | Ross |
| 3rd | Rune Hanson | SWE |
| 4th | Brenden McComsey | Hamilton |
| Carlos Smalls | Price | |
| Zaiden Diaz | Price | |
| Aung Uu | Price | |
| Adrian Khanal | Ross | |
| Secondary 7/8 | Name | School |
| 1st | Ayden Wood | Lincoln |
| Hadley Schuller | Reynolds | |
| Leena Iyengar | Reynolds | |
| Teddy Trevino | Lincoln | |
| Isabella Sedano Perez | Reynolds |
Christina Ortega, instructional program manager for elementary math and science, led the planning for this year’s competition. “These students volunteer to play this game,” she noted. “They’re not required to participate. They do it because they enjoy the challenge and because they enjoy working together.” Christina shared a story of a group of girls who didn’t have a team yet, so they banded together during a teacher’s prep period. That spirit of initiative and teamwork is part of what makes the day so special.
Students like Aiden Wood, a sixth grader from Lincoln Middle School, prove just how meaningful this experience can be. After competing last year and feeling like he fell short, Aiden returned stronger, and this time, he took home the trophy. “It feels good,” he said proudly. “I think my classmates will be proud, too.”
The top eight students in each division grades 4–5 and grades 6–8 will go on to represent SDoL at the IU13 Math24 Challenge, where they’ll compete against students from across Lancaster and Lebanon counties. This next level offers even greater challenge and recognition, and serves as a powerful motivator for students to keep stretching their mathematical thinking.
Math 24 doesn’t just align with our academic standards; it supports our mission to increase student achievement and close opportunity gaps. As part of our strategic plan under Academic Excellence, we’re committed to building strong foundations in math. This competition is one more way we do that, by showing students that math isn’t just something you sit and memorize. It’s a way of thinking, problem-solving, and making sense of the world. 
Laura Trimble, instructional coach for elementary math, sees Math24 as a way to connect what students learn in class to real-life thinking. “Math is more than facts and procedures. It’s a language. And just like reading, students need to be fluent in it,” she said. “This kind of fluency helps in everyday life, whether you’re understanding a credit card offer or designing the next big app.”
Beyond the academic value, the Math24 tournament provides something else just as important: confidence. Watching students solve tough problems, encourage one another, and feel proud of their abilities reminds us of what education is really about. For many, this may be the first time they’ve been recognized for excelling in math. That sense of accomplishment can last a lifetime.
Save the Dates:
- Grades 4 & 5 Tournament – Tuesday, May 13, 2025
- Grades 6, 7 & 8 Tournament – Wednesday, May 14, 2025
We look forward to welcoming our next group of competitors. Because here at SDoL, we believe in giving students the space to discover what they’re capable of, and sometimes, that journey starts with the number 24.