We know the struggle with mathematics—for both teachers and students—all too well. Students’ math scores, as per the “Nation’s Report Card,” have plunged to record lows. Misconceptions in early grades ...

Students often struggle to connect math with the real world. Word problems—a combination of words, numbers, and mathematical operations—can be a perfect vehicle to take abstract numbers off the page.

Top students can benefit greatly by being offered the subject early. But many districts offer few Black and Latino eighth graders a chance to study it. By Troy Closson From suburbs in the Northeast to ...