DC High Schools Compete in Math Challenge

Jackson-Reed High wins regional contest, advances to citywide finals

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:49am

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A bold, colorful silkscreen print featuring a repeated image of a calculator in neon shades of blue, green, and pink, with heavy black outlines, conceptually representing the excitement and energy of a high school math competition.A vibrant celebration of the annual DC high school math competition, where students showcase their problem-solving skills and compete for a spot in the citywide finals.Washington Today

DC Public Schools hosted a regional high school math competition at Garnet-Patterson Academy, where Jackson-Reed High School's team took first place. The top 12 teams will now advance to the upcoming citywide finals at Nationals Park in May.

Why it matters

Math competitions help promote STEM education and engagement among high school students in the District. The event also provides an opportunity for students to showcase their skills and potentially earn recognition or scholarships.

The details

Teams from across DC public high schools competed in the regional math contest, solving problems covering a range of advanced math topics like quadratics, probability, trigonometry, and geometry. Jackson-Reed High School's team demonstrated the strongest performance, earning them a spot in the citywide finals.

  • The regional competition was held on Wednesday, April 9, 2026.
  • The citywide finals at Nationals Park are scheduled for May 2026.

The players

Dr. Lewis D Ferebee

The Chancellor of DC Public Schools, who hosted the regional math competition.

Maura Cohen

A 10th grader from the first-place Jackson-Reed High School team.

Jackson-Reed High School

The winning team that will advance to the citywide math competition finals.

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What they’re saying

“The event was a great showcase of the math skills and strategic thinking of high school students across DC.”

— Dr. Lewis D Ferebee, Chancellor, DC Public Schools

What’s next

The top 12 teams from the regional competition will compete in the citywide math finals at Nationals Park in May 2026.

The takeaway

DC's high school math competition helps nurture STEM talent and provides students with an opportunity to apply their skills in a challenging, competitive environment. The event's growth and popularity underscores the district's commitment to advancing math and science education.