Laredo Students Shine at Gateway MATHCOUNTS Competition

Nearly 200 middle schoolers compete in regional math contest, advancing top performers to state-level event.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Middle school students from across Laredo gathered at Texas A&M International University to compete in the Gateway Chapter MATHCOUNTS competition, a regional event that tests students' math skills and advances top performers to state-level competition. The chapter competition, hosted by the local Society of Professional Engineers, is one of the largest MATHCOUNTS events in Texas, with nearly 200 students participating in written and timed problem-solving rounds.

Why it matters

The MATHCOUNTS competition provides an important platform for middle school students to showcase their math abilities and advance to higher-level competitions, helping to cultivate interest and skills in STEM fields at an early age. As Laredo works to expand local engineering education opportunities, events like this help prepare the next generation of math and science leaders.

The details

Students competed in a series of written and timed problem-solving rounds focused on speed, accuracy and analytical thinking. Those who place at the local level will advance to the state competition in Irving next month, with top finishers there earning a chance to compete nationally. Laredo Independent School District Superintendent Guillermo Pro attended the event to support students, emphasizing the importance of early exposure to mathematics and academic competition.

  • The Gateway Chapter MATHCOUNTS competition was held on Wednesday, February 7, 2026.
  • The 2026 state MATHCOUNTS competition will take place on March 7 in Irving.

The players

Gerry Pinzon

President of the Gateway Chapter of the local Society of Professional Engineers, which hosts the annual MATHCOUNTS competition.

Guillermo Pro

Superintendent of the Laredo Independent School District, who attended the event to support students and emphasize the importance of math education.

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What they’re saying

“This is a MATHCOUNTS competition, which is a middle school national competition. We've been hosting this competition locally for 36 years, and we have the third-largest competition in the state.”

— Gerry Pinzon, President, Gateway Chapter of the local Society of Professional Engineers (lmtonline.com)

“MATHCOUNTS is an opportunity for our students to compete at a very high level in a very necessary subject for our community. Everyone knows that students that excel in math have a much better opportunity as they move through college or in life.”

— Guillermo Pro, Superintendent, Laredo Independent School District (lmtonline.com)

What’s next

The top performers from the Gateway Chapter MATHCOUNTS competition will advance to the state-level event in Irving on March 7, 2026.

The takeaway

The MATHCOUNTS competition in Laredo showcases the strong math skills of local middle school students and the community's commitment to cultivating STEM education and opportunities. As Laredo works to expand its engineering programs, events like this help prepare the next generation of math and science leaders.