2023 - 2024 In-person Program at Plano (TX)

(All contents on this program page are for reference only. We reserve the right to make changes.)

Summer Program Information sessions (ZOOM meeting ID: 94578394448) will be held at 8:00 pm ET on
February 4 (Sunday), March 1 (Friday) - presented mainly in Chinese, and April 5 (Friday), 2024.

During each academic year IDEA MATH offers several programs (for more information, click here).

Who

In-person Program at Plano is intended for students in the 4th to 11th grades.

Where

IDEA MATH, 4670 McDermott Road, Suite 208, Plano, TX 75024

When

This program runs on selected Sundays from September 2023 to May 2024. This program has two sessions: Session 1 (Fall Session) and Session 2 (Spring Session). Session 2 is a continuation of Session 1.

What

In-person Program at Plano offers courses from our Extra Curricular (EC) Series. These courses are designed for students pursuing extra curricular mathematics far beyond general school curriculum and provides extensive preparation for contests such as MATHCOUNTS, AMC8/10/12, and AIME etc.

Program Setup and Workload

In-person Program at Plano offers the following courses: PC0, PCA, PC1, PC2, PCX, and UC1. Each course consists of two parts: part 1 will be offered/taught in the Session 1 (or Fall session) and part 2 will be offered/taught in the Session 2 (or Spring session), and part 2 is a continuation (not a repetition) of part 1. In each session, there are 15 meetings and each meeting is two hours long for a total of 30 class hours. Therefore, for each course, we have 2*15*2 = 60 total class hours---30 hours for part 1 in Session 1 and 30 hours for part 2 in Session 2. We intend to cover our materials via our classroom activities. Hence we expect less than 1 hour of homework for each meeting.

The tuition for the EC Program is $1870 = $935*2 (to be paid in two payments: $935 per session) for a total 60 in-class hours (30 in-class hours per session, unit rate is $31.17 per hour) of teaching and homework/test grading.

Why

IDEA MATH provides in-depth enrichment in important mathematical areas, particularly in the fields from which contest problems are drawn: algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory. We believe students learn best by discovering, rather than simply memorizing, essential theorems and techniques. Our process puts students at the center of the classes, as students work together to develop their ideas. Our instructors lead this process by teaching vital ideas, giving meaningful examples, and guiding students through the problem-solving process.

How

We apply seminar-style teaching in our classes. Class sizes are small to ensure that students receive plenty of individual attention. Students are expected to work as a group and present their solutions and ideas to the class.

What are the unique strengths of IDEA MATH that distinguish it from other (summer/winter/online/weekend) math programs?

The unique strengths of IDEA MATH can be summarized as follows:

  1. Comprehensive and well-tested teaching materials, modeled after the training materials once used by our academic director Dr. Zuming Feng in his work with the Phillips Exeter Academy Red Lion (PEARL) math club/team and Math Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP).
    ( Find more information about curriculum here.)
  2. Strong team of instructors, consisting of front-line teachers, coaches, and top former students.
    (Find more information about staff here.)
  3. Emphasis on student leadership and the development of an attitude conducive to learning.
  4. Focus on schools and the local math communities.

For more details, please visit our FAQ page.

Contact IDEA MATH

As always, we welcome parents' specific academic questions about our curriculum and teaching styles, as well as students' class-work and preparation. Please contact info@ideamath.org---make sure to include the following info in your email subject: student's full name, 4-digit IDEA MATH ID, and intended program.

Courses Offered

IDEA MATH provides an extensive curriculum. The course list shown below consists of projected courses we will offer in this program. Two of the major strengths of our program---a strong academic team and a full range of materials---allow us to create new courses/groups to meet the needs of the students body. Therefore, the course list (and course schedule) is subject to change based on actual enrollment and staff availability.

Please visit detailed curriculum grid for a more complete reference of IDEA MATH course curriculums.

Courses* Date** Class Time**
PC0/Pre-Algebra 1 Sunday 10:30 am - 12:30 pm (US Central Time)
PCA/Pre-Algebra 2 Sunday 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm (US Central Time)
PC1 Sunday 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm (US Central Time)
PC2 Sunday 10:30 am - 12:30 pm (US Central Time)
PCX Sunday 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm (US Central Time)
UC1 Sunday 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm (US Central Time)

* Each course will only be offered when a minimum number of students have enrolled. Some courses might run multiple sections. To maintain the high standard of our students' learning experience, class sizes will remain small. In general, classes in PC0/PCA (and MCA, CWA) courses are capped by 12 students per class (more likely, 6-10 students per class), and classes in other courses are capped by 16students per class (more likely, 6-12 students per class).

** All class times are in the US Central Time Zone. Each course will meet 30 times (two hours every time), 15 times in the Session 1 (Fall Session) and 15 times in Session 2 (Spring Session) for a total of 15*2*2 = 60 hours per course. Check calendar here.

Course Placement and Placement Test

IDEA MATH provides an extensive curriculum. Our courses are intended for able students who wish to expand their mathematics knowledge beyond regular classroom settings. We emphasize study skills (such as taking notes, oral and written presentations, listening, observing, organization, etc).

In general, each applicant not recently enrolled (that is, who has not completed an IDEA MATH course in the spring or summer of 2023) in our programs shall take a placement test in one of our open online/onsite placement test sessions. (For more details on our placement test/course placement process, please visit here.)

It is important for each applicant to input accurate, complete, detailed, and up-to-date academic background information(i.e., age, grade level, math courses taken, official contest scores, etc.) in the applicant's IDEA MATH student account. We review this information to make initial course placement/placement test level decisions. We will find the most appropriate course placement based on placement test work and general academic information in the student account. Please note that our academic team will make the final decision on your course placement based upon your academic background and your work in the placement test. (Further course placement adjustments can be made, by our academic team, based upon your class work.)

Placement test levels and dates are shown below. Please click this link to register for the placement test. The placement test fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

Test Levels and their corresponding courses
Test Level Targeted Course
S0/T0 Extra Curricular Series: PC0/Pre-Algebra 1 and PCA/Pre-Algebra 2
Holiday Contest Prep program: CW0
S1 School Enrichment Series: Algebra 1
S2 School Enrichment Series: Geometry
S3 School Enrichment Series: Algebra 2
T1 Extra Curricular Series: PC1 and PC2
Fall and Winter Contest Prep program: CE1/CE2
Holiday Contest Prep program: CW1/CW2
T2 Extra Curricular Series: PCX and UC1
Fall and Winter Contest Prep program: CE3/CE4
Holiday Contest Prep program: CW3/CW4
T3 Extra Curricular Series: UC2 and UC3
Fall and Winter Contest Prep program: CE5/CE6
Holiday Contest Prep program: CW5/CW6
T4 XC Series: XC7, XC9, and XC10
MO Series MO1
Fall and Winter Contest Prep program: CE7/CE8
Holiday Contest Prep program: CW7/CW8
T5 MO Series MO2 and MO3
Fall and Winter Contest Prep program: CE9/CE10
Holiday Contest Prep program: CW9/CW10
Placement Test Schedule for Session 1 (Fall Session)

For each course, Session 1 covers the first part of a two-part course.

Placement Test Date/Time* Placement Test Location Registered and Fee Paid by Test Fee**
August 6, 2023
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
(US Eastern Time)
Online August 1, 2023 $50
August 20, 2023
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
(US Eastern Time)
Online August 15, 2023 $75
August 25, 2023
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
(US Eastern Time)
Online August 23, 2023 $100
Special date
(US Eastern Time)
Online Special date $150
Placement Test Schedule For Session 2 (Spring Session) or Holiday Contest Prep

For each course, Session 2 covers the second part of a two-part course.

Placement Test Date/Time* Placement Test Location Registered by Test Fee**
November 19, 2023
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
(US Eastern Time)
Online November 16, 2023 $75
December 3, 2023
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
(US Eastern Time)
Online December 1, 2023 $100
Special date
(US Eastern Time)
Online Special date $150

*Each placement test is 90 minutes long. Students should arrive at the testing location (onsite or online) 10 minutes prior to the test. All test times are in the US Eastern Time Zone.

** The placement test fee is non-refundable and non-transferable; that is, it cannot be transferred from one applicant/student to another applicant/student, and it also cannot be transferred from a registered/chosen test session/date to another placement test session/date for the same applicant/student. Special test sessions (test fee of $150 or more) can be arranged depending on staffing availabilities. Please contact info@ideamath.org for inquires on special test sessions.

Registration and Tuition Payment Schedule

Note that registration is only the first step of towards enrollment. Enrollment (for each session) is completed only after the tuition is paid in full. The tuition payment is independent to student's course placement because the tuition is for the program, not for a specific course. The IDEA MATH staff will work with students on course placement by reviewing their academic backgrounds, assigning placement test levels, reviewing placement test work, and more. IDEA MATH staff make the final decision on students' course placements. (Please see our Course Placement Policy section for details.) All tuition refund for withdrawal will be processed based on the refund policy.

Pay Tuition

Please log in to your account to pay the tuition online.

Session 1 (Fall Session, September to December 2023) Tuition Payment Schedule

For each course, Session 1 covers the first part of a two-part course.

Registered By Tuition Paid By* Tuition Amount**
August 1, 2023 August 15, 2023 $935 ($31.17/hour)

* The tuition payments may be stopped earlier than the published date if the program has reached to its upper capacity.

** After the tuition payment deadline date, a late fee ($100) will be applied to the tuition and admission can only be given if space is available.

Session 2 (Spring Session, January to May 2024) Tuition Payment Schedule

For each course, Session 2 covers the second part of a two-part course.

Registered By Tuition Paid By* Tuition Amount**
December 15, 2023 January 2, 2024 $935 ($31.17/hour)

* The tuition payments may be stopped earlier than the published date if the program has reached to its upper capacity.

** After the tuition payment deadline date, a late fee ($100 or more) will be applied to the tuition and admission can only be given if space is available.

Calendar

For the class schedule, please check the course schedule.

Session 1 (Fall Session, September to December 2023) Class Dates*

For each course, Session 1 covers the first part of a two-part course.

Courses Time* Dates*
PC0/Pre-Algebra 1 Sunday
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
(US Central Time)
Aug. 27, Sept. 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29,
Nov. 5, 12, 19, Dec. 3, 10, 17 (2023).
PCA/Pre-Algebra 2 Sunday
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
(US Central Time)
Aug. 27, Sept. 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29,
Nov. 5, 12, 19, Dec. 3, 10, 17 (2023).
PC1 Sunday
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
(US Central Time)
Aug. 27, Sept. 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29,
Nov. 5, 12, 19, Dec. 3, 10, 17 (2023).
PC2 Sunday
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
(US Central Time)
Aug. 27, Sept. 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29,
Nov. 5, 12, 19, Dec. 3, 10, 17 (2023).
PCX Sunday
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
(US Central Time)
Aug. 27, Sept. 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29,
Nov. 5, 12, 19, Dec. 3, 10, 17 (2023).
UC1 Sunday
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
(US Central Time)
Aug. 27, Sept. 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29,
Nov. 5, 12, 19, Dec. 3, 10, 17 (2023).

* All class times are in the US Central Time Zone. In this session, each course will meet 15 times (two hours every time) for a total of 15*2 = 30 hours.

Session 2 Class Dates (January to May 2024)

For each course, Session 2 covers the second part of a two-part course.

Course Time* Dates*
PC0/Pre-Algebra 1 Sunday
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
(US Central Time)
Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 4, 18, 25, March 3, 10, 24, 31, Apr. 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12. Make up date: May 19 (2024).
PCA/Pre-Algebra 2 Sunday
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
(US Central Time)
Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 4, 18, 25, March 3, 10, 24, 31, Apr. 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12. Make up date: May 19 (2024).
PC1 Sunday
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
(US Central Time)
Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 4, 18, 25, March 3, 10, 24, 31, Apr. 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12. Make up date: May 19 (2024).
PC2 Sunday
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
(US Central Time)
Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 4, 18, 25, March 3, 10, 24, 31, Apr. 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12. Make up date: May 19 (2024).
PCX Sunday
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
(US Central Time)
Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 4, 18, 25, March 3, 10, 24, 31, Apr. 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12. Make up date: May 19 (2024).
UC1 Sunday
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
(US Central Time)
Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 4, 18, 25, March 3, 10, 24, 31, Apr. 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12. Make up date: May 19 (2024).

* All class times are in the US Central Time Zone. In this session, each course will meet 15 times (two hours every time) for a total of 15*2 = 30 hours.

Tuition Refund Policy

For Session 1 (Fall Session), Withdrawal Request Made Refund Amount
Before August 20, 2023 Paid Tuition - $100
On or after August 20, before August 25, 2023 Paid Tuition - $200
On or after August 25, 2023 No refund
For Session 2 (Spring Session), Withdrawal Request Made Refund Amount
Before January 5, 2024 Paid Tuition - $100
On or after January 5, before January 10, 2024 Paid Tuition - $200
On or after January 10, 2024 No refund

Please note that only tuition is refundable per the above policy. Other fees such as the application fee, the registration fee, and the placement test fee are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Credit cannot be transferred between different type of programs---summer, year-round, contest edge, winter contest prep, etc.

For programs of a similar type (e.g., between summer programs), we will follow the withdrawal/refund policies. For example, after tuition is submitted and before date X, we will apply the transfer in the following way (assuming space is available for the intended program): switching programs/series is considered a withdrawal from one program/series and an enrollment to another program/series, and any difference in tuition rates applies.

To request a refund and withdraw your student, please send a complete request in writing to info@ideamath.org. You must include the payee name and mailing address matching the information in the student's account in order for your request to be deemed complete and submitted. Please include "Refund Request" and the student's name in the subject line. The amount of the refund will be based on the time that a complete request is submitted; incomplete requests will not be deemed to meet deadlines for withdrawal.

If the student is ill and chooses to withdraw from the program after the refund deadlines, we can offer prorated credit (proportional based upon the second refund policy: paid tuition deducted by $300, then prorated per day) towards a future program. A note from a licensed physician is required. The doctor's note should clearly assert that the student's current medical status does not allow the student to complete the remainder of the program. The date when the doctor's note is submitted to IDEA MATH (via info@ideamath.org) is considered the initial date for the prorated refund (credit) calculation. The same policies apply if the IDEA MATH staff determine that the student must withdraw due to illness in order to protect the health and welfare of themselves or other students.

For all purposes related to this refund policy, a day shall be deemed to begin at 12:01am local time in the US Eastern Time Zone (US ET).

Academic team

Academic Director

Dr. Zuming Feng

Academic Team

Mr. Chengde Feng

Mr. Wenhua Ma

Mr. Yi Tian

Mr. Shawn Xiong

Mrs. Yunhua Xu

Mr. Jie Zhao

Mr. Yang Zhong

and more, to be updated soon