Math, Algorithms and Programming

Information sessions (ZOOM meeting ID: 94578394448) will be held at 8:00 PM (US Eastern Time)
for Session 1: on July 21, July 28 (presented mainly in Chinese) and August 16, 2024.
for Session 2: on November 15 and December 1, 2024.                                                          

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

• Courses Offered
• Placement
• Registration
• Payment
• Calendar
• Staff
• FAQ

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

Who

In person Program at the Northern Dallas Metroplex Area is intended for 6th, 7th and 8th graders
(with a maximum of 15 students in class).

Where

4670 McDermott Road Suite 208 Plano, TX

When

This program runs on selected Tuesdays (7:00 pm - 9:00 pm) and Sundays (6:30 pm - 8:30 pm) evenings from September 2024 to May 2025. This program has two sessions: Session 1 (Fall Session, 40 hours) and Session 2 (Spring Session, 40 hours). Session 2 is a continuation of Session 1.

Program Setup, Discounted Tuition and Additional Scholarships

This program requires students to take our in person admission test. Top students will be admitted to Session 1 of the program. Students who completed Session 1 of the program with good standing will be admitted to Session 2 of the program.

Each session will run for 40 hours (20 hours on Tuesday evenings, 20 hours on Sunday evenings). The discounted tuition rate for the MAP program is $795 per session (which is below $20 per hour). Additional scholarships (available upon application) and fellowships will be offered. This is only possible because of the generosity of the donors to this program. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the donors for their support.

If you would like to become a donor of the program, please contact info@ideamath.org

What

MAP explores the concepts of mathematics and computer science via learning challenging contest mathematics focused on problem-solving, interspersed with algorithmic thinking and programming.

MAP 1 (PCX and beyond): Advanced middle school contest math (Algebra, Combinatorics, Geometry, Number Sense, reference--IDEA MATH PCX/MC3), with hands-on algorithm and programing activities.

MAP 2 (UC1 and beyond): Introductory high school contest math (Algebra, Combinatorics, Geometry, Number Sense, reference--IDEA MATH UC1/MC4), with hands-on algorithm and programing activities.

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' classwork and preparation. Please contact info@ideamath.org---make sure to include the following info in your email subject: student's full name, IDEA MATH ID, and intended program.

* 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.

This program requires students to take our in person admission test (please click to register for it).

Admission Test Date: August 24, 2024

Admission Test Location: John Paul II High School, 900 Coit Road, Plano, TX, 75075

Admission Test Time: 2:00 pm (test will start at 2:00 pm and complete at 4:00 pm

Admission Test Fee: $20 (paid before 11:59 PM August 20, 2024), $25 (day of the test)
The placement test fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

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. Note that our academic team will make the final decision on your course placement based upon your academic background and your work on the placement test.

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. Tuition refunds for withdrawals will be processed according to the refund policy.

Pay Tuition

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

The tuition rate for the MAP program and the additional scholarships/fellowships are only possible because of the generosity of the donors to this program. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the donors for their support.

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

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

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

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

Additional partial and full scholarships available upon application. Scholarships may be awarded to the top students in the program.

* The tuition payments may be stopped earlier than the published date if the program reaches its maximum 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.

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

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

Session 2 Class Dates (January to May)

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

* All class times are in the US Central Time Zone. In these sessions, each course will meet 40 times (two hours every time) for a total of 40*2 = 80 hours over the school year.

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