Unlocking Math Brilliance: How Saint Andrew’s Shapes Confident Problem Solvers

Over a decade ago, Saint Andrew's School began rethinking how math was taught across campus. Kristofer McCullough, the Mathematics Department Chair at Saint Andrew’s, worked with his fellow faculty members across the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools to build a connected curriculum grounded in a straightforward principle: every student can tackle complex problems when given the right tools. What started as a structural shift in the Lower School has grown into a schoolwide transformation that builds lasting student confidence.

 

Setting the Foundation in Lower School

The groundwork started in the Lower School with Singapore Math. Instead of memorizing formulas and punching numbers into calculators, young students learn the visual structure of how numbers work. Through an "experience first, formalize later" approach, teachers introduce real-world problems that encourage students to test different strategies before writing out formal equations.

Once students master these concepts, they apply their number sense to geometry, measurement, probability, and algebraic thinking long before taking a formal algebra course. At past Lower School curriculum sessions for parents, Mr. McCullough enjoyed watching students solve multi-step word problems using visual modeling strategies and number sense, while their parents would typically try to solve the same problem using high school algebra.

This hands-on style aligns with Saint Andrew's International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme, encouraging student ownership and peer collaboration. Classrooms stay intentionally screen-free for core Singapore Math lessons as students solve problems together, drawing out their thinking directly on their desks with dry-erase markers. 

“As a department, we value what we see in every single minute we have with the kids,” stated McCullough. “We want to engage them as much as we can in rich problem-solving and collaboration."

 

Creating Pathways in Middle and Upper School

As students move into Middle and Upper School, that early foundation creates clear pathways for acceleration. 

In the Middle Years Programme in the Middle School, students continue to engage in deep problem-solving through pattern investigations, strong mathematical communication, and the application of their knowledge in real-world contexts. 

Partnerships with Palm Beach State College and Global Online Academy allow Upper School students to take specialized advanced courses such as Differential Equations and Linear Algebra, while clubs like Mu Alpha Theta and competitions such as MathCounts and the United States Mathematical Olympiad give students room to stretch their skills.

For students like Adrian Fente ’27, who has been attending Saint Andrew's since grade 2, this focus on discovery has shaped his entire perspective on learning.

"One thing the Saint Andrew’s math department has done that has really benefited me is teaching in a way that encourages us to discover concepts rather than simply being given information and told to memorize it," Adrian shared. He recalls a lesson in grade 5 where his class worked through a challenging division problem without being handed the answer right away. "I remember struggling hard to understand, but eventually, I figured it out through that struggle. Because I had discovered the concept myself, it stuck with me much more strongly."

That same problem-solving mindset continues to serve him well in his advanced Upper School courses, such as AP Calculus BC. "It is very common in the math class that I am taking now for students to work independently to try to prove certain theorems before being formally introduced to them," says Fente. "Doing so has helped me understand math in a much more logical manner rather than simply memorizing formulas."

 

Measurable Success Across All Grades 

The results show up across every measure. Following updates to the Primary Mathematics curriculum, Lower School ERB standardized test scores increased 10 to 15 percentile points over the past two years alone. In the Upper School, more students are taking advanced courses than ever. Last spring, 129 Saint Andrew's students achieved a 100% pass rate on the AP Pre-Calculus, Calculus AB, and Calculus BC exams – far outperforming global pass rates, which ranged from 65% to 82%. 

Looking ahead, the department is exploring ways to give students even more dedicated time for math exploration and growth.

"There is a great deal of really good things going on in all grade levels of math, and I am still excited and curious about the possibilities," McCullough stated. "We are not content with how things are going; we're constantly looking for ways to improve our instruction, how math is taught at different age and grade levels, and how to better incorporate strategies in vertical alignment."

Through this focus on steady growth and thoughtful instruction, Saint Andrew's continues to ensure its math program leaves a lasting impact on how students think, problem-solve, and prepare for the larger challenges ahead.