Teams, Individuals Sought for 23rd Annual McGrath Math Competition at LSMSA


Teams and individuals from grades six thru nine are invited to sign up prior to the Nov. 8 deadline in order to take part in the Nov. 21 event in Natchitoches.
 
The LSMSA Mathematics and Computer Science Department invites sixth through ninth graders in Louisiana to register for the 23rd Annual LSMSA McGrath Math Competition, which will be held on Thursday, Nov. 21, at Robert A. Alost Gymnasium and David C. Treen Auditorium on the LSMSA campus in Natchitoches. The competition will consist of individual and team portions. Schools may bring as many students as would like to compete in the individual test, but only 12 students from each school may participate in the team competition due to space constraints. Schools must register for the competition by Friday, Nov. 8.
 
In order to be eligible to participate, students must not be enrolled in, or have previously taken, Algebra II or any higher mathematics course. Exercises in each contest will be drawn from Algebra, Geometry, and other areas of mathematics, but not from any specific curriculum. Questions will be designed to challenge students to utilize their knowledge of mathematics and to think logically, synthesize concepts, and solve problems.
 
"Mike McGrath is the LSMSA math teacher who led this event for its first twenty years. When he retired, we named the event in his honor," said Dr. Brad Burkman, Department Chair and Senior Lecturer in Mathematics and Computer Science at LSMSA. "The individual test is accessible and challenging for everyone, with questions for a range of skills, many requiring cleverness. In the team competition, middle schoolers get to do math, work in teams, run, cheer, and let out their boisterous, nerdling side." 
 
In 2020, LSMSA honored long-time Math and Computer Science Department Chair Dr. Mike McGrath by naming the competition for him in recognition of his 32 years of service to education. McGrath taught advanced concepts in every level of mathematics from Geometry to Calculus II.

LSMSA, ranked a World’s Best Boarding School by Fortune magazine, is a tuition-free, public high school for high-achieving rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors, with a nominal room and board fee to cover housing, meals, and campus activities. The LSMSA Foundation offers assistance for families in need to ensure that no eligible student is denied access to the school’s 41-year legacy of a college-level living/learning experience. Campus tours will be available on the day of the 23rd Annual LSMSA McGrath Math Competition. 
 
For more information about LSMSA’s application process, or to apply for the 2025-26 school year, please visit https://www.lsmsa.edu/apply.
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Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) is the preeminent state-supported residential high school with competitive admissions for Louisiana's high-achieving, highly-motivated sophomores, juniors, and seniors. As a public school, there is no tuition to attend, and assistance from the LSMSA Foundation ensures the program is available to all qualifying students regardless of family financial need.
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