In a recent opinion piece published by the New York Daily News, the leaders of the nation’s two largest school districts celebrate the gains their students have made since adopting IM Math.
New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos and L.A. Unified School District Board Member Kelly Gonez report that NYCPS has seen “state math scores [rise] 3.5 percent in 2025, with even greater gains (4.6 points) for Black students.” And at LAUSD, “students across all grade levels have surpassed pre-pandemic levels and now have the highest math achievement since . . . 2015.”
These results illustrate a powerful point: IM Math helps build students’ procedural fluency and conceptual understanding through experimentation, discussion, and sense-making. When instruction focuses on teaching students both how to do math and how to use math, achievement improves.
“Children learn math by doing math. They gain a conceptual understanding of math only when they experiment with it themselves, talk about it with one another, and discover together what works and what doesn’t.” — NYCPS Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos & LAUSD Board Member Kelly Gonez.
Turning Philosophy Into Practice
LAUSD and NYCPS both understood that high-quality curriculum alone would not improve math scores.
IM Math supports educators in designing lessons where students talk, reason, and collaborate to build deep understanding. Successful implementation requires sustained support, coaching, and professional development so educators feel confident and prepared each day.
“We have to engage with this problem like mathematicians — with curiosity, perseverance, and a genuine desire to solve it.” — Melissa Aviles-Ramos & Kelly Gonez.
Conclusion:
These promising results in the nation’s largest school districts show what’s possible when leaders embrace an approach to math that aligns with how kids learn, and support educators throughout the process as they transform classrooms into spaces where all learners can develop a deep, lasting understanding of math.
Next Steps:
Read the full op-ed from Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos and Board Member Kelly Gonez in the New York Daily News to learn more.
Ready to help more students build real confidence in math? Discover IM Math and explore our free curriculum.
