2026 GOLD MEDAL honorees
This year’s Gold Medal nominations shine with stories of confidence and transformation! Students are closing skill gaps and they’re discovering a new belief in themselves and their ability to succeed in math. With the support of dedicated educators and the power of Ascend Math, learners are rising to challenges, encouraging their peers, and celebrating every breakthrough.
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Gold Medalists
Objectives
Hours Worked
Levels of Growth
Meet Our Honorees
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At Pine Springs Preparatory Academy, Ascend Math was implemented to help students receiving Special Education services to achieve consistent grade-level growth in mathematics. Teachers have observed strong student engagement, noting many students are eager to work in Ascend Math. Through targeted support based on student needs, the program has helped drive measurable progress. According to Ascend Math’s growth tracking, students have demonstrated an average of 1.5 years of academic growth this school year. The students achieved 25.5% proficiency and a growth score of 1.64 on the state End-of-Grade test, meeting the state’s growth goal.
Beacon Charter utilizes Ascend Math to help special education and MTSS students strengthen their math skills and improve state testing performance. Ascend Math was chosen due to the program’s data-driven approach and ease of use for students. Since implementing Ascend Math, students are not only improving in math but are also more confident and independent in their work.
At Center Academy, Ascend Math is helping support student achievement by addressing foundational skill gaps for students who are typically 1-2 years behind in math. The program has been implemented alongside regular instruction, with progress monitored through MAP testing and other assessments. The primary goal is to help students gain at least one year of math growth while strengthening core skills. As students work through the program, they have not only showed academic improvement but also developed stronger study habits, persistence, and confidence in their learning. The results so far have been promising, and the team looks forward to confirming these gains through end-of-year testing.
Ascend Math has had a strong impact on student achievement at Lutherwood, particularly for students with significant learning gaps and disengagement from traditional instruction. Through a blended learning model, the program supports individualized instruction, RTI/MTSS, and credit recovery by combining independent practice with targeted teacher support. Data shows that students who engage consistently (10+ hours) experience substantial growth, with over 89% achieving at least one full grade level improvement. By leveraging real-time data, teachers can identify skill gaps, provide timely interventions, and foster sustained academic progress. Additionally, Ascend Math has enhanced student engagement by promoting ownership, structured routines, and motivation through progress tracking and milestone recognition.
At Resource Impact Academy 3, Ascend Math has played a significant role in improving student achievement by providing real-time data, personalized instruction, and targeted interventions. The program helped address learning loss caused by COVID-19 by focusing on foundational math skills, remediation, and problem-solving. Students demonstrated notable academic growth, especially with consistent usage, with many exceeding expected yearly progress. Teachers are able to use the data insights to tailor instruction, improve engagement, and reduce test anxiety. Overall, Ascend Math has supported both academic recovery and long-term skill development.
Students at Hunter’s Creek use Ascend Math daily to build foundational skills and address learning gaps alongside core instruction. This consistent practice has led to meaningful growth, with students progressing from basic subtraction to confidently working with division. Serving a population that includes students with ADHD and Autism, the program provides a supportive, low-pressure environment where students can learn from mistakes and strengthen executive functioning skills. Ascend Math has also helped increase consistency in math practice while supporting their primary goal of closing skill gaps and reinforcing ongoing learning.
Ascend Math has played a significant role in improving student performance at Wesr Memorial Junior High School, with about 42% of students growing at least one grade level. It has supported the transition of several students from resource classrooms into general education settings by helping them reach grade-level expectations. The program is particularly effective in addressing learning gaps caused by learning disabilities, allowing students to build foundational skills and confidence. Over the years since Ascend Math was implemented, there has been noticeable and consistent improvement in student outcomes, especially in demonstrating the ability to complete grade-level material. Overall, it has been a valuable tool in supporting student growth and reducing the need for long-term placement in resource settings.
Ascend Math has had a strong impact on student growth and engagement at Clinton Elementary, in a special education setting where students have diverse learning needs. Their results show that students are making measurable progress, with many achieving growth equivalent to a full school year. The program is used as a core part of the intervention curriculum and supports both whole group and independent learning, allowing their teacher to provide targeted support while other students continue progressing at their own level. Ascend Math’s ability to identify individual learning gaps and deliver tailored instruction has made it significantly more effective than previous interventions. Additionally, the built-in rewards, such as time in Base Camp, has led to increased student motivation and ownership, creating a more productive learning environment.
Ascend Math has been implemented at Ware County Middle as part of an MTSS to help students who were performing below grade level. The program was introduced to provide targeted intervention for these students, with structured weekly objectives set for different grade levels to encourage consistent progress toward grade-level expectations and improved test performance. More than half of the students have achieved at least one grade level of growth, with some advancing up to three grade levels and now nearing grade-level proficiency. In addition to academic growth, the program has significantly improved student confidence, participation, and engagement. Students who were previously disengaged are now actively asking questions, participating in discussions, and showing increased willingness to collaborate and compete academically. Overall, Ascend Math has helped create a more supportive and motivating learning environment while driving measurable academic improvement.
The implementation of Ascend Math at Whitman Middle School has resulted in a very positive impact on student achievement. Whitman Middle School implemented Ascend Math for students who scored less than 25% on their STAR math test. Using Ascend Math to help fill in math skill gaps has resulted in 46% of intervention students successfully exiting the intervention program. Students who worked at least 10 hours in Ascend Math gained an average of 1.3 grade levels and improved assessment scores by 57.3 points. Having students work at their skill level helps them build confidence and motivates them to continue working, leading to success in their grade-level math learning.
At James and Mitzi Cross Elementary, Ascend Math has positively impacted student achievement by helping address gaps in foundational math skills through targeted practice and structured progression. Implemented during math rotation in a resource setting, the program complements small group instruction by allowing students to work independently on skill-building activities. As a result, students have shown measurable improvement in Ascend assessments, report card grades, and MAP Growth results. One student, for example, progressed one grade level with an 88.6% post-assessment average, and improved on MAP Growth from the 1st percentile in the fall to the 4th percentile in the winter. The program’s clear objectives, progress tracking, and motivational elements such as earning flags and certificates have increased student engagement and helped students take pride in their learning progress.
Wirth Middle School implemented Ascend Math within an RTI/MTSS framework to support students significantly behind in foundational math skills. Previously, an online-only intervention lacked accountability and real-time insight, leading students to cycle through content without meaningful progress. With Ascend Math, educators can monitor performance in real time and provide targeted support when needed. The program’s blend of online instruction and built-in paper components has increased accountability and engagement, while allowing students to work at their individual levels. As students began to see their progress, their confidence and motivation grew. This has led to measurable gains in STAR scores, with expected improvement on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness.
At Thomasville High School, Ascend Math has proven to be an effective solution for supporting middle and high school students with intellectual disabilities by addressing significant gaps in foundational math skills. Traditional instructional methods often failed to meet these students’ needs due to lack of differentiation, insufficient repetition, and limited scaffolding. Ascend Math provides a structured, skill-based, and individualized learning experience that allows students to work at their own pace while receiving immediate feedback and targeted practice. This has enabled teachers to better manage diverse learning levels within a single classroom while also accessing clear data for progress monitoring. Since implementation, students have shown measurable growth in math skills, increased confidence, and greater independence. Additionally, the program has enhanced student engagement and helped connect academic learning to real-world applications, improving functional life skills such as problem-solving, money management, and decision-making.
Thomasville Middle School is seeing impressive gains in student achievement following the implementation of Ascend Math. After facing challenges with low math performance and limited progress on standardized assessments, the school set ambitious goals to boost state test results and accelerate grade-level advancement, and is now seeing those efforts pay off. By meeting students at their individual skill levels, Ascend Math creates early wins that build confidence and momentum. Engaging features like visual progress tracking and rewarding milestones keep students motivated, while immediate feedback supports continuous success and a renewed enthusiasm for learning. Students on the program have demonstrated measurable academic growth.
In a 5th grade classroom at Mollison IB World School, Ascend Math has helped turn significant challenges into meaningful progress and renewed confidence. With many students entering two or more grade levels behind, they chose to implement Ascend Math because it is a targeted, data-driven approach that meets each learner where they are. As a result, 70–80% of students using the program have consistently demonstrated measurable growth within one quarter, with notable gains in mastery and skill progression. Just as impactful has been the shift in student mindset; learners who once felt defeated are now engaged, participating, and taking ownership of their success. Through intentional one-on-one support and celebration of small wins, students are building both foundational skills and a belief in their ability to succeed.