Math Matters at GW
GW Math Matters collaborates with DCPS (District of Columbia Public Schools) to provide high-impact math tutoring to elementary and middle school students in Washington, D.C. During the 2024-2025 school year, GW Math Matters trained over 100 students to provide tutoring services to over 200 DCPS students, who would benefit most from additional academic support.
What Is High-Impact Tutoring (HIT)?
High Impact Tutoring is designed to provide robust, ongoing, focused support. This tutoring approach is intensive, relationship-based, and personalized to meet the needs of students. The GW Math Matters program facilitates a minimum of 90 minutes of tutoring each week in the same small groups throughout the year and utilizes curriculum that complements what is being taught in the classroom.
The standards of High Impact Tutoring, adapted from CitySchools Collaborative
OSSE (The Office of the State Superintendent) cited High Impact Tutoring as “a core part of the District’s recovery strategy.” This research-backed intervention strategy was ideally suited to initially address the deficit in learning due to the pandemic. As of January 2025, the National Assessment of Educational Progress indicated that not a single state has reverted back to the 2019 pre-pandemic level in fourth- and eighth-grade math and reading. OSSE invested significantly in HIT programs as one of the solutions, prioritizing students identified as furthest from opportunity.
Over the past two years, Washington, D.C. ranked first in recovery in math and reading, despite being 32nd in math and 5th in reading for the broader recovery period from 2019-2024.
How the Math Matters GW Program Works
Math Matters recruits and trains GW undergraduate and graduate students to be effective mentors and tutors.
Tutors provide 1-on-1 or small group tutoring throughout the school year.
Tutoring groups meet twice a week for 45 to 60-minute sessions either during or after school.
The tutoring curriculum is designed to elevate students’ mathematical understanding and skills.
This opportunity is open to undergraduate and graduate students interested in STEM, education, and tutoring. Math Matters is a paid semester-long or year-long commitment available to Federal Work-Study (FWS) and non-FWS students.
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gwu [dot] edu (mathmatters[at]gwu[dot]edu)