A fourth-grade student from Watsonville Charter School of the Arts (WCSA) has ranked among the top 20 fourth-grade students in the nation in the prestigious Math Kangaroo Contest, an international mathematics competition held this past March.
Sequoia Olson’s achievement marks the first-ever national recognition for a WCSA student in an international math contest.
He earned a score of 82 out of 96, placing him in the 74th percentile among fourth-grade participants nationwide.
“His outstanding performance reflects not only his strong analytical skills, but also his passion for mathematics and dedication to learning,” pajaro Valley Unified School District stated in a press release.
Sequoia has been preparing for this moment for the past two years through his math enrichment class at WCSA, where he honed his advanced problem-solving abilities.
“We are incredibly proud of Sequoia’s achievement,” said Principal Amy Thomas. “His success in such a rigorous and competitive contest shows what’s possible when curiosity meets perseverance. He has set a new standard for what our students can achieve.”
Jennifer Gill, Sequoia’s enrichment and GATE teacher, added: “Sequoia’s perseverance and grit, mixed with his raw talent and positive attitude, is something to celebrate. We just know we’ll see him change the world one day.”
Math Kangaroo is an international competition that promotes mathematical thinking and problem solving in students from grades 1 through 12.
