Math Battle
BTS Site Competition
Are you looking for a high-energy way to challenge students, build math confidence, and strengthen problem-solving in preparation for MCAP? Better Than School (BTS) invites Prince George’s County elementary schools to join the First Annual BTS Math Battle: a countywide, team-based academic competition for Grades 3–5.
“Learning mathematics requires more than memorization. It requires thinking, questioning, and understanding.”
— Evelyn Boyd Granville
A countywide celebration of math built from site competitions
BTS partners with multiple Prince George’s County Public Schools to deliver after-school academic and enrichment programming, including 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) sites. The Math Battle grows out of the same approach we use in our programs: students learn best when math is engaging, challenging, and social -- and when they’re encouraged to explain their thinking, not just choose an answer.
Each year, BTS hosts school-site competitions that build excitement and strong academic habits. The BTS Math Battle brings that spirit across the district, connecting students and educators from many schools in one shared event focused on academic excellence and student pride.
What is the BTS Math Battle?
The BTS Math Battle is a standards-aligned competition designed to strengthen core grade-level skills and the habits students need for long-term success in math. Students compete in structured challenges that emphasize:
-
Multi-step problem solving
-
Justifying mathematical thinking (written & verbal)
-
Interpreting complex word problems
-
Timed practice aligned to grade-level expectations
The goal is to help students experience math as something they can do with confidence, stamina, and teamwork.
Eligibility
-
Open to PGCPS elementary schools with interested Grades 3–5 educators and students
-
Participation is voluntary and free (no cost to students or schools)
-
Schools are included based on capacity, grade-level balance, and representation across participating schools
BTS currently partners with multiple elementary schools as 21st CCLC sites, and students from those programs will also participate. The Math Battle is also open to additional schools across the district as an optional enrichment opportunity.
How to participate
-
Complete the registration form (one submission per participating school): bit.ly/MathBattleRegistration
-
BTS will follow up with next steps and key logistics
-
Teams prepare at their school site (schools choose how they practice, while BTS will share guidance and optional supports)
-
The culminating competition will take place on June 6th.
Questions? Click here for FAQ.
The BTS Math Battle is a BTS-sponsored enrichment initiative. It is not affiliated with PGCPS instructional evaluation or requirements, and it is intended to promote engagement, collaboration, and strong mathematical reasoning among regional schools and sites.