What do you get when you take 223 students, divide by 22 schools, and add in many challenging problems? The solution: the Buncombe County Schools Elevating Math event. Friday, BCS students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades gathered for a fun day to working together to solve challenging math problems.
“Once you start doing some difficult problems, it makes you want to move on to more challenges, because you get used to getting the right answer and you want to keep going,” shared Kaleth Cardenas, a fourth grader from Fairview Elementary.
“It’s really rewarding to see the students meet new people, develop friendships with others that share a love of math, and challenge themselves,” said Allison Carson, a sixth grade teacher at Enka Intermediate.
The event is designed to build student confidence in their skills, and passion for the subject matter. 
“We all have talents,” explained Meg McKee, the lead Elementary/Intermediate Math Coach for Buncombe County Schools. “This helps students see that being a mathematician is a talent to celebrate, just like being a musician or athlete.”
Elevating Math gives students an experience similar to the MATHCOUNTS competition. In seventh and eigh8th grades, students in that event can participate in the regional, state, and national levels.
