We launched in 2024 as an expansion site of the Math Corps, a program that started in 1992 at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. We welcome middle and high school students from the Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) for a free summer day program. Math Corps is about math, and it’s also about more than math: we prioritize mentorship through a kids teaching kids model, and we provide a positive learning environment and a strong sense of family.
Math Corps at Macalester is free for all students thanks to our generous financial supporters, which include
Math Corps at Macalester is a free summer day program for middle and high school students. Middle school students take classes in math and other subjects; eat lunch in the Macalester dining hall; and work closely with high school students, college students, and professors. High school students tutor and mentor middle school students, work with college students to hone their teaching skills, take classes in math and other subjects, eat lunch in the Macalester dining hall, and more!
Math Corps uses a broccoli and ice cream approach: broccoli math reinforces skills that students have seen or will soon see in their school-year classes, and ice cream math provides an introduction to complex topics (such as combinatorics, network isomorphisms, and graph theory) that students typically wouldn’t see until college. All middle and high school students take both broccoli and ice cream math classes. Daily homework for middle school students is an important part of the program, and students can get help with their homework during the optional breakfast and afternoon homework help times.
2026 Dates and Times:
Middle school campers: July 06, 2026 through July 30, 2026 (Monday through Thursday each week) from 9:30 am-2:45 pm. Students can arrive as early as 8:45 am and leave as late as 3:30 pm.
High school teaching assistants: June 29, June 30, and July 01 from 11:00 am-3:30 pm & July 06 through July 30 (Monday through Thursday each week) from 9:00 am-3:30 pm (students can arrive as early as 8:45 am).
Additional Dates:
Orientation: Thursday, June 25, 2026 from 6:30-7:30 pm at Macalester College. Each middle and high school student is required to attend with at least one adult family member.
Closing ceremony: Thursday, July 30, 2026 from 1:00-2:30 pm. Families are invited to Macalester to celebrate their students’ hard work!
Transportation:
Math Corps can provide free Metro Transit passes for middle and high school students who will use the bus and/or light rail to get to and from Math Corps. In 2026 we hope to provide free busing between Macalester College and one or two locations on the east side of Saint Paul. Please contact us at mathcorps@macalester.edu with questions.
Meals:
All middle and high school students will receive free daily breakfast and lunch.
Tuition:
Math Corps at Macalester is free for all students thanks to the support of Macalester College and the generous contributions from foundations and individuals.
Applications will be available on our website in January. Please email mathcorps@macalester.edu if you would like to receive an email when applications become available.
Middle school students:
-Currently in grade 7 or 8.
-Willing to work hard and exercise behavior appropriate to a college campus.
-Willing to complete daily math homework (homework help is available during the optional breakfast and afternoon homework help times, and generally students can complete their homework during these times).
-All students are eligible to apply regardless of past math background. Math Corps is designed for middle school students from a variety of academic backgrounds: those who already love math, those who are skeptical, those with strong previous math performance, and those who need significant support.
All students are welcome to apply! We give preference to
-returning Math Corps participants
-students who attend a school in the Saint Paul Public Schools
-students who have no scheduled absences during the program
The middle school application consists of an online form to be completed by the student and an adult; it includes a requirement for the student to write a 100-word essay on why they want to participate in Math Corps.
High school students:
-Currently in grade 9, 10, or 11.
-Willing to work hard and exercise behavior appropriate to a college campus.
-Must help each child who comes to Math Corps realize their own greatness!
-High school students need to be proficient in middle school-level math, but we welcome high school students who are currently enrolled in a range of high school math classes.
-High school students are paid for their work as tutors/mentors.
All students are welcome to apply! We give preference to
-returning Math Corps participants
-students who attend a school in the Saint Paul Public Schools
-students who have no scheduled absences during the program
The high school application process is two steps:
-an online application (which includes a requirement to write a 100-word essay) to be completed by the student and signed by an adult
-a 45-minute math test (on middle school-level math topics) and short interview at Macalester College
College students:
-Currently enrolled in college (or a senior in high school who will start college in the fall after Math Corps).
-Must help each child who comes to Math Corps realize their own greatness!
-College students need to be proficient in middle and high school-level math, but college student employees do not need to be math majors.
-These are paid positions.
The college school application process is two steps:
-an online application
-a Zoom interview
Dr. Will Mitchell – Program Director of Math Corps at Macalester and Associate Professor of Mathematics at Macalester College
Dr. Getiria Onsongo – Program Director of Math Corps at Macalester and Associate Professor of Computer Science at Macalester College
How much does it cost for students to attend Math Corps?
Tuition is free for all students thanks to the support of Macalester College and the generous contributions of foundations, corporations and individuals. High school students act as paid mentors for the middle school campers.
Where are courses for the Math Corps held?
Classes are held on the campus of Macalester College (1600 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, 55105).
We have a family trip scheduled that conflicts with the Math Corps. Can my child be excused?
The Math Corps’ philosophy on attendance is this: one cannot learn if one is not present. Therefore, absences due to family trips, vacations, conflicts with other programs, or similar cases are not excused. We give preference to students who have no scheduled absences during the program.
My high school student needs help in math. Can they apply?
Yes! However, due to the special tutoring nature of the position that high school students occupy within the Math Corps, they must at least be proficient in 7th and 8th grade Mathematics. High school students will receive instruction and assistance in their Mathematics courses during the latter part of each program day.
What do you teach the students?
Each middle school student gets what we call broccoli and ice cream. One math class geared towards the fundamentals and another in an advanced topic. The afternoons have a rotating list of courses that are more hands-on, and feature applied mathematical concepts such as Mod Art and Polyhedra. Our high school students spend half their day tutoring and mentoring middle school students, with the second half of their day being spent in their own math classes.
What supplies does my child need to bring every day?
All necessary supplies are provided for every student Math Corps. These include notebook, paper, pencil, folder, and a Math Corps T-shirt.
My child is struggling in math. Is Math Corps for them? My child is a strong math student learning at an advanced level. Is Math Corps for them?
Yes and yes! We welcome all students regardless of math proficiency or past performance, and we specifically recruit students with diverse math experiences for Math Corps at Macalester. Our high school teaching assistants, college student instructors, and college professors provide individualized attention for all students.
Does my child have to bring money for lunch/food?
For each day of camp, Math Corps at Macalester will provide a free breakfast and lunch to all middle school students and high school teaching assistants.
Do students live on-campus during the program?
No, this is a day camp program.
Is transportation provided?
Math Corps can provide free Metro Transit passes for middle and high school students who will use the bus and/or light rail to get to and from Math Corps. In 2026 we hope to provide free busing between Macalester College and one or two locations on the east side of Saint Paul. Please contact us at mathcorps@macalester.edu with questions.
How can my child increase their chances of getting accepted in the Math Corps?
Because the Math Corps accepts such a wide variety of students at various skill levels, there is no definite answer to this question. However, there are two things that can truly give more weight to an applicant: an application that is on time, and 100% complete.
