Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School (PVC) is proud to announce that three of our Tiger students have qualified for the 2026 New York Statewide Mathematics Tournament Championship Finals, an achievement that recognizes strong problem-solving skills and mathematical thinking.

PVC seventh-grade students Marcos Gallego, Wiley Reid, and Alexander Papish will participate in the statewide competition, which brings together top-performing students from across New York. Only ten seventh-grade teams statewide advanced to the championship finals, placing PVC among a select group of schools participating in the First in Math statewide competition.

The students will compete at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

The New York Statewide Mathematics Tournament, part of the First in Math program, promotes problem solving, perseverance, and collaborative thinking. Through interactive challenges and team-based competition, students build computational fluency and confidence while applying mathematical reasoning in real time. Qualifying for the statewide finals reflects not only academic excellence, but also the curiosity and engagement emphasized across Croton-Harmon schools.

The competition includes students in grades 1 through 8 from across New York State who participate in the First in Math program. Students first competed in a virtual regional tournament on March 19, where top performers advanced to the statewide finals. The event highlights both individual skill and collaborative problem solving at the state level.

Students also described the fast-paced, game-like nature of the competition, which included challenges involving fractions and mental math completed without calculators.

“It was all different kinds of math, like adding, subtracting, multiplying, and fractions, but you have to pick the right answers really fast,” Wiley explained.

This marks the first year Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School has used the First in Math platform, making the achievement especially meaningful.  “We only started using the program in the middle of February, and we had little time to prepare,” said PVC math teacher Tracey Finan. “We understood the game, the competition, and were able to get ready and compete, so we are beyond thrilled that we made it.”

Ms. Finan also noted the excitement and support from classmates as the students advanced.

“The class was really excited for them,” she said. “There was a lot of support and encouragement, which made the experience even more meaningful.”

Ms. Finan emphasized that the program encourages more than memorizing math facts, challenging students to think strategically and apply logic in real time.

“Math is more than solving problems in the real world, which is important, but it's also like a puzzle,” said Ms. Finan. “It becomes a game of problem solving and figuring things out, and this competition recognizes that kind of thinking.”

At the June competition, students will apply this mindset as they work collaboratively in teams of three, tackling live mathematics challenges that emphasize communication, strategy, and shared decision making.

The student mathematicians shared their excitement about qualifying and what they enjoy about math.

“I didn’t know how big a deal it was at first. It took me about a day to realize,” said Marcos. “Yeah, I like math. It can be fun to solve the problem.”

“I like numbers,” added Alex.

“It’s a fun class, and that makes it easier to understand,” said Wiley.

Ms. Finan reflected on what the achievement represents for the students.

“This achievement highlights not only a foundation that supports growth in mathematics, but also the spirit of engagement and collaboration,” Ms. Finan added. “I am so proud of this team.”