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(Natchitoches, LA) – The Math and Computer Science department at Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) invites Louisiana sixth through ninth graders to register for its 21st annual LSMSA McGrath Math Competition on Thursday, November 17 in the LSMSA gym and auditorium. Campus tours and science demos will be available the day of the competition. Schools must register by Thursday, November 10 at www.LSMSA.edu/MathCompetition.

 To be eligible to participate, students must not be enrolled in or have previously taken Algebra II or any higher mathematics course. The competition will consist of individual and team portions. Schools may bring as many students as they wish to take the individual test, but only 12 students from each school may participate in the team competition due to space constraints. Exercises in each contest will come from Algebra, Geometry, and other areas of mathematics, but not from any specific curriculum, with questions designed to challenge students to draw from their knowledge of mathematics and to think logically, synthesize concepts, and solve problems.

 This year, the Math and Computer Science department is honoring former chair and renowned LSMSA mathematician Mike McGrath by naming the competition for his 32 years of service to education before retiring in 2020. McGrath taught advanced concepts in every level of mathematics from Geometry to Calculus II, and for more than 20 years at LSMSA, served as chair of the department. He achieved the school’s highest faculty rank of senior lecturer and was elected by his peers to serve as the faculty representative to the school’s Board of Directors.

LSMSA is a tuition-free, residential, public high school for high-achieving rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a nominal room and board fee to cover housing, meals, and campus activities. The LSMSA Foundation offers assistance for families in need. For more information about the Louisiana School or to apply for the 2023-24 school year, visit www.LSMSA.edu.