I. Event Introduction
The Math Kangaroo Contest is the world's largest mathematics competition, originating in Australia in the 1980s. In 1991, two prominent French mathematics educators established an official organizing committee and promoted the event throughout Europe. In honor of Peter O'Halloran, the contest was officially named "Math Kangaroo," and the global organizing committee is headquartered in Paris, France.
Unlike traditional math assessments that emphasize high difficulty and challenge, the Kangaroo Math Thinking Fun Activities aim to stimulate children's interest and confidence in learning math through fun, engaging, and relatable problems. It also aims to cultivate students' mathematical thinking and train their reading, comprehension, analytical, and problem-solving abilities. This activity is suitable for students of all grades and math levels.
II. Competition Prestige
High Global Recognition:
The Kangaroo Math Competition enjoys widespread global recognition, having been held in 87 countries and regions with over 6.3 million students participating worldwide, demonstrating its international influence and appeal.
Suitable for Multiple Age Groups:
The competition is suitable for students of all grades, divided into six levels, each with different difficulty and scoring criteria. This multi-tiered structure allows students of different ages and mathematical abilities to find a suitable level to showcase their mathematical talents and gain recognition.
Highly Engaging and Age-Friendly:
Unlike traditional math competitions, the Kangaroo Math Competition emphasizes the fun and relevance of its problems. The questions are flexible and interesting, aiming to cultivate students' interest in mathematics and stimulate their understanding of competition, rather than solely focusing on difficulty and prestige. Furthermore, the Kangaroo Math Competition has a low entry barrier, especially the L1 level, which is relatively easy and can be participated in even by students with no prior mathematical background.
High Award Rate:
The competition's scoring system is very user-friendly, ensuring a high base score. Especially for students in grades 1-2, the chances of winning are very high if they prepare diligently. Reaching the top 35% globally earns a prize, which is a great incentive for students and helps them gain a sense of accomplishment.
Connecting to Higher-Level Competitions:
The Kangaroo Competitions also lay a solid mathematical foundation for students, preparing them for higher-level competitions. For example, the AMC8 competition is suitable for students in grade 8 and below, under the age of 14.5, providing them with a higher level of mathematical challenge and learning opportunities.
III. Kangaroo Mathematics' Participation in Data Statistics
1. Kangaroo Math Participation Data in 2025
2. Kangaroo Math Participation Data in 2024
3. Kangaroo Math Participation Data in 2023
1) Participation Status
Total Participants: 36,421
Total Centers: 624
Total Participating Countries (including Guam): 49
2) Changes in Participant Numbers Since 1998
3) Number of participants at each level in 2023
4) Number of participants in each state in 2023
5) 2023 U.S. Participating State Map View.
IV. Math-Kangaroo History
Math Kangaroo USA is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to help students love math. For 26 years, Math Kangaroo has organized an international math competition annually for thousands of K-12 students. Math Kangaroo focuses on improving students' math scores, teaching them new strategies for solving verbal and logical problems, helping them develop critical thinking skills, and gaining confidence in the classroom. But how did the name "Math Kangaroo" come about? Read on to learn more about our history.
1980 - Launch of a Popular Math Competition in Australia
Its history dates back decades. In the 1980s, Australian mathematician and teacher Peter O'Halloran began organizing a popular math competition in his country. The test was open to anyone who wanted to participate and included engaging and thought-provoking problems from areas of mathematical knowledge such as algebra, geometry, and logic.
1991 - Kangaroo Competition Begins in France
In 1991, the idea was adopted in Paris, France. Originating in Australia, the competition was initially called "Kangaroo." It quickly spread throughout Europe, and currently has over 6 million students participating worldwide. In September 2012, Professor Gregor Dolinar, President of Kangourou Sans Frontiéres, published an excellent article in the EMS Newsletter, providing insights into the history, present, and future of the global competition.
1998 - Founded in Chicago: Math Kangaroo
The vision of fostering greater dedication to mathematical research through engaging problems and positive reinforcement also reached the United States. In 1998, trained mathematician and educator Maria Omelanczuk founded the Kangaroo Math Competition at Sobieski School in Chicago.
2003 - Founding of the Math Kangaroo Nonprofit Organization
At that time, with the number of participants increasing annually, Ms. Omelanczuk, along with Izabela Szpiech and Joanna Lasek, founded a nonprofit organization, Math Kangaroo NFP Inc., in the United States to organize and promote the competition. The competition in the United States has been handled by this charitable organization since 2003. The organization also helps students prepare for the competition by sharing educational resources.
2019 - Kangourou Sans Frontiéres Conference Held in Chicago
In October 2019, the 27th Kangourou Without Borders International Conference was held in Chicago, USA. At that conference, delegates from 76 countries selected math problems for Kangourou Math 2020.
2020 - Kangourou Math Held Online in the United States for the First Time
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kangourou Math 2020 was held online in the United States for the first time; more than 35,000 students participated. 2020 – Second President and CEO Elected for Math Kangaroo USA
In August 2020, Maria Omelanczuk resigned as CEO after 23 years of service to the organization.
Joanna Matthiesen (Lasek) became the second President and CEO of Math Kangaroo USA, NFP, effective September 1, 2020.
V. Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission:
To help students across the country love mathematics.
Vision:
To enable all students to reach their full potential and be inspired to discover new knowledge that will shape their lives and futures.
Values:
Caring: To encourage students to master mathematics.
Performance: To instill confidence in their ability to understand mathematics.
Creativity: To help them understand how mathematics applies to the laws of nature and human activities.
Excellence: To cultivate their ability to find joy and fulfillment in intellectual life.
Discovery: To demonstrate that mathematics education is important worldwide.
VI. Kangaroo Math Leadership Team
Joanna Mattison
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
President
Isabella Spieh
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Vice President
Kassia Nalaskoska
Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Vice President
Svetlana Savova
Chief Academic Officer
Magdalena Teodorovich
Chief Design Officer
Agata Ghazal
Chief Editorial Officer
Lucia_State Director
Lucia Liu
Chief Marketing Officer
Gerazhina Zmeslovsky
Special Needs Manager
Barbara Kalinovsky
Transportation Manager
Monica Varan
Head of Office
Development Team
At Math Kangaroo, our development team combines effort and skill to emphasize our organization's educational mission. We develop and edit application problems, write solutions in written and video formats, publish books, develop courses for in-person and online learning, and continuously update our website. Our efforts are supported by the work and dedication of Kangaroo Math teachers, parents, students, and alumni. Bogdan Teodorovic
Justin Lee
Justin Lee
Anurag Madabhus
David Zalak
Lucas Nalaskovsky
Andrei Zalakh
VII. Kangaroo Math Sponsor
Wolfram Research
Mehta+
Support Sponsors
