Waukegan to College is a national award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to helping first-generation, low-income students from Illinois achieve exceptional results. We are committed to preparing students for success in high school as well as for college and career readiness, starting with a crucial foundation: math fluency. Strong foundational math skills are essential for students aspiring to take advanced courses and pursue STEM pathways. With the support of XtraMath, we are assisting our middle and high school students in closing learning gaps and building the confidence they need to excel.
It’s a common misconception that math fact fluency is just for elementary students. But for many of our students in grades 6–12, fluency gaps in basic operations like multiplication and division continue to create barriers to progress in higher-level math. Without strong fl uency in math facts, students frequently struggle with multi-step problem solving, algebraic thinking, and working with confi dence and speed.
XtraMath directly addresses this issue. It’s more than a practice tool—it’s a targeted fluency accelerator that adapts to each learner, meeting them exactly where they are and helping them build accuracy, recall, and automaticity.
Through our partnership with XtraMath, Waukegan to College has expanded access to a flexible, evidence-based fluency platform that supports students at all levels.
For our students, many of whom are working to catch up after COVID-related learning loss, XtraMath has become an essential part of their academic toolkit. The platform is used during enrichment programming to build math fluency that directly supports classroom learning, MAP scores, and grade-level placement.
Whether a student is in 6th grade or a high school freshman, XtraMath helps fill critical foundational gaps that otherwise hold them back from tackling algebra, geometry, or chemistry with confidence.
“XtraMath has helped me so much this past year. It keeps my math skills sharp. Math is my favorite subject, and this program makes it fun and easy to stay on track.” – 5th Grade Waukegan to College Student.
XtraMath helps me think faster. I use it for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. When I make a mistake, it helps me learn the right answer. Thank you for everything!” – 6th Grade Waukegan to College Student.
These are just a few voices in a growing community of learners who are rediscovering their potential through targeted fluency practice.
Together, XtraMath and Waukegan to College are showing what’s possible when we invest in math fluency as a foundation for college readiness.
By addressing the root causes of math struggles—not just the symptoms—we’re equipping middle and high school students with the tools, mindset, and confidence they need to pursue their academic goals and unlock future opportunities in STEM and beyond. Because when students build strong foundations today, they’re ready for the challenges of tomorrow.
Jackie Lopez
Middle School College Readiness Advisor
Waukegan to College
