Johnston Community School District

The case study examines the implementation of Everyday Mathematics, a core math curriculum designed for grades K–6, in Johnston Community School District, located in a suburban area near Des Moines, Iowa. The district includes 7,370 students, with 9.6% identified as English Language Learners and 24% qualifying for free and reduced lunch. The program emphasizes mathematical discourse, fluency, and productive struggle, utilizing a spiral instructional design to reinforce concepts through repeated exposure in varied contexts.

State summative assessment results were examined to measure proficiency growth. On the 2017–18 Iowa State Assessment, 91% of Johnston’s third-graders were proficient in math, significantly outperforming the state average of 78%. Similarly, 86% of fourth-graders and fifth-graders achieved proficiency, compared to state averages of 78% and 75%, respectively. Additionally, grade 3 students scored 16 points higher than the National Standard Score for math proficiency, grade 4 scored 13 points higher, and grade 5 scored 17 points higher.

The program supports personalized instruction and small-group learning through activities such as games, technology integration, and math boxes. It encourages students to explore multiple problem-solving strategies, fostering perseverance and confidence. Teachers observed that even struggling students could master challenging concepts, enhancing both academic skills and life skills.

Overall, Everyday Mathematics has demonstrated consistent growth in student proficiency since its initial implementation in 2012, with outcomes suggesting a positive impact on mathematical achievement across elementary grade levels.