Number Worlds® Transforms Special Education Classrooms with Powerful, Engaging Tools Students and Teachers Love

Alexander County Schools, a rural public district in western North Carolina, implemented McGraw Hill’s Number Worlds program to strengthen math intervention across its 11 schools, which serve more than 4,500 K–12 students. The district’s Exceptional Children (EC) program supports a high proportion of students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)—approximately 30–40% of elementary students receive math-related services. Prior to adoption, intervention strategies varied widely by teacher, resulting in inconsistent support for struggling learners. Number Worlds was selected to provide a standardized, adaptable, and teacher-friendly approach to math intervention. Teachers quickly integrated the program using recorded trainings that streamlined onboarding and reduced barriers to adoption. The program’s design allowed for flexible grouping by ability level and targeted instruction aligned with student needs. Teachers reported that its structured lessons and hands-on materials simplified planning while maintaining opportunities for individualized support.  Early results from the first year showed measurable student growth in math proficiency and increased teacher satisfaction. Several students demonstrated sufficient progress to reduce or remove math support from their IEPs, and a few exited special education services entirely. Educators credited the program’s multi-sensory design, project-based learning components, and extensive manipulatives for maintaining strong student engagement and skill retention.  

Number Worlds continues to be used throughout the district as a preferred tool for special education and intervention, valued for its balance of structure and adaptability. It remains a key element in the district’s strategy to build consistent, data-informed math support for all learners.