Leo O. — 97th percentile on STAR Math, working at a 4th-grade level in 2nd grade
A year and a half ago, Leo's mom had a simple wish: she wanted her son to have something she never did. "When I was growing up we didn't have mental math programs," she explains. "I found here people do mental math — so I thought, why don't we spend the time on it so he can accelerate?"
Today, Leo is an eight-year-old finishing 2nd grade who just scored in the 97th percentile on STAR Math, works comfortably in 4th-grade-level Singapore math, and — best of all — actually loves the subject. This is how a head start turned into a genuine passion.
Leo was never a struggling student. He was selected for an accelerated program and had been coming to Genie Academy since the summer at the end of kindergarten. He was the kind of kid who "figured it out right away," his mom remembers of his first Abacus sessions. "He liked it. He said he wanted to continue — and I encouraged it."
But being capable and being motivated aren't the same thing. Early on, motivation was the sticky part.
"He had some trouble with motivation, but he understands he has to." — Leo's Mom
The love wasn't there yet. The confidence, though, was already starting to build — one bead, one problem at a time.
For Leo's mom, the decision came down to opportunity and timing. She'd heard good things about Genie Academy, and when a center opened up close by with a short commute, that was the final push. "I saw a lot of benefit in the memory and concentration," she says.
Her goal wasn't to fix a problem — it was to give Leo an advantage in speed and focus that would carry into school, competitions, and eventually college applications. "I wanted him to excel and participate in a lot of math," she adds. "It will help down the road."
Ask Leo what he likes most about Genie Academy and the answer comes fast: the teachers. "Coach Rima and Coach Evan are very nice and fun," he says.
Coach Rima, in particular, changed everything. Leo met her, loved her, and asked to be enrolled in her class specifically. "He likes her communication and her style, and how well she pays attention to them," his mom says. "He likes the educational games she creates. Even when her class was full, he still wanted to be in there with her."
When Leo describes the coach who's helped him most, he doesn't hesitate:
"Coach Rima is very helpful because of her positive attitude and motivating games." — Leo
That combination — warmth plus a little friendly competition — is exactly what nudged Leo from doing the work to wanting to do it.
His mom noticed the same thing. "She's really attentive to the kids. She tries to build relationships with the kids and the parents too. She's very pleasant to speak to, and it shows she's like that with the children too."
The real transformation with Leo wasn't a test score — it was discipline and drive.
"Abacus brought up more discipline. He used to struggle to sit down and do his homework. Now he does it on his own." — Leo's Mom
That independence spilled into everything. His teacher describes him as a "role model," and Leo has stepped naturally into leadership — in games, in class, with his friends. "He likes to take charge and lead," his mom laughs.
The curriculum helped, too. "I like the books — they give you a variety of exercises," she says. "Difficult addition, subtraction, abacus, and mentals. The books are fantastic, great quality. It's a pleasure to do them." When the work itself feels good, motivation stops being a battle.
The numbers tell the story. Leo scored in the 97th percentile on STAR Math and placed in the 60th percentile in the Kangaroo Math competition — impressive for a student finishing 2nd grade. He consistently earns 100s and moves through his math at a speed that keeps his mom smiling.
"He's excelling beyond his classmates. He's definitely ahead." — Leo's Mom
But the win his mom values most is the concentration. That focus doesn't just live in math class — it shows up at the piano, where "it comes easier to him," and in how he manages his time and takes ownership of his own work.
Leo is a busy kid. He plays piano and performs at recitals, plays tennis, takes art classes, and swims. His mom credits his abacus-built focus for how quickly he picks things up. "He's a quick learner," she says.
And when you ask Leo about his dreams, the answer is exactly what you'd hope from a curious eight-year-old who now believes in his own abilities: he wants to be a rocket scientist.
Leo's own words say it best. On how he's grown: "I have improved my mental math skills a lot." On his favorite memory: "I enjoy the games we do on breaks — hangman and more."
And his advice for another student who might be nervous or struggling?
"I would recommend Common Core Math for someone struggling with math, because it's more about school math." — Leo
Practical, generous, and confident — a long way from the little boy who "understood he had to."
For Leo's mom, the recommendation is unconditional.
"Only positive things. I would definitely recommend enrolling kids in any of the programs we offer. It depends on your time, but it's worth it." — Leo's Mom
Her biggest hope going in was to give Leo an advantage in speed, memory, and concentration — and she's watched all three take root. "I'm happy with how fast he's doing his math," she says simply.
When Leo started, his mom's goal was a head start. What she got was something bigger: a disciplined, independent, math-loving kid who leads his classmates and dreams about rocket ships. The 97th percentile is wonderful — but the confidence behind it is what will carry him for years.
This is the power of discovering the genius your child was born to be. In Leo's case, a little mental math unlocked a whole lot of momentum.
If your child is ready to build focus, confidence, and a real love of learning, Genie Academy could be the missing piece.
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