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Mathnasium vs. Russian Math

Jessica Kaminski

reviewed by Jo-ann Caballes

Updated on November 4, 2024

Parenting

If kids struggle to progress in math, it is only natural that parents start to look for ways to help them along. One (and most convenient) way to go about it is to find a math tutoring service or an after-school program that will be effective, affordable, and fun for children. But can these three important factors coexist, or do you have to sacrifice one thing for the other? In this article, we’ll compare Mathnasium vs Russian math, including their pros and cons, fees, age range, and other factors. If you want to explore which one of these programs is best for your kid, keep reading!

Mathnasium vs Russian math: Comparison

Many parents search for ‘Mathnasium vs Russian math’ online, trying to figure out which is better for their kid. Such a task could seem daunting, especially if you don’t have a clear understanding of what these two schools offer and how they can benefit your child in particular. But not to worry — this comprehensive table will give you clear insights on the topic of Mathnasium vs Russian math and which suits best for your particular situation. 

What is Russian Math?

Russian School of Math, also known as Russian math, is an online and offline after-school tutoring service that is based on a math education method and system from the Soviet Union. This educational method is a kind of mix of the US Common Core curriculum standards and the Soviet Union math school principles, which are based on independent learning. If you want your child to boost problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, Russian school of math tuition might just be the place for you. 

However, Russian math is known for its challenging math problems that may be stressful for a lot of students, as Russian math teachers can be quite pushy regarding the curriculum. Don’t expect a tailored or gamified and interactive approach, as is not the case with this kind of school. Also, math homework might just be a little too demanding for some populations of kids, especially those who aren’t particularly interested in math. 

How is Russian math different?

Comparing Mathnasium vs Russian math, we can see some significant differences that may affect your choice of after-school math program. 

Russian math is known for its structured and rigorous curriculum that can go way beyond the US standard curriculum. This requires students to tackle more and more challenging problems over a short period of time. With an emphasis on reasoning and logic, tutors may introduce complex concepts early on, which means that it’s common for Russian math tutoring programs to become more intensive and structured than other programs. 

Russian School of Math cost

Russian School of Math costs anywhere between $2000 to $3500 yearly. The tuition of the Russian School of Math varies depending on the location, the number of subjects, and the grade of the student. In addition, Russian math offers 4-level pricing options which you can see below. 

Russian School of Math tuition is flexible and offers different payment plans: you can pay monthly, semi-annually, or once for a full-year tuition. 

Is Russian math worth it?

Eventually, you’ll ask if Russian math is worth it after all. Even though some may see this school as too intense, others may benefit greatly from it.

Firstly, you have to determine various factors: your goal, your kid’s skill in math, and whether the price is acceptable to you. If all of the above aligns with your expectations, then Russian math can be worth it. However, you have to pay attention to the fact that Russian math can be pricier than other schools and tutoring services. 

Russian School of Math: Pros vs Cons

Like every other math tutoring school, Russian schools have their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s see what they are below. 

Why Brighterly math tutoring may be a better solution for your young ones?

• Flexible Schedule
• Expert-driven Tutors
• Brighterly Cost
• Gamified Learning
• Progress Monitoring

Flexible Schedule 

Math tutoring can be unavailable to some families whose schedules don’t allow much space for after-school learning. This is especially true for busy moms and dads who can’t just drive around town picking up their children. Brighterly is an optimal option as it offers remote-only math tutoring. And it’s not all — with Brighterly, you can work around your schedule to set up meetings, and not the other way around. 

Expert-driven Tutors

Brighterly math tutoring is not the place for amateurs — only tutors with several years of experience can join the service. Unprofessional tutors unfamiliar with the best teaching practices aren’t the best fit at Brighterly.  

Brighterly Cost

Unlike most of the math tutoring platforms, Brighterly has a pretty affordable cost. A standard 3-month Brighterly plan that includes 2 weekly lessons will cost you $198/month (enrollment fees and additional registration fees already included). Additionally, you will get lesson recordings, 5 progress reports, and 24/7 support. Plus, you can still schedule the unused lessons, which makes Brighterly a perfect choice for the price-quality ratio. 

Gamified Learning

Kids love to play, and this isn’t going unnoticed in Brighterly. Brighterly math tutoring lessons integrate game-based math learning in order to engage kids as much as possible.

This way, complex math concepts can be more accessible to the young. For instance, to progress further with the character in the game, children will have to answer arithmetic questions to go through levels and accomplish objectives.

Progress Monitoring 

Depending on your plan, you can easily access a comprehensive overview of a student’s learning every couple of sessions. You will get several progress reports during a certain learning period. This will give you a clear understanding of how well your child comprehends the material. These progress reports include topics covered, progress gained, areas for improvement, and more. 

What is Mathnasium?

Mathnasium is a math learning center for K-12 students. It focuses on helping students build a solid foundation in math and develop strong mathematical skills. Mathnasium age range includes children from 4 to 18. 

The Mathnasium Center offers personalized learning and is designed to help students build confidence and develop a deep understanding of math concepts. However, they allow children to work at their own pace, ask questions, and receive personalized instructions tailored to meet their needs.  

The Mathnasium has its own method of teaching math and focuses on the following three components: assessment, customized learning plans, and ongoing support. Its math program allows for identifying the student’s strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in their math knowledge in order to create a personalized learning plan and achieve better results. 

To summarize, the Mathnasium price depends on factors like locations, services offered, and program chosen, so it’s hard to say how much exactly you will pay in your specific location. 

Is Mathnasium worth it?

Mathnasium can be a worthwhile investment when your kids need personalized attention and extra support in math. Things like personalized learning plans and confidence boosts are surely advantageous for some types of learners. Another great thing about Mathnasium is that it operates on a flexible schedule, and students can have as many sessions as they need during a week. However, you can only schedule 1-hour session per day. 

In short, Mathnasium is worth it for students who need regular support and a welcoming environment to progress in math. 

Mathnasium: Pros and Cons

To figure out whether Mathnasium is a school for you, check out this Mathnasium review below.

Mathnasium vs Russian math: which is better?  

The choice between Mathnasium vs Russian math depends on your goals, your kid’s learning style, the intensity of the program you’re looking for, and the price. How do you decide between the two? 

Both are pretty different from one another, where Mathnasium offers a more relaxed approach to teaching math and RSM with a much more intense program. So, in short, if you want your kid to reach excellence in math and develop STEM skills, the Russian School of Math is your obvious choice.

However, Mathnasium offers a somewhat flexible approach to math, making the experience more enjoyable and approachable to students, which could be optimal for those kids who just need a support system to learn math. 

If both of the schools don’t seem the right fit, consider exploring other options, such as Brighterly math tutoring — a perfect school for those who value personalized attention, excellent curriculum, and affordable prices. 

Conclusion

Most parents want their kids to have good math skills, but not all kids are the same, and because of that, not all schools are suitable for everybody. To summarize, both Mathnasium and Russian math have their advantages and disadvantages when balancing between the two. The main difference between them lies within the methods: Mathnasium focuses on conceptual understanding, while Russian math is more about problem-solving and speed. Which is better for your kid? Only you, as the parent, know that. 

Now, if you feel like none of these schools aligns with your expectations, Brighterly is here to combine all the best factors Mathnasium and Russian School of Math have to offer! Brighterly provides engaging, interactive lessons focused on building confidence and skills in a way that suits each child’s unique learning style. Ready to try? Book a free demo lesson with Brighterly and see how it transforms your kid’s math journey!

Jessica Kaminski

70 articles

Jessica is a a seasoned math tutor with over a decade of experience in the field. With a BSc and Master’s degree in Mathematics, she enjoys nurturing math geniuses, regardless of their age, grade, and skills. Apart from tutoring, Jessica blogs at Brighterly. She also has experience in child psychology, homeschooling and curriculum consultation for schools and EdTech websites.

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