Jania Thomas, a 17-year-old senior at BELIEVE Circle City High School in Indianapolis, discovered her strength in math up to eighth grade. Throughout high school, COVID made it difficult for her to learn, causing her to fall two years behind in the subject. Despite the challenges, Jania is determined and has already earned an associate degree from Ivy Tech Community College. Her plan is to attend a top college next fall, possibly Columbia University, to which she has already applied early decision.
Thomas’s math struggle reflects a broader trend, with last year’s test results showing significant losses in math scores for 13-year-olds. Disparities along racial lines have also been severely affected by the pandemic. The Indiana Black Academic Excellence plan was created to address these long-standing inequities.
In Indiana, only 5% of Black 10th graders passed both math and English state tests. And while 41% of students in grades 3-8 scored proficient or better in the math portion of the state’s ILEARN exam, the rest showed a lack of proficiency.
BELIEVE Circle City High School, where Jania studies, is committed to providing rigorous mathematics courses to its predominantly low-income and minority students. Jania is currently enrolled in an Advanced Placement Statistics class and hopes to utilize what she learns to make a difference in her community.
Throughout her journey, Jania’s passion for math has led her to consider math as a pivotal part of her career. She wants to fight against inequality within the American system and assists students who struggle with math. She plans to continue her education by obtaining at least one doctorate, knowing that her school is focused on helping students fill out scholarships to pay for tuition.
In her own words, Jania strives to break the barriers and earn as many degrees as she can to apply her knowledge to the real world. Her goal is to continue learning, teaching, and making a difference.
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