A Note from Our CEO - Ben Kornell
When we set out to create Beast Academy, we had a conviction that felt almost revolutionary: elementary students could handle far more mathematical depth and challenge than anyone was giving them credit for. We believed that math programs designed to maximize test scores were actually missing the point - by engaging students in complex problem solving students would not only ace the tests but also develop a lifelong passion for learning.
This new study from the Utah Education Policy Center proves what our community has known all along. Watching nearly 1,000 students across Utah demonstrate that time spent with Beast Academy translates directly into meaningful learning progress validates something deeper than test scores. It confirms that when we give students the challenging, joyful curriculum they deserve, they don't just succeed—they thrive. Students are hungry for the mathematical adventures we've built for them, and they make the most of every minute they spend exploring our world of problem-solving beasts.
Students who used Beast Academy Online showed significant improvements in end-of-year math scores, even after controlling for prior achievement and demographics, according to a recent independent study by the Utah Education Policy Center at the University of Utah. The research, conducted in Davis School District's elementary schools during the 2024-2025 academic year, provides compelling evidence that Beast Academy Online effectively supports the mathematical growth of high-ability learners.
Study Overview
The Utah Education Policy Center (UEPC), partnering with Art of Problem Solving, conducted this comprehensive evaluation across 12 elementary schools in Davis School District—a large suburban district in Farmington, Utah. The study focused on high-ability elementary students—a group that often gets overlooked when schools concentrate their resources on helping struggling students catch up.
Using rigorous statistical controls for a group of nearly 1,000 students, researchers found consistent positive associations between Beast Academy Online usage and improved mathematics performance across multiple measures.
Key Research Findings
Time Investment Translates to Achievement
The study revealed a clear relationship between platform engagement and academic outcomes. Students who spent more time on Beast Academy Online consistently scored higher on end-of-year assessments, with each usage metric—minutes spent, units completed, days of engagement, and fidelity-level usage—predicting better performance.
Surprisingly, just a half hour of use per month made a meaningful difference for student math progress. The most impressive results came from students that used Beast Academy 30 minutes weekly and showed substantially higher scores on year-end assessments than their peers. And the data shows that there was really no plateau - so the more students engaged with Beast Academy Online, the more their math grew.
Productive Learning Time
One particularly encouraging finding was that students weren't just spending time on the platform—they were actually making progress. The researchers wanted to know: Are students just clicking around aimlessly, or are they actually completing lessons and moving forward? What they found was the more time students used Beast Academy Online, the more lessons they completed. Nearly all students who engaged with the platform turned their time into real learning, with very few students logging hours without completing meaningful content.
Surprisingly, just a half hour of use per month made a meaningful difference for student math progress. The most impressive results came from students that used Beast Academy 30 minutes weekly and showed substantially higher scores on year-end assessments than their peers. And the data shows that there was really no plateau - so the more students engaged with Beast Academy Online, the more their math grew.
Consistent Benefits Across Student Groups
The positive association between Beast Academy Online usage and achievement was largely consistent across gender, race/ethnicity, and English Language Learner status. This suggests that the platform's benefits extend broadly to different student populations within the high-ability learner category.
Why This Research Matters
This study addresses a critical gap in educational recovery efforts. As researchers noted, many schools focus on helping struggling students catch up, but "an unintended consequence of this targeted focus is that high-ability and gifted students may be overlooked in both policy and practice."
High-ability students faced their own unique challenges during pandemic disruptions, including reduced access to enrichment opportunities and fewer advanced learning options. This research provides evidence that digital learning platforms like Beast Academy Online can help address these gaps.
The findings indicate that regular use of Beast Academy Online supports mathematics achievement for high-ability elementary students—a group that deserves more attention in our educational system. Based on its rigorous methodology with statistical controls, this study provides Promising Evidence under federal ESSA Tier 3 standards, meaning it meets federal criteria for research quality that schools can rely on when making program decisions.
Note: ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) created tiers of evidence quality, and Tier 3 "Promising Evidence" means the study was well-designed enough that educators can feel confident using its findings to inform their decisions.
What Makes Beast Academy Online Effective
The study's success aligns with what research suggests high-ability learners need most:
- Access to advanced content
- Opportunities for deep conceptual thinking
- Self-paced learning that allows for accelerated progress
Beast Academy Online provides exactly these elements in an engaging, comic-book format that keeps students motivated while challenging them appropriately.
Rather than simply accelerating through standard curriculum, Beast Academy Online expands learning by offering the depth, challenge, and engagement that helps high-ability students reach their full potential.
Moving Forward
This study adds important evidence to our understanding of how to effectively serve high-ability learners in mathematics:
- Consistent usage patterns throughout the school year
- Strong relationship between time and progress
- Positive outcomes across diverse student populations
All of the above point to Beast Academy Online as the clear choice to support these learners.
As we continue to refine how we serve all students in mathematics, studies like this remind us that providing appropriately challenging, engaging content benefits not just struggling learners, but all students who are ready for more.
Learn more about how Beast Academy can support high-ability learners in your school or district, or explore how families can access Beast Academy Online. Click here for the full research report from the Utah Education Policy Center.
