Two Newark Public Schools Students Qualify for Prestigious American Invitational Mathematics Examination

NEWARK, N.J. – Two district students have qualified for the highly competitive American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), a distinction achieved by only the highest-scoring participants in the American Mathematics Competition (AMC).

Michael Ibojo, a 12th-grader at West Side High School, and Hazaiah Barbour, an 11th-grader at Arts High School, earned scores high enough to advance to the AIME. Ibojo also received an AMC Distinction Award, placing him among the top-performing students nationwide.

Ibojo said he was surprised when he found out how well he had performed on the AMC. “I didn’t expect myself to stand out that much,” said Ibojo, who will attend St. Peter’s University and intends to become a cyber security analyst.

When asked what his secret to math success is, he said it came down to a couple of fundamentals. “There is no problem that cannot be solved,” he said. “You’ve got to be confident in your calculations. Use your steps and your strategies, and you can solve any problem.”

Barbour said he was pleased at the news that he had done so well on the AMC.

“I wouldn’t say I was surprised. I know my abilities,” he said. “But I also knew it was kind of a big deal.”

Barbour, affectionately known as “Hazi” around school, is also a point guard and team captain of the Arts High School Basketball Team. He said that what it takes to succeed in math and basketball are very similar. 

“The work that you put in off the court and off the classroom correlates together,” Barbour said.

This year, 119 high school students from the district’s high schools participated in the AMC.

The Mathematics Association of America aims to invite a set number of students (roughly (6,000-7,000) to take AIME.  While the cut-off scores change yearly, it tends to be approximately the top 5% of the students who take the AMC.

“We are immensely proud of both students for demonstrating such extraordinary mathematical talent,” said Superintendent León, a former mathematics teacher. “Qualifying for the AIME places them among an elite national cohort of students, and their success speaks to the strength of our math programs, the dedication of our teachers, and the brilliance of our young people. This is Newark excellence at its finest and on full display.”

“Michael and Hazaiah represent the very best of Newark Public Schools,” said Board of Education President Hasani K. Council. “Their achievement is a testament to their hard work, the support of their families, and the commitment of the teachers who have guided them. The Board celebrates their accomplishment and applauds the Office of Mathematics for ensuring our students have access to rigorous opportunities that prepare them to compete at the highest levels.”

“The Office of Mathematics is thrilled to celebrate this remarkable achievement,” said Amanda Grossi, Newark Public Schools Director of Mathematics. “Michael and Hazaiah’s success reflects their talent, discipline, and curiosity—as well as the unwavering commitment of the teachers who have nurtured and challenged them.”

The AIME will be held on February 5 at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).