(L-R) Pasadena High School students Jacob Monson and Lucas Kittle at Caltech (Photo – Caltech)
A new partnership between the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) and Caltech is giving some of the district’s most advanced math students an unprecedented opportunity: the chance to enroll in Caltech’s first-year math core sequence while still in high school.
Launched in fall 2025, the dual-enrollment program allows up to five juniors and seniors from PUSD’s Math Academy to take Caltech’s Math 1 a, b, and c courses each year. Omer Tamuz, Caltech professor of economics and mathematics and director of the program, says the collaboration reflects the Institute’s commitment to strengthening ties with local schools. “We don’t want to miss out on exceptional local talent,” he explains.
Math Academy students typically begin the accelerated track as early as sixth grade. By high school, they have completed the full Advanced Placement math curriculum and begin proof-based college mathematics in ninth grade. “They are about four years ahead,” Tamuz notes.
The first two students to participate in the new program were Lucas Kittle, a junior, and Jacob Monson, a senior at Pasadena High School. Kittle says the experience offers both academic and practical benefits. “Having this solid Caltech credit is going to be a big help when I apply to colleges, and I value the opportunity to learn what college classes are like.”
Transitioning from the intimate environment of Math Academy to Caltech’s large Math 1 lectures—often enrolling more than 100 students, was a significant shift. Monson says the recitation sections, led by teaching assistants, helped bridge that gap. “Compared to Math Academy classes, Math 1 helps you dive deeper into each topic and see the root of how it’s built and how it connects to other topics.”
Chris Anderson, a PUSD teacher who helped design the program, sees the partnership as mutually beneficial. “A lot of these students want to go to Caltech; it’s one of the schools on their list,” he says. “So Caltech gets to see them, they get to see Caltech, and you can have a beautiful marriage of high-achieving student with high-achieving institution.”
Formally adopted into PUSD’s curriculum in 2016–17, the Math Academy has already produced students who continued on to Caltech even before the dual-enrollment option existed. Justin Hong is now a second-year undergraduate studying computer science, and Luisa Boateng is a first-year graduate student in mathematics. Another alumnus, Matteo Paz—now a research support technician at Caltech’s IPAC—won the 2025 Regeneron Talent Search for developing an AI algorithm that identified 1.5 million celestial objects, research conducted at the Institute.
Laureen-Nadirah Nayo, PUSD’s director for the joint program, selects candidates from students who have completed all prerequisites. Recommendations are based on academic performance, focus, maturity, and work ethic. Caltech then reviews the proposed candidates. Students accepted into the program provide their own transportation, integrate Caltech coursework into their high school schedules, and meet the same academic requirements as Caltech undergraduates. They receive official transcripts upon completion, and no tuition is charged.
“We are very excited about this collaboration with Caltech for our students,” Nayo says. “This opportunity directly addresses a need that they have expressed.”
> Read the full story at caltech.edu.
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