Math Support Services

I enrolled my son, at his request, in their accelerated pre-​calc A summer program. It’s pricey but my child’s success is important so I happily complied. It was a 5 week course, 2 times a week. For the first 3 weeks I received updates from his instructor, Justin. After that, nothing. I had to contact Kristi for any information. Meanwhile, the homework got overwhelming for my son, it was an accelerated course so the homework was alot, but he couldn’t keep up and so did what he could. His test grades were acceptable, but homework grades were not. The instructor told my son he could take his final exam the following week. The following week was a week AFTER the program ended. Taking the final exam AFTER the program was complete was unacceptable to me. I contacted Kristi and told her that my son would be taking the final exam on the day the whole class was to take the final. I was not concerned about the grade, this situation had become a teachable moment, he would turn in his work, take the final and his grade would stand. The real world, school and college doesn’t allow for people to decide when and if they will turn in work. I directed Kristi to tell the instructor that my son was to take the final. The next day I drove my son to math support center to take his final. He appeared after 2 hours, I asked him how it went. He told me that his instructor would not allow him to take the final exam, that he would take it the following week. I met with Kristi and Justin. Justin apparently decided that even though he was given a very concise directive by Kristi that he would disregard it. Not happy. Willnot be using them again, ever.

Enrolling my twin boys in classes here starting their sophomore year in high school was the best decision I ever made. Both academically strong students prior to us enrolling at MSS, they struggled a bit in the math programs at public school as their classes were over filled and they were unable to get simple questions answered on homework even when they attempted to approach teachers outside of class times. Math support had very small class sizes with highly qualified and helpful instructors that allowed my boys to excel naturally while getting the questions that did come up along the way addressed immediately. Both of my boys were enrolled in 2.5 years of math courses starting with H. Algebra 2 Trig. through H. Calculus A/​B and 1 year of H. Physics here and have had great experiences with all the instructors they had along the way. I couldn’t have been any happier with the support and instruction the teachers at Math Support provided to my boys (and me). Also, the girls on the front desk staff and instructor Kristi (who was always available to talk and answer my questions) are simply the best of the best!

We have taken 2 children with different learning issues to Peggy the owner. One had a learning disability and was truly struggling with Algebra. With Math Support he was able to complete high school math and is now one year away from his B.A. degree. This would not have been possible for him without what he received from Math Support. The other child did not even know her multiplication and was afraid of math at 16 yrs. old. I took her to Peggy for five-​weeks, which was all the time she would be visiting me as my grandchild. Math Support changed her entire attitude towards math and gave her confidence that she could catch up with her peers. I have had great experiences with the owner and staff in assisting the children I watched struggle. Thank you Peggy for changing their lives!!! I am forever grateful for what you created with Math Support and would refer anyone with mathematical challenges to you.
Michelle J-​M

I have been going to them for years and never had an issue and they were very helpful for years until a year or so ago, when the owner Peggy refused to have a formal face to face meeting with me and continued our discussion over email. Also when I brought a college course to them I had to teach their tutors how to use the program during my tutor session so I eventually just taught myself. They could be more friendly towards their students and retuning customers instead of focusing just on money.
I also recall a situation with another customer while I was waiting for assistance. A parent on the phone was unhappy and kept continually asking to have a meeting with the owner and the owner told the front desk to tell the parent she was unavailable to avoid having the meeting.

We have 3 kids — all went here. My eldest struggled in math despite the fact he had great teachers at West Ranch. 40 in a class is not an ideal way to learn math and he was getting C’s. Even more concerning to us was the fact that he just didn’t get basic concepts. We had him take Precalc here and Calc BC here. It was the best thing we ever did. It wasn’t easy — there was a lot of butting heads and tears at first with the teachers here. They made him show all of his work and he wasn’t good about turning in his homework. But they never gave up on him and soon his D’s at Math Support were turning into A’s. Best of all, he completely understands what he has learned and tutors his friends at school in Calc BC. He has tested into Calc 3 at the college level thanks to Math Support. Special kudos goes to Jon Bartles who is an amazing mentor and his tutor Josh who helps him on a session by session basis. Were it not for Math Support, my son would have been a bad statistic on the failings of our students in math in this country.
The best part of Math Support is they offer transferable credits to the Hart School district High Schools. They are very efficient about transferring the credits. I have spoken to college admissions officers from Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Yale and they view the classes taken here as equal to the classes taken in the high schools. They even offer weighted honors classes which transfer to the high school. This is exactly why my middle son will be taking Honors Geometry over the summer with math support. He will be able to move into Honors Pre-​Calc for his sophomore year at West Ranch.
If there is a weakness, it’s in the math in the lower grades. My youngest daughter took math there in 3^rd grade over the summer 4 years ago and it wasn’t really very helpful. However, this same daughter will be taking Algebra 1 this summer at Math Support so she can get exposure to it before her 7^th grade year.
Valencia is really lucky to have a resource like Peggy and Math Support Services. They really have their act together and I happily pay them to educate my kids in a way that they can really learn the subject material.

I’m a former student of Math Support and now a UC Berkeley graduate with a degree in Molecular Cell Biology. Math Support’s tutors helped me achieve A’s in my high school math and physics courses. I truly believe the extra support I received from Math Support helped me not only graduate High School as Valedictorian, but also helped me get into a top University. The tutors were kind, patient, and excellent at explaining concepts in an easy to understand format. Peggy Cannistraci, the owner of Math Support, is extremely passionate about helping students realize their full potential in math and science. I highly recommend their services to students who feel weak in math and science. I would also highly recommend their services to motivated students who really want that «A».

I am a former teacher from math support and now a college professor. Math support services is the most companionate and helpful teaching environments I have ever encountered. During summer, weekly progresses reports are emailed to the parents, extra time on tests are given if needed and it was our job as an instructor to give individual attention to every student (max of 12 students in a class). I learned how to be a great teacher by Peggy and use her skills daily in the college environment.

I enrolled my son in the Summer program with the hope of seeing improvement prior to his commencement to the 6^th grade. We paid $ 500 for 5 weeks, attendance twice a week for an hour. Unfortunately, the results at the end of the period were far less than expected for what we paid. We believe this is may be due in part to them assessing my son at a 7^th grade level instead of at a 6^th grade level. Parent updates were few and late in the program to help make any headway at home. Tutors also changed with no consistency in training method. They were also quick to charge a reschedule fee if we missed an appointment which fortunately we didn’t because of the fee. Bottom line, over priced with no results to support coming here again. Very disappointed.

Math Support has been an incredibly positive experience for my daughter. The small class setting and amazing, caring, patient and knowledgable staff & instructors not only made a difference in her academic success but also in her self-​confidence. The students are expected to work hard, complete homework and pass tests within a certain percentage. My daughter actually looked forward to this class because she felt so successful in this setting. She passed this class with an A because of the high standard of instruction and encourgement offered at Math Support. Thank you Math Support for helping my daughter achieve an understanding and interest in a class that has always been difficult.

if your child has ever struggled or failed math, this is the tutoring place to sign him or her up at!
i recieved a D– in my Algebra II/​Trig B class @ Valencia High School second semester of Jr year (had Mr Carter, worst, stupidest, rudest, meanest, most annoying teacher ever)
so, i signed up for Math Support second half of 2011, which was my first semester of Senior Year.
we met every Monday and Wednesday from 730 – 930 pm for 12 weeks.
i had Kam, probably the coolest teacher i have ever had. always helpful, kind, respectful, funny, and just a great (est) teacher.
no matter, and i mean NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, you will get no less than a B through Math Support. hell, i got a 62% in school, and a 98% here, go figure?
the lessons are taught how they should be taught, and if you recieve below a 70% i believe it was on homework or tests, retakes are mandatory.
every section is split up from 2 – 4 days, and then a test on the day after, and reviews are very helpful after the section.
classes are also the PERFECT size, we only had 6 people, and the class before us only had 3! talk about one on one time with the teach when you need it
again, to all parents of failing or almost failing students in math, bring them here! it is very pricey, but it is deffinately worth it instead of summer school, D or F on report cards, and looks good for college!