The North Star Blog
Notes from the people who run North Star Contests — what we see in the results, how the contests are put together, and the problem-solving ideas that come up most often when students get stuck.
Written for parents, teachers and school coordinators, and for the students who want to know why a question was hard. Nothing here needs an account.
- STEM PathwaysSeptember 1, 2026
Two of Ontario's Biggest School Boards Quietly Changed the Gifted Test. Almost Every Guide Online Still Has It Wrong.
Two Ontario School Boards Changed the Gifted Test. The Internet Is Still Prepping Kids for the Old One.
- STEM PathwaysAugust 21, 2026
Math Scholarships for K-12 Students in the US and Canada: The Complete 2026 Guide
A 2026 guide to math scholarships for K-12 students in the US and Canada: eligibility, award amounts, and who funds each one.
- Math CompetitionsAugust 21, 2026
Caribou Contest Alternatives: 9 Online Math Competitions (US & Canada)
Caribou Mathematics Contest has shut down. We verified every real alternative — dates, prices, eligibility — for Canadian schools planning 2026–27
