United States · Grades K to 12 · A comparison from published facts

Russian School of Mathematics alternative: compare the facts, then choose

The Russian School of Mathematics, usually called RSM or simply "Russian math", is one of the most widely recognized after-school math programs in North America. Families look for an alternative for ordinary reasons: there is no branch nearby, the schedule clashes with something else, the child is outside the grades RSM-Online serves, or they want one-to-one teaching. This page sets out what RSM says about itself, side by side with how Modern Age Coders works, and leaves the choice with you. We do not claim either is better; they are built differently.

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Teaching math and coding live since 2020 · 10,000+ students · grades K to 12

In short

The Russian School of Mathematics (RSM) is a K to 12 after-school math program with in-person branches and RSM-Online for grades 2 to 10, an average class size of 12 and three levels per grade, according to its own site. An RSM alternative might be a different live class, an online school or a private tutor. Modern Age Coders teaches math live online in a batch of 15 to 20 or 1-on-1, including Middle School Math Mastery; the first class is free.

Live courses to compare

Three live math courses families weigh against RSM

Each is taught live online by a regular teacher. Choose by your child’s stage and interests.

Middle School Mathematics Mastery course thumbnail

RSM / 01

Middle school math

Grades 6 to 8: ratios, negatives, pre-algebra and geometry, taught for depth.

Open the syllabus →
Middle School Math Competitions course thumbnail

RSM / 02

Math competitions

MATHCOUNTS, AMC 8 and Math Kangaroo problem solving.

Open the syllabus →
Algebra Foundations course thumbnail

RSM / 03

Algebra foundations

Pre-algebra and Algebra 1 for students ready to move ahead.

Open the syllabus →

What RSM is

What is the Russian School of Mathematics?

RSM describes itself as a K to 12 after-school math program running for nearly thirty years, with in-person branches and an online school. Its name refers to its teaching tradition.

The Russian School of Mathematics in its own words (russianschool.com home, about, online and programs pages, checked 31 October 2026)
PointWhat RSM says
ProgramA "K-12 after-school math program", "From Kindergarten To Calculus"
Approach"based on elite math schools in the former Soviet Union, adapted to the U.S. environment"
Curriculum"one continuous curriculum, from K-12"
Levels"multiple levels for every grade as well as a selective competitions program"
Class size"Our average class size is 12, and with three levels per grade"
Online"RSM-Online is open to students in grades 2 - 10"
Hours onlineClasses "meet anywhere from 1.5 to 4 hours per week, depending on the grade level"
HomeworkIt "should take approximately half the length of your child’s lesson to complete"
StartingA free evaluation to recommend a class
SummerThe summer program "runs for 6 weeks with 2 classes per week"

How RSM grows

RSM says its first class was held outside Boston, Massachusetts, and that "We do not franchise", opening a new location only when an experienced teacher is available to lead it. It reports serving over 80,000 students across North America.

It also states: "A majority of RSM branches are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges."

RSM’s view of tutoring

RSM is clear that it is a classroom program. Its programs page says: "We offer tutoring only as a short-term solution to prepare our students to join their peers in the classroom."

It explains that classrooms let students verbalize and debate ideas. That is a considered position, and worth knowing if you are weighing a group against a private tutor.

Sources: Russian School of Math, its about page, RSM-Online and programs, checked 31 October 2026. Russian School of Mathematics and RSM are trademarks of their owner. Modern Age Coders is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected with RSM. We do not quote RSM’s tuition; ask RSM directly.

Criteria table

How do RSM and Modern Age Coders compare, point by point?

The facts that usually decide it: format, grades, live or self-paced, class size, hours and location. RSM’s column is from its own site; ours describes how we work.

RSM (russianschool.com, checked 31 October 2026) and Modern Age Coders compared
CriterionRussian School of MathematicsModern Age Coders
FormatIn-person branches and RSM-OnlineLive online only
Grades or agesK to 12 at branches; grades 2 to 10 onlineAge 6 to adult
Live or self-pacedLive classesLive classes
Class sizeAverage 12, as publishedBatch of 15 to 20, or 1-on-1
LevelsThree levels per grade; selective competitions programPlaced by course and a first-class check
Weekly time1.5 to 4 hours a week online, by gradeSet by course and format
Private tutoringShort-term only, to join a classA full 1-on-1 option
LocationBranches in North America and beyond, plus onlineFrom home, anywhere in the US
How to startFree evaluationFree first class
SubjectsMath, including a competitions programMath, plus coding and AI

Two differences deserve plain statement. First, RSM’s published average class of 12 is smaller than our group batch of 15 to 20; if a small group matters most to you, that counts in RSM’s favor, and our 1-on-1 option is the way to get a smaller class with us. Second, RSM’s online school starts at grade 2 and runs to grade 10, while our online classes start at age 6 and continue through high school, so families outside those grades often look further.

When each fits

When is RSM a good fit, and when might an alternative suit better?

Neither choice is right for every child. These are the situations we see families describe, with no ranking implied.

RSM may suit

A child who likes a classroom of peers, has a branch nearby or is in grades 2 to 10 for the online school, and whose family wants one long-term program with levels for every grade.

We may suit

A child who needs 1-on-1 teaching, is outside RSM-Online’s grades, wants flexible times, or would like coding beside math from the same school.

Something else may suit

A student who needs a short burst of help for one school unit may be better served by the school’s own support or a specialist tutor, whichever program they belong to.

Questions to ask any math program, including us (our checklist)
QuestionWhy it matters
How is my child placed, and can they move level?A wrong level is the most common reason a good program feels wrong
How long is each class, and how often?Hours per week vary widely between programs and grades
How much homework, and who checks it?RSM, for example, publishes its own guide: about half the lesson length
Does the curriculum run ahead of school?RSM says its curriculum is generally ahead of public school; some children love that, some find it confusing
What happens if we need to stop?Ask about notice, pauses and summer

Two ways

What does solving one problem two ways look like?

Most serious math programs, RSM included, talk about deep reasoning rather than drills. Here is what that means in practice, with two problems we wrote, each solved by reasoning first and by algebra second.

The age puzzle, by reasoning

A parent is 4 times as old as their child. In 20 years the parent will be twice as old as the child. How old is the child now? Our worked answer: call the child’s age one unit, so the parent is four units and the gap between them is three units.

The gap between two ages never changes. In 20 years the parent is twice the child’s age, so the gap then equals the child’s age then: one unit plus 20 equals three units. So two units are 20, one unit is 10. The child is 10 and the parent is 40.

The same puzzle, by equation

Let the child be c, so the parent is 4c. In 20 years: 4c + 20 = 2(c + 20). Expanding gives 4c + 20 = 2c + 40, so 2c = 20 and c = 10.

Check: 40 + 20 = 60 and 10 + 20 = 30, and 60 is twice 30. The reasoning route explains why the answer works; the equation route scales to harder versions.

Heads and legs: 20 animals, chickens and goats, with 56 legs between them (our problem, three routes)
RouteWorkingAnswer
ReasoningIf all 20 were chickens there would be 40 legs. There are 16 extra legs, and each goat adds 2, so there are 8 goats.8 goats, 12 chickens
Equationsc + g = 20 and 2c + 4g = 56. Double the first: 2c + 2g = 40. Subtract: 2g = 16.g = 8, c = 12
SearchTry every number of goats from 0 to 20 and keep the one that gives 56 legs (code below).8 goats, 12 chickens
heads_and_legs.py (our example)Python 3
heads, legs = 20, 56
for goats in range(heads + 1):
    chickens = heads - goats
    if 2 * chickens + 4 * goats == legs:
        print("goats:", goats, "chickens:", chickens)

Output: goats: 8 chickens: 12. The loop tries all 21 cases and finds exactly one. Students who see the same answer three ways remember the idea, not just the number.

Try these two ways (our problems; answers in brackets)
ProblemReasoning hint
A parent is 3 times as old as a child; in 12 years, twice as old. Ages now?The gap stays the same (12 and 36)
30 animals, chickens and rabbits, 84 legsStart with all chickens (12 rabbits, 18 chickens)
Two numbers add to 50 and differ by 14Take away the difference, then halve (18 and 32)
A rectangle’s length is twice its width; perimeter 48Six equal widths around (8 by 16)

Choosing

How should a family decide between RSM and an alternative?

A short process that works for any comparison. It takes two or three weeks and gives you real evidence rather than reputation.

  1. Write down what you want from math outside school. Catching up, going ahead, competitions, or confidence. Each program serves these differently.
  2. Check the practical limits first. Is there an RSM branch within reach, or is your child within RSM-Online’s grades 2 to 10? Do the class times fit your week?
  3. Take the free start each program offers. RSM offers a free evaluation; we offer a free first class. Watch how your child talks about each afterwards.
  4. Ask the same questions of both. Use the checklist above, and write the answers down.
  5. Decide for one term, not forever. Review after about ten weeks: is your child keen, and is the homework manageable?

Families sometimes combine programs, for example a classroom program during the school year and live online competition classes in the summer. That is a perfectly reasonable plan if the child enjoys both and the hours stay sensible.

Where your child is

Four kinds of math learner families describe to us

Our description, to help you see which program shape suits your child.

Learner profiles (ours)
ProfileWhat it looks like
1. RebuildingBehind at school; needs gaps repaired before going ahead
2. SteadyOn track; wants depth and confidence
3. AheadFinds school math easy; wants harder problems
4. CompetingWants MATHCOUNTS, AMC or olympiad training

For parents

Profile 1 often suits 1-on-1 first. Profiles 2 to 4 often enjoy a group of peers.

A child can move between profiles in a single year; review the fit each term.

For students

If a problem has two routes, try both. The second one teaches you something the first did not.

Being stuck in class is normal. Say so out loud.

The catalogue

Nine live math courses from elementary to olympiad

Courses for every stage, all taught live online.

I

Elementary

Ages 6 to 10
II

Middle school

Grades 6 to 8
III

High school

Grades 9 to 12

How lessons run

How our live math classes are organized

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Weekdays

After-school batches across US time zones.

Weekends

Morning batches and competition practice.

1-on-1

Times agreed with your family.

Live, always

A teacher in every class.

Same teacher

Continuity week to week.

Reasoning first

Two routes to each answer.

Own problems

Practice written by our teachers.

Math and code

Both from one school.

Size of class

Up to twenty in a batch, or 1-on-1.

Student work

Work from our students

Some of our math students also build software. See examples on student labs.

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AI and ML

NutriLife

An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target.

by Bhavya · Open it

Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot

AI and ML

Misti

A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student.

by Harshit · Open it

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AI and ML

GuardianX

An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online.

by Vivaan · Open it

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Web app

SkyCast

A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location.

by Krish

Fees

Fees

Our fees are published below and billed monthly in US dollars, so you can compare like for like once you have asked RSM for its tuition by grade.

Free first class

USD 0

no card required

  • A free first class
  • Meet the teacher
  • No card needed
Book it

Group batch

USD 100

a month, billed in US dollars

  • Fifteen to twenty students
  • A regular teacher
  • Choose your batch
  • Monthly
Start here

One to one

USD 150

a month, billed in US dollars

  • One teacher, one student
  • Paced to your child
  • Flexible times
Enquire

What families say

Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews

In their own words: parents reviewing us on Google.

★★★★★

"The one step solution for my son. Modern Age Coders make learning coding so simple that kids love it. The teachers explain complex concepts clearly with practical exercises and interactive content."

Ria Mukherjee

Parent

★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease."

Samriddha Mondal

Student

★★★★★

"One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development."

Vansh Agarwal

Student

★★★★★

"My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative."

Sonam Oswal

Parent of Dhairya

★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation."

Sonu Goyal

Parent

★★★★★

"I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding."

Ritu Kedia

Parent

Questions from families

RSM alternatives: common questions

What is a good alternative to the Russian School of Mathematics?

It depends on why you are looking. Families often want online classes, 1-on-1 teaching, different hours or grades outside RSM-Online. Modern Age Coders teaches live online in a batch of 15 to 20 or one to one; compare the criteria and try a free class.

What grades does RSM-Online teach?

RSM says RSM-Online is open to students in grades 2 to 10. Its in-person branches describe a K to 12 program.

How big are RSM classes?

RSM states that its average class size is 12, with three levels per grade. Our group batches are 15 to 20, and we also offer 1-on-1.

How many hours a week is RSM?

RSM says its online classes meet anywhere from 1.5 to 4 hours per week, depending on the grade level.

Why is it called the Russian School of Mathematics?

RSM says the name comes from its approach, which is based on elite math schools in the former Soviet Union, adapted to the US environment.

Does RSM offer private tutoring?

RSM says it offers tutoring only as a short-term solution to prepare students to join their peers in the classroom. We offer 1-on-1 as a full, ongoing option.

Is Modern Age Coders better than RSM?

We do not claim that. The two are built differently: RSM runs classroom programs with branches and an online school, while we teach live online only, with group and 1-on-1 options and coding alongside math.

How much does RSM cost?

We do not quote other providers' fees. RSM says it emails a PDF of tuition by grade on request. Our own fees are shown on this page.

When are your classes?

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Are you connected with RSM?

No. Modern Age Coders is independent and not affiliated with the Russian School of Mathematics. RSM's names are its trademarks.

Elsewhere on this site

Related pages

More comparisons and math help for US families.

Modern Age Coders vs Mathnasium

Another after-school math option compared.

Math competitions for middle school

The contests advanced students enter.

MATHCOUNTS preparation

Problem solving for grades 6 to 8.

Olympiad and AMC tutoring

For high school competitors.

Eighth grade math tutoring

Linear equations and functions.

US competitions calendar

Math, coding and AI contest dates.

Related pages in this guide

Part of the guide: Homeschool and school math curricula guide

Comparing options

Curricula we teach alongside

Homeschool testing and credit

More guides: US state math tests by state · US gifted and selective school tests · US math placement and college readiness tests · US math and coding competitions guide

Start here

Book a free first class

Tell us your child’s grade, what they are studying and what you hope a math program will do. The first class is a real lesson with the teacher who would teach them.

Read how we teach, or compare all our courses.

WhatsApp us · +91 91233 66161 · connect@modernagecoders.com

Modern Age Coders is an online school whose teachers work from India and teach US students live in their own time zone. A WhatsApp message is the fastest way to arrange a class.

Free first class; we do not ask for card details.

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