Early Mathematics
Counting, comparison and number sense, plus the vocabulary children need before formal arithmetic begins. For students age five and above.
- Weekly1 hour
- Monthly$120
After-school math · Grades K–12 · Swampscott
Where kids learn to think in math.
Small classes on the North Shore, taught the way Jelena Liholiopa has taught for years — concepts first, so children can solve problems they've never seen before.
Classes of 3–8 students
Founded by the former RSM Marblehead principal
Weekly class schedule
September through June · 36 weeks
K
Early Mathematics
Number sense & counting
1 hr
$120/mo
1–4
Elementary Mathematics
Fluency & word problems
1.5 hr
$180/mo
5–12
Core Mathematics
Pre-algebra through advanced
2 hr
$240/mo
7–9
Geometry
Taught through proof
1 hr
$120/mo
10–12
SAT & ACT Math
Full-year preparation
2.5 hr
$300/mo
Placement by readiness, not just age — we'll help you choose
K–12One continuous path, from age five through senior year
790Highest SAT Math score reported by a former student
36Perfect ACT Math score earned by a Zelta student
3–8Students per class, so nobody gets lost
Our story
When RSM Marblehead closed, Jelena kept teaching.
Jelena Liholiopa ran the Russian School of Mathematics branch in Marblehead. When RSM moved its curriculum online and the Marblehead location closed, she opened Zelta in Swampscott to continue the same instruction in person — and brought experienced teachers with her, including Ella Bromberg.
A parent described it as filling a real gap: challenging children in an engaging way, well beyond the rudimentary math taught in schools, and giving them the foundation that leads toward careers in engineering, programming and finance.
That's still what we are. One center on Humphrey Street. Small classes. A director who knows every student's name.
Taught by people who stay
Jelena founded Zelta after leading RSM Marblehead. Ella Bromberg came with her — a teacher one parent said her daughter absolutely adored, and whose arrival at Zelta her son was excited about.
Families notice that continuity. Students who start in first grade are often still here in eleventh, with teachers who have known them the whole way.
Why families choose Zelta
Four things parents tell us they notice.
They understand, not just calculate
One mother put it best: her sons don't just learn how to calculate — they develop real understanding and numeracy. Even with problems they don't yet know how to solve, they follow a logical, coherent path toward a solution.
Real results on the SAT and ACT
Former students have publicly reported 780 and 790 on SAT Math and a perfect 36 on ACT Math. Preparation runs across the full year — two and a half hours a week — rather than a rushed few weeks before the test.
It carries into college and career
Students have gone on to engineering programs including Northeastern, crediting the critical thinking they built here. Parents describe a center that inspires future engineers, programmers and financiers.
Demanding and kind at once
A former student described Jelena as always a kind and very understanding teacher — while also being the person who sparked a passion for math she hadn't known she had. Rigor and warmth aren't opposites here.
Programs
From counting to calculus.
Every class meets weekly, September through June. Placement is by readiness — a short conversation tells us where to start.
Elementary Mathematics
Arithmetic fluency alongside genuine problem solving — word problems, reasoning aloud, and learning that a wrong answer is information.
- Weekly1.5 hours
- Monthly$180
Core Mathematics
The main track: pre-algebra through advanced high school topics, staying a step ahead of school so class time is preparation rather than repair.
- Weekly2 hours
- Monthly$240
Geometry
Plane geometry taught through proof — construction, congruence, similarity, and writing an argument where every line follows from the last.
- Weekly1 hour
- Monthly$120
Algebra & Geometry
A combined three-hour track for students carrying both subjects at once or moving into an accelerated high school sequence.
- Weekly3 hours
- Monthly$360
Calculus
Limits, derivatives and integrals with the reasoning kept intact — including preparation for AP Calculus AB and BC.
- Weekly2.5 hours
- Monthly$300
SAT & ACT Math
Content and strategy across the full school year, so preparation is spread out rather than crammed into the weeks before a test date.
- Weekly2.5 hours
- Monthly$300
Private Tutoring
One-on-one or two students together, for a different pace or a specific subject. No registration fee; scheduled in four-hour blocks.
- Private$70/hr
- Semi-private$41/hr
Five-Week Summer Course
Twice weekly, June 29 to August 3 — grades 1–11, high school preparation, and contest-level mathematics.
- Meets2×/week
- From$300
Meet the founder
Jelena Liholiopa
Founder and director of Zelta, and formerly principal of the Russian School of Mathematics in Marblehead.
At RSM Marblehead she introduced North Shore families to a European approach to teaching mathematics — conceptual, sequential, patient about fundamentals. When that branch closed, she founded Zelta to keep teaching that way in person.
Her former students describe her in their own public reviews as the best of the best, kind and understanding, effective and concise, with a warm heart and real passion for her students' success.
- Founder and director, Zelta Learning Center
- Former principal, Russian School of Mathematics — Marblehead
- Teaches from elementary classes through SAT, ACT and AP-level preparation
- Zelta hosts the Math Kangaroo international competition
Ella Bromberg
An experienced teacher who came with Jelena from Marblehead to Zelta. One parent wrote that her daughter absolutely adored Ella — and that her son was excited to see her join the new center.
She teaches elementary classes at Zelta, including the Grade 4 group that meets Monday afternoons.
Families & students
In their own words.
Paraphrased from public reviews. Names appear as the reviewers posted them.
Jelena taught her from eighth grade on — always kind and understanding — and helped her prepare for the SAT. She sparked a passion for math the student hadn't known she had, and is the reason she's now pursuing an engineering degree.
Her sons have studied with Lena since first grade, and the elder is off to a top-tier engineering school. What she values: the kids don't just learn to calculate — they build understanding and follow a coherent path even on problems they haven't been shown.
He and his sister both studied with Jelena for several years. She prepared him well for the SAT and ACT and built the critical thinking that helped in his math courses at Northeastern. Effective, concise, and passionate about her students succeeding.
Getting started
Enrolling is simple.
Tell us about your child
Call, email, or send the form. Share their grade in September and what they're covering in school.
We suggest a placement
We'll recommend the class that fits what they're ready for — or tell you honestly if tutoring would serve them better.
Submit the application
Send the application form with the first tuition payment and the annual registration fee ($60 in the first semester).
Start class
Classes run weekly from September through June. Homework goes home each week and is reviewed at the next class.
Common questions
Before you call.
What ages do you teach?
Students age five and above as of September 1, through grade 12.
How big are the classes?
Small. We don't run an advertised class with fewer than three students — in that case families can continue at the private or semi-private rate instead.
What if my child misses a class?
Class and homework material is emailed within 48 hours. We don't hold make-up sessions except when the center itself closes for weather.
Do you prepare students for the SAT?
Yes — as a full-year course, two and a half hours weekly. Former students have reported scores of 780 and 790 on SAT Math.
Let's find the right class for your child.
Tell us their grade and what they're working on in school. We'll suggest a starting point — honestly, even if that means waiting a year or starting with tutoring instead.