Plato, the 4th and 5th century BC philosopher and mathematician, wrote that mathematics invite thought and lead the mind to reflect and to reach truth. Most of us probably haven't experienced said "truth" through mathematics except that you had to pass it to graduate. But new research might prove Plato more right than we realized.
A recent report from Education Reform for the States (ECS) says math skills may be a very good predictor for future student success. Currently, most education advocates focus on reading skills as the most reliable predictor, but ECS says "...research shows that the development of mathematics skills early on may be an even greater predictor of later school success."