Why would you call out "no common core"? It sounds like your kid's school is likely well in line with, or exceeds, the Common Core.

More and more it seems like people don't know what the "Common Core" even is. It's just becoming shorthand for whatever someone doesn't think they like about math pedagogy.

In short, the Common Core is a set of standards for math proficiency. It does not dictate any particular way of teaching math.