A gypsum composition for use as a wallboard core contains stucco, water, a styrene acrylic or acrylic hybrid copolymer, and a reduced amount of starch. A finished wallboard using this composition has similar properties, including compressive strength and paper core bond strength of a finished board, to wallboards made from compositions having higher quantities of starch. A method for producing such a composition is shown, the method requiring mixing of stucco and pulp water in a pin mixer, with the addition of starch and the styrene acrylic or acrylic hybrid copolymer.