The Pittsburgh Prep logo

Pittsburgh Prep

transforms

STUDENTS

into Academic LEADERS

Our MISSION

We transform students into academic leaders.

All our decisions at Pittsburgh Prep are focused on the following areas:

  • Build expert content knowledge in core subject areas of Math, Reading, English and Sciences

  • Think critically to make powerful deductions and inferences from given information and complex data

  • Overcome testing anxiety through stronger mindset and overall academic confidence

Our STRENGTHS

01. Unconventional Approach

The conventional approach by conventional high school systems and the official testing companies such as the College Board and the ACT is to simply provide practice problems and some attempt at explanation. The official study guides published by the College Board and the ACT, though useful, are hardly adequate for any serious student looking to improve their scores.

Our approach, therefore, is unconventional. Pittsburgh Prep’s core belief is to teach mastery of content (not recite corporate lesson plans), to produce powerful critical reasoning, build competitive test scores, and encourage lifelong learning. We never “teach to the test,” and never engage in shortcuts in lieu of concrete skill sets that provide solid grounding for our students to succeed on all standardized exams.

02. Tailored Curriculum

There are three ways we tailor our curriculum for all of our students:

  • Our entire program is based on an open-plan design, where our adept instructors are encouraged to plan, innovate and implement from our core curriculum. This means that our instructors are able to move laterally to best fit student needs in both large group classrooms and 1-on-1 tutoring sessions.

  • Developed in-house by our expert instructors, Pittsburgh Prep's core curriculum utilizes a powerful set of analytics to identify and resolve weaknesses in testing. From our diagnostics to our practice exams, every piece of data that we obtain results in strong adaptive changes that benefit our students.

  • We also are able to help students with special needs, having built a strong network of testing psychologists since 2006. Much more than obtaining extra time, we are then able to help our students take the exam strategically and confidently, to reach their highest potential.

03. Data-Driven Impact

There are two basic but important measurable items in education: Formative Assessment and Cumulative Assessment. We do both.

Formative assessment is a measure that provides specific guidance to our instructors to adapt and adjust their teachings so that their students will perform better in the very next session. We do this through our specific internally developed in-class constructive quizzes, end-of-class peer assessments, and via weekly staff meetings where master instructors lead and recommend changes to be made immediately. Having already graduated over 1,000 students from our program, we feel that we have demonstrated our impact in guiding students to their highest potential.

Cumulative assessment is a measure that shows the overall progress of the student. These are the previously administered, actual full-length practice exams our students take on a weekly basis. Our goal here is two-fold:

  1. To create a history of success so our students can confidently take the actual test.
  2. And to identify any ongoing issues in our skill set, so that our instructors can help our students break through these problem areas.

Lastly, as a results-based organization, we also boast a strong consistent average increase of 170 points for our students across the board. With over 2000 student graduates from every Pittsburgh county to countries as far away as Australia since our inception in 2006, we are confident in our abilities to guide our students to their highest potential.

04. Passion for Teaching

Simply stated, we love what we do. We’re a small company of dedicated teachers, utilizing research-based pedagogical methods, and we plan to remain this way, without compromise.

Our passion for teaching goes far beyond our curriculum. We take into account student context – sports, extra-curriculars, family obligations, jobs – all factors that can be stressful hindrances to student study. We meet with the parents prior to the start of every individualized program, and create a “goldilocks” scenario of preparation and access.

For group classes, our maximum teacher-to-student ratio is 12:1 during the summer, and 8:1 during the academic year. We maintain smaller classes to better conduct individual assessments throughout our sessions.

We maintain constant contact with our students and parents, communicating progress and challenges in a clear manner, focusing on resolution and score improvement. Teaching students to better comprehend normative exams such as the SAT and ACT, translates into better focus, deeper understanding of the nature of these tests and higher outcomes.

Finally, our instructors engage in professional development throughout the academic year, working both in research and classroom settings, from curriculum development to daily mindfulness. 

05. Experience and Credentials

All of our instructors possess the following:

  • A 99th percentile score in their areas of expertise

  • Individually, over 5 years (5,000 hours) of actual Classroom and tutoring experience

  • A Masters or PhD graduate degree in education

  • A proven track record of guiding students to their highest potential

06. Local Connection

Pittsburgh Prep is a locally focused small business, not another chain in a franchise. Our instructors and staff live in Pittsburgh, work in Pittsburgh, and maintain strong ties with the community and its schools.

We are the first independent test prep organization in the city of Pittsburgh and have become stronger and better every year.

We maintain and build strong relationships with local non-profits and community organizations, including the Pittsburgh Public Schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters Pittsburgh Chapter, Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation.

To date, we have provided over $150,000 in scholarship in the form of tuition assistance to students and families in need. We never turn down students based solely on finances.

Our Team

Pittsburgh Prep

Pittsburgh Prep
Test Prep
Academics
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Shadyside

124 S. Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

North Hills

8301 Perry Highway, McKnight, PA 15237

South Hills

2559 Washington Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15241

Hours of Operation
Mon – Thu: 9 AM – 8 PM
Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 10 AM – 6 PM
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