What Schools Should Know About ACT Prep Today
As students prepare for life after high school, many will consider college, and standardized assessments like the ACT remain one way students can demonstrate academic readiness.
Recent ACT data underscores why thoughtful preparation matters. While participation in school-day testing remains widespread, national ACT scores and college-readiness benchmarks have largely flattened in recent years, particularly in math and STEM. These trends highlight a growing gap between what students are expected to demonstrate and the support many schools can realistically provide.
At the same time, the ACT itself is evolving. Changes to test length, format, and delivery mean that preparation today looks different from what it did even a few years ago. For schools, this creates an opportunity to revisit how ACT prep is structured and how it fits alongside core instruction.
When ACT courses are intentionally designed and aligned with students’ needs, instructional capacity, and access, it can help students build familiarity, confidence, and readiness for what comes next. This article explores key considerations for schools looking to introduce or refine an ACT prep program, from assessing student needs to designing a sustainable, effective approach.
Why Is ACT Prep So Important For College Readiness?
Like the SAT, the ACT is designed to assess high school students’ college readiness across core subject areas, including English, math, reading, and science, with an optional writing component. Recent updates to the ACT have adjusted test length and format, but the exam still requires students to demonstrate content knowledge, reasoning, and time management under structured conditions.
Because the ACT follows a specific structure and set of expectations, students who take it without prior preparation may not perform at their full potential. Without familiarity with the test layout, pacing, and question types, students can struggle to apply what they already know effectively. This challenge is reflected in recent reports on ACT performance trends, which show that average scores and college-readiness benchmarks have remained relatively flat in recent years.
That is why offering an ACT prep program can play an important role in helping students prepare with intention. Structured preparation helps students understand what the test requires and gives them opportunities to practice applying their skills in a way that mirrors the actual testing experience.
It is also important to recognize that many students experience test anxiety. Preparing for a major standardized assessment like the ACT can help students become more comfortable with the exam format, instructions, and pacing. Practice and guided preparation can reduce uncertainty on test day and help students approach the experience with greater confidence.
Finally, access matters. Not all students can afford private, one-on-one ACT tutoring, creating uneven preparation opportunities. School-based ACT prep programs expand access to preparation, ensuring more students can prepare and demonstrate readiness, regardless of background.
How To Assess Your School’s ACT Prep Needs
There is no single right way to deliver an ACT prep course. Decisions on delivery format, group size, and instructional approach should align with your school’s goals, resources, and student needs. As you begin planning, the following factors can help guide those decisions.
Evaluate Current Performance Data
A strong starting point is reviewing your school’s ACT performance data from recent years to identify trends and patterns. Reviewing aggregate results can clarify where students perform well and where additional support may be needed.
For example, your data may show stronger performance in reading and English, with lower outcomes in math or science. Reviewing school-level and state-level trends alongside your own results can provide helpful context, particularly when compared to broader ACT performance and readiness benchmarks.
Using this data thoughtfully can help schools focus ACT prep time on the areas where students are most likely to benefit, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
Survey Student and Parent Expectations
In addition to reviewing performance data, gathering input from students and families can help shape a more effective ACT prep experience. Asking students to identify one or two goals for the program, such as improving confidence, strengthening a specific subject area, or becoming more comfortable with the test format, encourages intentional participation.
Short surveys can also provide insight into practical considerations, including preferred learning formats and scheduling needs. Questions about online versus in-person instruction, or small-group versus large-group sessions, can help schools design a program that balances accessibility with instructional impact.
Together, performance data and stakeholder input create a clearer picture of how ACT prep can best support your students.
Identify Resource Availability
Before launching an ACT prep program, schools need to assess staffing capacity and available instructional resources. Even when positions are filled, many educators are juggling multiple responsibilities, which can limit time to design and deliver additional programs.
In some cases, schools may lack the capacity to develop ACT-specific materials or to assign educators the time and expertise needed to lead preparation effectively. This is especially true given the structure and pacing of the ACT and the competing instructional priorities schools manage throughout the year.
As a result, some schools partner with organizations that provide additional instructional capacity. Working with a partner allows schools to offer structured ACT preparation without requiring internal staff to take on new responsibilities or shift focus away from core instruction.
Elevate K-12 works alongside schools as a partner in ACT prep delivery, providing experienced, teacher-led instruction that fits within existing schedules and supports student readiness.
Steps To Design an ACT Prep Course for Students
Once you’ve completed the steps above, you can begin designing your ACT prep course internally or in partnership with a trusted provider, depending on your school’s capacity and goals.
1. Develop the Curriculum
The ACT is divided into four core subject areas, with an optional writing component. Your study plan should address each section intentionally so students understand expectations and feel prepared for the exam.
Content review is important, but it is only part of effective preparation. Because the ACT follows a specific format and pacing, students also benefit from learning ACT-specific strategies. This includes guidance on time management, navigating multi-step questions, and using strategies like the process of elimination effectively.
It is equally important to provide regular opportunities for full-length practice to help students become comfortable with the testing environment and expectations.
2. Select the Right Instructors
Delivering an effective ACT prep course requires expertise in both instruction and assessment. Selecting the right instructors plays a major role in how confident and supported students feel throughout the process.
Not all ACT prep programs are led by certified educators. In some cases, instructors may be tutors who are familiar with the test but lack classroom teaching experience. Schools should prioritize certified, experienced instructors, as they are better equipped to adapt instruction, support diverse learners, and lead students through structured preparation.
When working with a partner, it is also important to consider how instructors are supported. Providers that invest in ongoing training and coaching are better positioned to maintain instructional quality over time.
At Elevate K-12, ACT prep courses are led by certified teachers who receive ongoing professional development, coaching, and feedback to support strong instructional practice.
3. Integrate Practice Tests
Including full-length practice tests is a critical component of ACT prep. Practice exams help students become familiar with test timing, structure, and the experience of completing the assessment under realistic conditions.
Equally important is what happens after each test. Providing targeted feedback helps students understand where they are making progress and where additional focus may be needed, enabling them to approach future practice with greater clarity and confidence.
4. Offer Flexibility With the Schedule Options
Students often balance coursework, extracurricular activities, work, and family responsibilities alongside ACT preparation. Offering flexible scheduling options can help reduce stress and make participation more manageable.
Schools may choose to offer after-school sessions, weekend workshops, or summer programs, depending on student needs. While staffing these options internally can be challenging, partnering with an ACT prep provider can help schools expand access without overextending internal teams.
Elevate K-12 offers LIVE, small-group ACT prep and summer school options that allow schools to adjust pace, format, and scheduling to better fit student needs.
5. Use Technology and Online Resources
Engagement plays an important role in learning retention. Effective ACT prep programs often combine traditional instruction with thoughtfully integrated digital tools that support practice and reinforcement.
Resources such as interactive quizzes, instructional videos, and guided practice activities can help students stay engaged while reinforcing key concepts and strategies.
Tips for Improving the Success of the School’s ACT Prep Program
An ACT prep program should evolve over time. Ongoing reflection and adjustment help ensure the program continues to meet student needs and deliver meaningful results. Once your program is in place, consider the following best practices.
Continuous Program Evaluation
After launching your ACT prep program, it is important to pause and assess how it is working in practice. Are students finding the pace manageable? Are instructional strategies resonating? Do practice results suggest progress in key skill areas?
Establishing a regular feedback loop through student surveys, instructor input, and practice test results can help answer these questions. Reviewing this information allows schools to make thoughtful adjustments to pacing, focus areas, or instructional approach as needed.
Over time, this data-driven reflection supports continuous improvement, helping the program remain effective and responsive.
Personalized Learning Paths
Students enter ACT prep with different strengths and areas for growth. While a shared curriculum provides structure, students benefit most when they receive targeted guidance based on their individual needs.
Practice test results can help identify performance patterns, enabling instructors to provide targeted feedback and recommend specific areas for additional practice. This approach helps students use their study time more effectively and builds confidence as they see progress in the areas that matter most.
Rather than fully individualized pathways, the goal is responsive support that helps students focus their efforts and stay engaged.
Engaging Parents in the Process
When appropriate, involving families in the ACT prep process can help reinforce student effort and accountability. Parents can be supportive when they understand how the program is structured and how their student is progressing.
Schools may choose to share regular progress updates or provide opportunities for conversation around practice results and next steps. Clear communication helps families support students at home while keeping expectations realistic and aligned with the program’s goals.
Empower Students Through Effective ACT Preparation
A well-designed ACT prep course can help students approach test day with greater confidence and clarity. When preparation is structured, flexible, and led by qualified educators, it supports not only ACT performance but also the academic readiness students need for what comes next.
At Elevate K-12, ACT prep programs are designed to help schools expand access to high-quality preparation without adding strain to internal teams. Through small-group, teacher-led instruction and summer ACT prep options, students receive guided support that reflects both the exam structure and their individual learning needs.
By combining experienced educators, intentional program design, and flexible delivery models, ACT prep can help students strengthen key skills, build confidence, and feel better prepared for the transition to college.
If your school is exploring ways to offer effective, school-based ACT preparation, learn more about Elevate K-12’s ACT prep solutions and how we work alongside schools to support student readiness.