Academic Approach

At Academic Approach, we are an organization of educators, expert in the college-readiness space with passion for raising student achievement on college-entrance exams. Founded in 2001 by Matthew Pietrafetta, Ph.D., Academic Approach differentiates itself and its instruction through a unique brand of skills-based test preparation. While teaching college freshmen at Columbia University in New York and tutoring high school students preparing for the SAT and ACT, Pietrafetta developed a rigorous instructional commitment to not only raising test scores but also developing vital college-readiness skills. Over the years, we have developed our instructional content, services, and staff in order to reach thousands of students in the Chicago, New York, and Boston areas, raising scores, growing skills, and opening doors to higher education. With our growing staff of dedicated, high-quality educators and leaders, Academic Approach continues to deliver both highly customized one-on-one tutorial programs for students as well as school-based solutions that provide teachers assessments and instructional solutions that raise student achievement. With so many organizations, large and small, producing solutions in the education and technology space, what is Academic Approach doing so differently to raise student achievement and support teachers, families, and students? The answer lies in our two signature phrases: 1) Teaching Beyond the Test. We take a skills-based approach to test preparation, focusing on our teaching as a means both to raise test scores and to grow vital college and career readiness skills. 2) Tests are Standardized. Students are Not. We are flexible, committed educators, dedicated to supporting growth for all students at any level of achievement. It is this joint commitment to rigorous instruction and customized problem solving for students that allows us to serve families and schools with truly effective instructional solutions.