New Canaan, Connecticut
SAT & ACT Tutoring and Admissions Counseling in New Canaan, CT
ConnectPrep has worked with New Canaan families since 2013: New Canaan High School students preparing for the SAT and ACT, Saxe Middle School students applying to independent and boarding schools, and St. Luke’s and New Canaan Country School families planning the next step. Our tutors come to your home in New Canaan, and every program is 1:1.
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In short: ConnectPrep is a Fairfield County tutoring and admissions firm founded in Westport, Connecticut in 2013 by Jeremy Fine. We provide 1:1 SAT and ACT tutoring, college admissions counseling and private school admissions help for New Canaan students, in the student’s home or online. New Canaan High School juniors averaged 1187 on the spring 2026 Connecticut SAT School Day, and the Class of 2026 averaged 1236 on the SAT and 31 on the ACT. Our ACT students typically gain 5 to 7 points and our SAT students average 250 points, and every program starts with a free consultation and a free diagnostic test.
New Canaan High School by the Numbers
How New Canaan High School Students Score
New Canaan High School posted the fifth highest grade 11 SAT average of any Fairfield County high school in spring 2026. These are the most recent official figures from the Connecticut State Department of Education and the New Canaan High School 2025-26 profile.
| Measure | New Canaan High School | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut SAT School Day, grade 11 (spring 2026) | Average 597 Reading and Writing, 590 Math (about 1187 combined); 286 students tested | CSDE EdSight, CT School Day SAT 2025-26 |
| Met or exceeded the SAT benchmark (spring 2026) | 90.2% in Reading and Writing, 73.1% in Math; 96.6% of juniors tested | CSDE EdSight |
| Class of 2026 SAT mean | 1236 total (620 Reading and Writing, 616 Math), 291 students | New Canaan High School 2025-26 profile (Naviance) |
| Class of 2026 ACT mean | 31 composite (English 31, Math 30, Reading 31, Science 30), 48 students | New Canaan High School 2025-26 profile (Naviance) |
| AP results, May 2025 | 30 AP courses; 96% of exams scored 3 or higher and 78% scored 4 or 5 | New Canaan High School 2025-26 profile |
| Class of 2025 outcomes | 96% enrolled at four-year colleges. New Canaan High School does not rank students. | New Canaan High School 2025-26 profile |
The grade 11 School Day SAT includes every junior, so it sits below the senior class mean, which reflects students’ best scores after retakes. With a peer group this strong, a score that would stand out elsewhere can be average at New Canaan, so we set targets from each student’s college list. See how every Fairfield County high school compares in our Fairfield County SAT scores report.
Score Targets
What SAT or ACT Score Does a New Canaan Student Need?
We set targets from the student’s college list, not from the school average. As a starting point:
| Goal | SAT | ACT | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy League and peer universities | 1500+ | 34+ | Top of the admitted range at the most selective colleges |
| Top 25 universities and strong merit aid | 1400 to 1490 | 32 to 33 | Above the New Canaan senior means above |
| Top 50 universities | 1300 to 1390 | 28 to 31 | Close to the New Canaan Class of 2026 SAT mean |
| Roberta B. Willis Scholarship eligibility | 1200 | 25 | Connecticut’s need and merit grant also requires top 20% class standing |
For school by school ranges, our college profiles list the middle 50% SAT and ACT scores for 100 top colleges, this list shows which colleges require the SAT or ACT for fall 2027, and our SAT prep planner explains whether a 1500 is enough for the Ivy League. Students aiming for National Merit need a 220 Selection Index in Connecticut for the class of 2027; see National Merit cutoffs by state.
SAT or ACT
Should New Canaan Students Take the SAT or the ACT?
Every Connecticut public school junior takes the SAT for free during the school day in the spring through the Connecticut SAT School Day, so New Canaan High School students already have an official SAT score by the end of junior year. Students at St. Luke’s and other independent schools take the SAT or ACT on national test dates instead. New Canaan students who take the ACT do very well on it, with a 31 average composite for the Class of 2026:
- The ACT changed. On the enhanced ACT, Science is optional and the composite is the average of English, Math and Reading only. See which colleges still want ACT Science in our ACT Science requirements list.
- Strong readers often do well on the ACT. Its Reading and English sections reward speed and precision.
- Math weighs less on the ACT. Math is half of an SAT score but a third of the ACT composite.
We start every student with a full length diagnostic so the choice is based on data. Compare the two in our SAT vs ACT guide and check upcoming SAT and ACT test dates.
What We Offer in New Canaan
ConnectPrep Programs for New Canaan Families
SAT Prep
Digital SAT prep timed around the spring Connecticut SAT School Day and national dates, with full length practice tests reviewed question by question.
ACT Prep
1:1 ACT tutoring built on our own curriculum, which teaches students to simplify and deconstruct each section. Our ACT students typically gain 5 to 7 points.
College Admissions Counseling
College list strategy, essays, activities and interviews from 9th grade through decision day. 97% of our students are admitted to a top three choice.
Private School Admissions
ISEE and SSAT prep plus advising for St. Luke’s, New Canaan Country School, King, Greenwich Academy, Brunswick and boarding schools.
AP and Subject Tutoring
Support across the 30 AP courses New Canaan High School offers, plus honors and independent school coursework in math, science and languages.
Executive Function Coaching
Organization, planning and study skills coaching, plus support with testing accommodations requests.
Local Schools
Schools Our New Canaan Students Attend
New Canaan Public Schools
- New Canaan High School
- Saxe Middle School
- East School, South School and West School
Independent Schools New Canaan Families Consider
- St. Luke’s School and New Canaan Country School (New Canaan)
- King School (Stamford)
- Greenwich Academy, Brunswick and Greenwich Country Day (Greenwich)
- Greens Farms Academy (Westport)
- Boarding schools including Hotchkiss, Taft, Choate, Loomis Chaffee and Westminster
Tests, deadlines and decision dates for these schools are in our Fairfield County private school admissions guide, and boarding school dates are in our boarding school deadlines table.
Fast Facts
New Canaan SAT and ACT Facts at a Glance
| What families ask | The answer |
|---|---|
| Is there a free SAT for New Canaan High School juniors? | Yes. Connecticut gives the SAT to every public school junior during the school day in the spring, with free score sends. |
| New Canaan High School grade 11 SAT average (spring 2026) | About 1187 (597 Reading and Writing, 590 Math) |
| New Canaan Class of 2026 SAT and ACT means | 1236 SAT and 31 ACT |
| National Merit cutoff for Connecticut | 220 Selection Index for the class of 2027 (see our National Merit cutoffs by state) |
| Connecticut state scholarship score | 1200 SAT or 25 ACT for the Roberta B. Willis grant, plus top 20% standing and financial need |
| Is ACT Science still required? | No. It is optional, and the composite no longer includes it. A small number of colleges still want it. |
| Does ConnectPrep publish prices? | No. Every program is scoped after a free consultation and diagnostic, so no hourly rate is published. |
Common Questions
New Canaan SAT, ACT and Admissions FAQs
Does ConnectPrep tutor students in New Canaan?
Yes. ConnectPrep was founded in neighboring Westport, Connecticut in 2013 and has worked with New Canaan families since then. Tutors come to students’ homes throughout New Canaan, and any session can move online during sports seasons or exam weeks.
What is the average SAT score at New Canaan High School?
On the spring 2026 Connecticut SAT School Day, New Canaan High School juniors averaged 597 in Reading and Writing and 590 in Math, about 1187 combined. The Class of 2026 SAT mean was 1236 (620 Reading and Writing, 616 Math), according to the school’s 2025-26 profile.
What is the average ACT score at New Canaan High School?
The Class of 2026 ACT mean was a 31 composite (English 31, Math 30, Reading 31, Science 30) across 48 students, according to the New Canaan High School 2025-26 profile.
Should my New Canaan student take the SAT or the ACT?
New Canaan High School juniors get a free SAT in school in the spring, so the SAT is the default, but many students score higher on the ACT, particularly strong readers. Now that ACT Science is optional and the composite counts only English, Math and Reading, the ACT is worth a serious look. We give a full length diagnostic before choosing.
When should a New Canaan student start SAT or ACT prep?
Most students do best starting in the summer before junior year, or the fall of junior year at the latest, so there is time for two or three official tests. Students aiming for National Merit should start in the fall of sophomore year, since the October junior year PSAT is the qualifying test. Our SAT prep planner lays out the timeline by goal.
Do you help with St. Luke’s, New Canaan Country School and boarding school admissions?
Yes. We help New Canaan families with school lists, applications, interviews and ISEE and SSAT prep for St. Luke’s, New Canaan Country School, King, the Greenwich schools and boarding schools. Our SSAT vs ISEE guide explains which test to take.
How much do scores improve with ConnectPrep?
Our ACT students typically gain 5 to 7 points on the composite, and our SAT students average a 250 point gain. Results depend on the starting point, the time available and the work the student puts in.
How much does tutoring cost?
ConnectPrep does not publish hourly rates. Every program is customized to the student, so we recommend a plan after a free consultation and diagnostic rather than quoting a one size fits all price.
Do you also offer college admissions counseling?
Yes. Many New Canaan families combine test prep with our college admissions counseling, which covers college lists, essays, activities and interviews. Our 2026-27 deadlines database lists every early and regular deadline for 403 colleges.
Start With a Free Consultation for Your New Canaan Student
Talk with ConnectPrep about your student’s goals, timeline and testing plan. We will recommend a plan after a free consultation and a free diagnostic test.
Nearby: Darien · Greenwich · Westport · Fairfield County · Westchester · Fairfield County SAT scores
Updated October 16, 2026. Sources: Connecticut State Department of Education, EdSight, Connecticut SAT School Day 2025-26; New Canaan High School 2025-26 School Profile. This is a ConnectPrep page, researched and published by ConnectPrep, an independent tutoring, test prep and admissions advising company based in Westport, Connecticut. ConnectPrep is not affiliated with New Canaan Public Schools, New Canaan High School, any independent school listed, the College Board or ACT.