Westport, Connecticut · New Canaan · Greenwich
SAT & ACT Tutoring and College Admissions Counseling in Westport, CT
Westport is home. ConnectPrep was founded here in 2013, and we have worked with Staples High School students on the SAT and ACT, and with Westport middle schoolers applying to Greens Farms Academy, King and boarding schools, ever since. Our tutors come to your home in Westport, and every program is 1:1.
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In short: ConnectPrep is a Westport, Connecticut tutoring and admissions firm founded in 2013 by Jeremy Fine. We provide 1:1 SAT and ACT tutoring, college admissions counseling and private school admissions help for Westport students, in the student’s home or online. Staples High School juniors averaged about 1193 on the spring 2026 Connecticut SAT School Day, the third highest district average in Fairfield County. 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.
Staples High School by the Numbers
How Westport Students Score on the SAT and ACT
Westport posted the third highest average of any Fairfield County school district on the spring 2026 Connecticut SAT School Day, behind Darien and Wilton, with nearly every junior tested. These are the most recent official figures, from the Connecticut State Department of Education and the Staples High School Class of 2025 outcomes report to the Westport Board of Education.
| Measure | Staples High School | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut SAT School Day, grade 11 (spring 2026) | Average 605 Reading and Writing, 588 Math (about 1193 combined); 391 students tested, 99.2% participation | CSDE EdSight, CT School Day SAT 2025-26 |
| Met or exceeded the SAT benchmark (spring 2026) | 90.3% in Reading and Writing, 73.1% in Math | CSDE EdSight |
| Class of 2025 SAT mean | 1239 total (624 Reading and Writing, 615 Math); middle 50% 1110 to 1390 | Staples Class of 2025 outcomes report, Oct 2025 |
| ACT mean, 2024-25 | 29.1 composite (English 30.3, Math 28.2, Reading 29.3, Science 28.3); middle 50% 27 to 32 | Staples Class of 2025 outcomes report |
| AP results, Class of 2025 | 607 students took 1,437 exams across 26 AP courses; 97% scored 3 or higher, mean score 4.3 | Staples Class of 2025 outcomes report |
| Class of 2025 outcomes | About 94% enrolled at four-year colleges; 11 National Merit Finalists and 23 Commended Students | Staples Class of 2025 outcomes report |
The grade 11 School Day SAT includes every junior, so it sits below the senior class mean, which reflects students’ best scores after retakes. The takeaway for Westport families: a “good” score at Staples is relative to a very strong peer group, and the colleges Staples students target most often look for scores well above these averages. See how every Fairfield County high school compares in our Fairfield County SAT scores report.
Score Targets
What SAT or ACT Score Does a Westport 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 | Well above the Staples averages above |
| Top 50 universities | 1300 to 1390 | 28 to 31 | At or above the Staples senior means |
| Roberta B. Willis Scholarship eligibility | 1200 | 25 | Connecticut’s need and merit grant also requires top 20% class standing |
Because Staples High School does not rank students, talk with your school counselor about how the Willis rank criterion is handled. For school-by-school ranges, our college profiles list the middle 50% SAT and ACT scores for 100 top colleges, and this list shows which colleges require the SAT or ACT for fall 2027.
SAT or ACT
SAT or ACT for Westport Students?
Every Staples junior takes the SAT for free during the school day in the spring through the Connecticut SAT School Day. That gives every student an official SAT score, which is why many Westport families default to the SAT. But the ACT is often the better fit, and Staples students do well on it, with a 29.1 average composite:
- The ACT changed. On the enhanced ACT, Science is optional and the composite is the average of English, Math and Reading only. The test is also shorter. 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, and Staples students average 30.3 in ACT English.
- 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, plan the timeline with our SAT prep planner, and check upcoming SAT and ACT test dates. National ACT test centers rotate by date, so check MyACT for the nearest Fairfield County site.
What We Offer in Westport
ConnectPrep Programs for Westport Families
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.
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.
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, SSAT and HSPT prep plus advising for Greens Farms Academy, King, Fairfield Country Day, the Greenwich schools and boarding schools.
AP and Subject Tutoring
Support across the 26 AP courses Staples offers, from AP Calculus BC and AP Physics C to AP Statistics, AP Chemistry and world languages.
Executive Function Coaching
Organization, planning and study skills coaching, plus support with testing accommodations requests.
Local Schools
Schools Our Westport Students Attend
Westport Public Schools
- Staples High School
- Bedford Middle School and Coleytown Middle School
- Coleytown, Greens Farms, Kings Highway, Long Lots and Saugatuck Elementary Schools
Independent Schools Westport Families Consider
- Greens Farms Academy and The Pierrepont School (Westport)
- Fairfield Country Day School and Fairfield College Preparatory School (Fairfield)
- King School (Stamford)
- St. Luke’s School and New Canaan Country School (New Canaan)
- Brunswick, Greenwich Academy, Greenwich Country Day and Sacred Heart Greenwich
Deadlines, tests and decision dates for each school are in our private school admissions database, and boarding school dates are in our boarding school deadlines table.
Fast Facts
Westport SAT and ACT Facts at a Glance
| What families ask | The answer |
|---|---|
| Is there a free SAT for Westport juniors? | Yes. Connecticut gives the SAT to every public school junior during the school day in the spring, with free score sends. |
| National Merit cutoff for Connecticut | 220 Selection Index for the class of 2027 (see our National Merit cutoffs by state) |
| Staples grade 11 SAT average (spring 2026) | About 1193 (605 Reading and Writing, 588 Math) |
| Staples Class of 2025 SAT and ACT means | 1239 SAT and 29.1 ACT |
| 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
Westport SAT, ACT and Admissions FAQs
Is ConnectPrep based in Westport?
Yes. ConnectPrep was founded in Westport, Connecticut in 2013 by Jeremy Fine, and Westport remains our home base. We tutor Westport students in their homes or online, and we work with families across Fairfield County and nationwide online.
Do ConnectPrep tutors come to our home in Westport?
Yes. In-home sessions are our standard format in Westport, including Greens Farms, Saugatuck, Compo, Coleytown and Old Hill, and any session can move online during sports seasons or exam weeks. We also work with families in neighboring Weston, Fairfield and Wilton.
What is the average SAT score at Staples High School?
On the spring 2026 Connecticut SAT School Day, Staples juniors averaged 605 in Reading and Writing and 588 in Math, about 1193 combined, with 391 students tested. The Class of 2025 senior mean was 1239 (624 Reading and Writing, 615 Math), with a middle 50% of 1110 to 1390.
What is the average ACT score at Staples High School?
The 2024-25 Staples ACT mean was a 29.1 composite (English 30.3, Math 28.2, Reading 29.3, Science 28.3), with a middle 50% of 27 to 32, according to the Class of 2025 outcomes report to the Westport Board of Education.
Should my Westport student take the SAT or the ACT?
Every junior gets 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 Westport 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, aiming for a first official score by spring and a retake by early senior fall. Students targeting National Merit should start in the fall of sophomore year, since the PSAT taken in October of junior year is the qualifying test. Our SAT prep planner lays out the timeline by goal.
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.
Do you help Westport families with private school admissions?
Yes. We help Westport families with school lists, applications, interviews and ISEE, SSAT and HSPT prep for schools such as Greens Farms Academy, King, Fairfield Country Day, Fairfield Prep and boarding schools. Our SSAT vs ISEE guide explains which test to take.
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 Westport 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 Westport 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: Fairfield County · Connecticut · Westchester · Fairfield County SAT scores
Updated October 16, 2026. Sources: Connecticut State Department of Education, EdSight, Connecticut SAT School Day 2025-26; Staples High School Class of 2025 Post-High School Outcomes and Standardized Testing Report, Westport Board of Education, October 31, 2025. 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 Westport Public Schools, Staples High School, the College Board or ACT.