About Us
The Academic Approach
Founded in 2001 by Matthew Pietrafetta, Ph.D., Academic Approach differentiates its instruction through a unique brand of skills-based test preparation™. While teaching college freshmen at Columbia University in New York City and tutoring high school students preparing for the SAT and ACT, Pietrafetta developed a rigorous instructional commitment not only to raising his students’ test scores but also to developing their vital college-readiness skills.
What Makes Academic Approach Different?
Teaching Beyond the Test™
We take a skills-based approach to test preparation, focusing on our teaching as a means to raise test scores, to grow vital college and career readiness skills, and to provide in-depth academic enrichment.
Tests are Standardized. Students are Not.™
We are flexible, committed educators, dedicated to supporting growth for all students at any level of achievement.
We strive to
- Customize and personalize our instruction to each student to provide the highest growth in student achievement
- Support and enhance the good work teachers perform every day in the classroom by providing high-quality instruction and resources
Our Culture
Since 2001, Academic Approach has focused on two goals:
- Becoming the very best at raising test scores by providing high-impact, customized, academically rigorous test preparation that “teaches beyond the test.”
- Reaching and teaching a wide range of students through our One-on-One tutoring and school-based programs by providing high-impact, customized, innovative services, products, and partnerships.
Some might see tension in this work: test prep vs. rigorous academic enrichment; one-on-one instruction vs. school-based programming; customization vs. standardization; personalized instruction vs. designing towards an average student; rapid innovation vs. long-term research & development.
Academic Approach team members, however, have a different mindset: we see that our mission presents opportunities to grow, learn, think critically, problem-solve, and create high-impact solutions.