By Aviv Weiss, Khan Academy Districts
As a school leader, you’re constantly balancing student needs, teacher capacity, and district goals. But when it comes to the SAT, one thing is clear: preparation can’t be left to chance.
The stakes are high. SAT scores influence college access, scholarship eligibility, and sometimes even school accountability metrics. Yet many schools approach SAT prep reactively—leaving students and teachers scrambling.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for principals ready to lead SAT prep with clarity, confidence, and impact.
1. Start with a schoolwide vision
SAT prep isn’t just for AP students or after-school volunteers. The most successful schools treat it as a whole-school initiative, grounded in equity and rigor.
Ask:
- Are all students getting access to high-quality prep?
- Is SAT prep visible in the school schedule, curriculum, and data cycles?
- Do teachers feel equipped to support it?
Use this blueprint from district leaders to align your school around a shared strategy.
2. Choose the right tools
Many schools rely on practice test booklets or one-off prep sessions. But today’s SAT is digital and available on students’ cell phones—your tools should be too.
Khan Academy offers the only official SAT prep platform, developed in tight collaboration with the College Board. It’s free for students, grounded in real test questions, and can be made even more rigorous when students get 1:1 AI tutoring support from Khanmigo. Explore Khan Academy’s SAT prep tools for schools.
3. Build time into the schedule
SAT prep doesn’t require a new class, but it does require dedicated time.
Common models include:
- weekly seminar or advisory sessions,
- a short-term prep course embedded in the master schedule, and
- integration into English and math instruction.
Start four months before your target SAT date, and use Bluebook™ diagnostics and practice tests to track progress.
4. Support your teachers
Teachers are your front-line champions, but they need support. From understanding the structure of the newer digital SAT to integrating AI into instruction, they’re being asked to do a lot.
That’s why Khan Academy Districts can include professional learning for teachers and administrators. These sessions help educators
- align curriculum to SAT skills,
- use Khanmigo to scaffold practice, and
- track progress using student data.
See how teachers are leading SAT prep success.
5. Use data to drive results
Don’t wait for test day to measure success.
With Khan Academy Districts administrator dashboards, you can track student practice time, monitor skill growth, and intervene early. Real-time data helps you
- support students who are falling behind,
- recognize effort and improvement, and
- celebrate success schoolwide.
Learn how district and school leaders use data to monitor SAT readiness.
6. Lead the culture shift
SAT prep doesn’t have to be stressful, exclusive, or discouraging. In fact, when done right, it builds confidence and community.
As a principal, you can
- maintain excitement about the opportunity to take the test and open doors beyond high school,
- normalize SAT prep through assemblies and announcements,
- celebrate student progress, not just perfect scores, and
- create a culture where effort, not perfection, is the goal.
See how one Florida district turned SAT prep into a graduation success story.
You set the tone
SAT prep is a powerful opportunity to help more students access what comes next. With the right tools, support, and vision, you can lead a program that lifts students up.
Ready to bring official, equitable SAT prep to your school?
👉Schedule a strategy session. 👉Download the SAT Prep Playbook.
