SUMMER PROGRAMS 2026

Summer Tutoring & Test Prep

Don’t let summer break become a learning break.

School’s out — but your child’s progress doesn’t have to stop. Whether you’re preventing summer learning loss, building skills for the fall, or preparing for a high-stakes admissions test, CTC has you covered. Virtual sessions nationwide. In-person programs in Chicago.

Tutoring and test prep across all grade levels: PreKindergarten, Elementary, Middle and High School!

Program offerings vary by grade and location.

Choose your child’s path:

Virtual Programs — Nationwide

1:1 tutoring, 1:1 test prep, and group test prep — all live via Zoom

Virtual 1:1 Subject Tutoring — Take Your Tutor With You

Summer vacation? Take your tutor with you. Whether you’re at home, on vacation, or at grandma’s house — your child keeps learning. Stop summer slide before it starts.

• Who — Rising /Incoming K-12 students (nationwide)
• Subjects — Reading/ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Spanish (Pick a subject at checkout)
• Format — 1:1 private sessions, live instructors via Zoom, 55 minutes
• Schedule — Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM Central (Book the time that works for your family.)
• Materials— Your child’s tutor focuses on next grade-level content and closing gaps from previous grades

Summer sessions run May 18 – August 14, 2026. Sessions do not carry over.

Virtual 1:1 Test Prep — Rising K-8

Focused, private test prep for selective enrollment, gifted and high school admissions. 55-minute sessions, flexible summer scheduling.

• Who — Rising/Incoming K-8 students (nationwide)
• Tests — Gifted, Classical, Academic Center Exam, HSAT, HSPT (Catholic Schools)
• Format — 1:1 private sessions, live instructors via Zoom, 55 minutes 
• Schedule — Monday through Thursday, flexible times (Book the time that works for your family.)
• Materials — Includes: practice questions, diagnostic, post assessment as well as at home assignments. 

All sessions must be completed by August 14, 2026.

Virtual 1:1 Test Prep — Enhanced ACT & Digital SAT

College admissions test prep with 90-minute deep-dive sessions. Private, 1:1, expert-led.

• Who –  High Schoolers (Nationwide)
• Tests — Enhanced ACT, Digital SAT
• Format — 1:1 private sessions, live via Zoom, 90 minutes
• Schedule — Monday through Thursday, flexible times (Book the time that works for your family.)
• Materials — Includes: practice tests,  predicted scores, detailed diagnostics, and test prep strategies  

All sessions must be completed by August 14, 2026.

SUMMER SALE — Register Before May 1

Virtual Group Test Prep — Sundays

Weekend sessions for rising 5th-12th graders. Small groups for personalized attention at a lower cost.

•  Who — Nationwide Rising/Incoming 5th-12th grade students 
• When  —Sundays
• SAT  — 9:00-10:30am CT | 10-11:30am  ET
• ACT  — 10:30 -12pm CT | 11:30-1:00pm ET 
• Gifted/Academic Center — 1:00-3:00pm CT | 2-4:00 pm ET
• HSAT — 3:00-5:00pm CT | 4:00-6:00pm  ET
• HSPT — 3:00-5:00pm CT | 4:00-6:00pm  ET
• Sessions — 4 sessions per course:  Includes: practice tests, detailed diagnostics, and test prep strategies 
• Format — Small group digital classroom ( ≈ratio 1:8) , live via Zoom, materials, mock tests

In-Person Programs —

Chicago-southside

Limited enrollment · By appointment and scheduled session blocks

PreK & Kindergarten — In-Person by Appointment

Preparing for CPS selective enrollment kindergarten testing? Start with an in-person assessment at our Bronzeville location, then build a 1:1 tutoring plan.

• Who — PreK and Kindergarten students (ages 4-6)
• What  — In-person diagnostic assessment + 1:1 private tutoring sessions
• Focus — CPS Gifted & Classical selective enrollment test preparation
• Assessment —Required before sessions begin
• Scheduling — By appointment. Start dates and schedules are flexible, and customized for each student.

Grades 5th-12th: In-Person Summer Camp (Test Prep + AI Literacy)

In-person test prep across 2-week intensive blocks. Students learn about artificial intelligence and get the opportunity to earn the Google AI Professional Certificate. Monday through Thursday, June through August.

Most test prep teaches students what to think. We teach them how to think — and in today’s world, that’s the difference between a good score and a great future.

Our full-day summer camp for students in grades 5–12 combines expert test prep with one of the most in-demand skills of our time: knowing how to use artificial intelligence wisely, critically, and confidently.

Why combine test prep with AI skills?

Because the same skills that raise test scores — critical thinking, reading carefully, questioning what you’re given — are exactly the skills students need to use AI well instead of being misled by it. We train both at the same time.

What your student walks away with:

• Higher test scores — targeted prep with proven strategies for HSAT, HSPT, SAT, ACT, and Academic Center Exam 
• Real AI literacy — they’ll understand how AI works, when to use it, and when not to trust it
• The Google AI Professional Certificate — a nationally recognized credential designed by Google experts that stands out on any high school or college application

Exams We Prepare For:

• Academic Center — CPS Gifted Test (7th/8th grade entry)
• HSAT/HSPT — High School Admissions Exams
• ACT  — College Admissions Exam
• SAT  — College Admissions Exam

Daily Schedule:

• 8:00-9:00 AM — Early Drop-Off (optional, $100 per session block)
• 9:00 AM-12:00 PM — Test Prep: Math, Reading & Critical Thinking
• 12:00-1:00 PM — Lunch (students bring their own)
• 1:00-4:00 PM — AI Literacy,  Google certifications
• 4:00-5:00 PM — Late Pick-Up (optional, $100 per session block) Extend to 5:30 for additional fee -please contact us

2026 Session Blocks:

Each block runs Monday-Thursday for two weeks. Limited to 25 students per block.

Session Dates:

Block 1: June 1 – June 11

Block 2: June 15 – June 25

Block 3: June 29 – July 9

Block 4: July 13 – July 23

Block 5: July 27 – August 6

No sessions July 4/5 (Independence Day weekend)

Google AI Professional Certificate:

Full day students learn about artificial intelligence and get the opportunity to earn the Google AI Professional Certificate — designed by experts at Google. Live, in-person coaching guides your student through 7 courses and 20+ interactive activities.

Course access is FREE. You are investing in live, in-person coaching that ensures comprehension and applies real-world critical thinking.

Pricing

Optional: Early Drop-Off (8-9 AM) $100 · Late Pick-Up (4-5 PM) $100

Students bring: iPad or laptop, snack, and water bottle.

Paying for Summer Programs

The Critical Thinking Child is an approved provider for families using Education Savings Account (ESA) funds. If your state offers an ESA program, your child’s tutoring may be 100% covered — no out-of-pocket cost.

• What’s Covered — 1:1 virtual tutoring, test prep sessions, diagnostic assessments, and learning materials
• How It Works — Select CTC as your provider through your state’s ESA portal (ClassWallet, Odyssey, Student First)
• Approved States — [States listed as CTC receives approval]
  
• Getting Started — Schedule a free consultation and we’ll walk you through using your ESA funds

Not sure if your state has an ESA program? Contact us and we’ll help you find out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Get Started?

Choose your summer program and enroll today. We are here to help your student excel.   Enroll today to get started with our award-winning tutoring services.

ESA approved provider for
WV Hope Scholarship Program