Miami Beach families with college-bound students can skip the $900-to-$4,000 price tag on private test prep this summer. The city is funding free access to a 50-hour online SAT and ACT preparation program for all local youth, with the school year starting Aug. 13.

The city of Miami Beach announced Aug. 2 that students can self-enroll immediately at the city's enrollment page. No application or income verification is required.

The program runs on Methodize, a platform built by Method Learning that partners with more than 1,000 schools nationwide. The curriculum covers both the SAT and ACT through units, lessons, quizzes, evaluation tests and full-length practice exams. According to Method Learning's website, its SAT prep averages a 120-point score increase and its ACT prep averages a 3-point composite gain.

Who Qualifies: No Income Verification or School Restriction

The enrollment page lists the program under "City of Miami Beach/Miami Beach HS" and accepts graduation years 2027 through 2034, covering students in approximately grades 6 through 12. The city's announcement specifies "all Miami Beach youth," and the enrollment form is not restricted to Miami-Dade County Public Schools students. Families at private and charter schools can register too.

Students create an account with their name, email and expected graduation year. The platform is self-paced, so students can start immediately and work through the material on their own schedule.

Enrollment Window Remains Open With No Announced Deadline

Miami-Dade County Public Schools opens its new school year Aug. 13. Students at Miami Beach Senior High and other area schools who plan to take the SAT or ACT this fall have a narrow window to begin the coursework before classes resume. The city has not announced an enrollment deadline or specified whether access extends beyond summer 2026.