Summer Test Prep Courses at Maclay
S3 - Semester 3 is available through Maclay Summer Camps for all students in the Big Bend area who are committed to improving their SAT scores. Whether you're an advanced learner seeking an extra edge or just beginning to explore test prep strategies, there’s a course designed for you.
Summer 2026 Schedule Registration
The S3 courses are a part of the Maclay Summer Programs and are opent o all students in the Big Bend area. Spaceis limited. Please review cancelation and chance policy when registering.
s3 Math Course
5-days; 8:00am - 12:00pm
This 5-day test preparation Math course is geared towards students who are already excelling but are looking to meet thresholds for elite universities.
5-Day Accelerated Math Course Description:
Testing strategies, effective use of the embedded Desmos calculator, and a deep dive into the slight shift in focus of the new SAT will be highlighted. Students will work through hundreds of SAT problems from the College Board, leaving the course with an individualized practicing plan and schedule.
Course Requirements:
- Students must bring a fully charged laptop to class each day.
- Must have completed Algebra 2; beyond Alg 2 encouraged; be prepared to engage in a fast-paced course.
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If you haven’t taken Pre-Calculus yet, that’s perfectly ok; many students are just beginning their test-prep journey at this stage. This course can accommodate those have just completed Algebra 2, helping you build confidence, develop core strategies, and understand how the test works before more advanced math comes into play. Think of it not as a finish line, but as a smart first step that sets you up for greater growth and success down the road.
- A minimum of 6 students is required in order to hold this course.
- This course will accept no more than 16 students.
COURSE DATES
6/1 – 6/5: Mon – Thurs, 8am-12pm
7/27 – 7/31: Mon – Thurs, 8am-12pm
Registration for the course will close one week prior to the scheduled start date. Cost $770
Questions? Email:
s3 Director, Lauren Fantle at lfantle@maclay.org
s3 Math Director, John Gussaroff at jgussaroff@maclay.org
s3 Reading/Writing Director, Jessica Kerner at jkerner@maclay.org
s3 PSAT (NMSQT)/ SAT/ACT Prep
3-weeks; 8:00am - 12:00pm
This 3-week intensive course will focus primarily on testing strategies as well as reviewing critical skills required to increase scores from above-average to exceptional. Strategies include decoding questions to isolate the skill being tested, ignoring extraneous information, utilizing the Desmos online calculator to its fullest potential, and time management. Students will complete multiple practice tests including a pre- and post-test to determine growth.
In addition to covering the skills necessary to be successful on the SAT, this course will discuss the math skills that are typically only represented on the modern ACT (vectors, matrices, graphs of trigonometric functions, etc.). ACT math questions tend to be less nuanced than SAT math questions, therefore these additional skills are typically tested at a very basic level requiring memorization of only a few additional facts. There will also be one session devoted to the ACT science section.
Prerequisites:
Must have completed Algebra 2
Course Requirements:
- Students must bring a fully charged laptop to class each day.
- Students must have completed Algebra 2
- Math instructor will create ancillaries specific and personalized to the needs of the cohort
- A minimum of 6 students is required in order to hold this course.
- This course will accept no more than 32 students. (Each small group will have no more than 16 students).
COURSE DATES
6/8 – 6/26: Mon – Thurs, 8am-12pm
7/6 – 7/24: Mon – Thurs, 8am-12pm
Registration for the course will close one week prior to the scheduled start date. Cost $2200
Questions? Email:
s3 Director, Lauren Fantle at lfantle@maclay.org
s3 Math Director, John Gussaroff at jgussaroff@maclay.org
s3 Reading/Writing Director, Jessica Kerner at jkerner@maclay.org
Up 200 Points
Thank you so much! The S3 program helped so much over the summer! It truly set me up for success and I am so grateful!
1410!
Thank you so much for helping me improve my score! I am very happy with where it's at now!
1230 to 1400
Thank you! I noticed that I did the best on advanced math, which is the area you suggested that I focus on. S3 was super helpful!
Q&A
- Q: Who should enroll in S3?
- Q: Does S3 prepare students for both the SAT and ACT?
- Q: What is covered in the Math portion of the course?
- Q: What is covered in the Reading and Writing portion of the course?
- Q: How is student growth measured?
Q: Who should enroll in S3?
Q: Does S3 prepare students for both the SAT and ACT?
Q: What is covered in the Math portion of the course?
Q: What is covered in the Reading and Writing portion of the course?
Q: How is student growth measured?
Students who took our intensive 2-day math session with the goal of scoring high enough of the PSAT-NMSQT to qualify for a merit scholarship saw an average increase of 116 points on their math scores, allowing many to qualify for the scholarship.
S3 Staff
Dr. Will Perry teaches physics and astronomy at Maclay School. He has experience teaching mathematics at multiple levels, from Algebra and Trigonometry all the way through AP Calculus. Dr. Perry graduated from Florida Atlantic University where he graduated with honors with a minor in Mathematics and B.S. in Physics. He then went on to obtain his Ph.D. from Florida State University with a focus in Biomedical Science and Neuroscience. Both he and his wife work at Maclay and send their seven-year-old daughter to Maclay’s Lower School. In addition to his work in both math and science, Dr. Perry runs Maclay School’s Esports program and looks forward to spending his summer traveling and catching up on recent video games.
Mrs. Lauren Fantle is an English teacher and the MARC director at Maclay School. She is also the S3 director. Mrs. Fantle’s greatest joy is helping students attain their dreams through education, empowering them to do great things in their lives. Since learning is Mrs. Fantle’s favorite past time, she recently earned an M.Ed. in Higher Education to add to her previous degrees from Florida State University (B.A. and M.S.) In the summer, Mrs. Fantle enjoys participating in professional development and leisure reading on the couch with at least one of her four cats.
Mr. John Gussaroff “Mr. G” is a math teacher at Maclay School, and he is the S3 Math director. As the regional director of Florida Mu Alpha Theta (FAMAT), he leads the region’s schools in mathematical scholarship and competition. A physics major at the University of Chicago, Mr. G has a degree in education from FSU and a master’s in mathematics education. Mr. G touts a perfect (800!) math score on the SAT. He enjoys helping students attain their goals through deep diving into their skill set and honing their mathematical strengths. When not “mathing,” Mr. G. takes long walks with his dog. In the summer, he loves sleeping in!
Ms. Jessica Kerner is an English teacher and the senior class sponsor at Maclay School. She was born in Jacksonville, moving to Tallahassee to study at Florida State University in 2003. After graduating with a BS and MS in English Education, she began teaching at Maclay in 2010. She especially enjoys teaching writing and helping students build confidence in their research skills. In the summer, you can usually find her on the water or adventuring with her pup Finn.