Top 10 Tutors in St. Louis (2026)

Quick comparison

Whether your kid is staring down the ACT, falling behind in algebra or just needs someone other than Mom or Dad to explain fractions, St. Louis has no shortage of tutors. The hard part is knowing who will actually sit across the table from your student, and whether they’re the right fit for what’s going on.

This Top 10 covers tutoring and test-prep providers based in the St. Louis metro. Every detail comes from the company’s own website or a public business listing. We left out ratings, review counts, score-increase claims and awards we couldn’t verify. Prices change and depend on the program, so ask each provider directly.

How did we pick these St. Louis tutors?

• Local presence. Each provider is based in the St. Louis area and knows local schools and districts.
• Who teaches. We favored experienced instructors who work with students directly over rotating rosters.
• Credentials. Published degrees, classroom experience and training.
• One-on-one options. Instruction tailored to the individual student.
• Range and process. Whether one provider can cover several needs, and whether it starts with an assessment and a plan.

Our selection methodology

Here’s exactly how this list was put together, so you can judge it for yourself:

1. Build the field. We started with tutors and test-prep providers that publish a street address in the St. Louis metro, then narrowed to those whose core business matches the category.
2. Verify every fact. Each detail (founding year, location, services, people, pricing) comes from the business’s own website or a public listing. If we couldn’t confirm it, we left it out.
3. Skip the noise. We didn’t use star ratings, review counts or award badges, which change constantly and are easy to game, and we didn’t invent scores.
4. Rank by fit. Order reflects how well each business serves a typical St. Louis customer on the criteria above, with a “Best for” line so you can jump to the one that matches your situation.
5. Keep it current. We review lists periodically and update details when businesses change. Spot something out of date? Let us know through the site.

1. Mackler Associates (Mackler Advantage)

Mackler Associates is a private, locally owned tutoring firm that works with students from fifth grade through graduate school, in person at 1067 N. Mason Road, Suite 5, in Creve Coeur, or online. What sets it apart is simple: every session is taught personally by the company’s president, Jason S. Marks, J.D., a St. Louis native who has been with the firm since 2000 as Director of Operations, principal tutor and instructor.

Marks was a National Merit Scholar, graduated magna cum laude from the University of Missouri Honors College (Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi), and earned his law degree at Washington University School of Law as a Scholar of Law Award recipient. He practiced law as a member of the Missouri Bar before teaching full time. ACT and SAT prep is one-on-one and built around each student’s learning style, target score and timeline; the typical course is 20 hours, usually two hours a week over 10 weeks. Beyond test prep, the firm tutors across school subjects, teaches study skills and organization, preps students for graduate admissions tests, and helps with college fit and supplemental essays. It works with families across St. Louis County and beyond, from Ballwin and Chesterfield to Florissant, Mehlville and St. Charles. Office hours run Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and consultations are free. Phone: (314) 434-4431.

Best for: Students in grade 5 through graduate school who want one-on-one ACT/SAT prep and tutoring from the same highly credentialed instructor every session.

2. Kleitz Education Group

Kleitz Education Group says it has served St. Louis for nearly 20 years. Its tutors all hold advanced degrees and train in Dr. Brett Kleitz’s approach, which pairs each student with one tutor who covers every section of the test. Students typically meet weekly for an hour, starting 10 to 12 weeks before test day. The group also runs ACT programs for schools and teachers, from 9909 Clayton Road in Ladue.

Best for: Families who want ACT/SAT prep from a single tutor trained in one consistent method.

3. Only a Test

Only a Test has offered test prep in the St. Louis area since 2006. Founder Ross Nowels has worked in test preparation since 1993, including nearly a decade with The Princeton Review, and he teaches every student himself, one-on-one or in groups of two or three. It covers the ACT, SAT, PSAT, GMAT, GRE, LSAT, HSPT, ISEE and SSAT from 9216 Clayton Road in Ladue.

Best for: Students preparing for admissions exams at any level, from the ISEE to the LSAT.

4. Fit Learning St. Louis

Fit Learning St. Louis is a science-based tutoring lab led locally by director Janice Smith. It uses precision teaching and curriculum-based assessment: every learner starts with a skills assessment, and progress is tracked and measured. It works with students with ADHD, dyslexia and other learning differences, as well as gifted kids who want more challenge, and it preps for the ISEE and SSAT. Find it at 10425 Old Olive Street Road in Creve Coeur, or online.

Best for: Students who are behind grade level, have learning differences, or are ready to move ahead.

5. Simply Math & Reading

Former Rockwood math teacher Beth McGovern founded Simply Mathematics in 1991, added reading in 1998, and the business became Simply Math & Reading. Its in-house Math Masters curriculum pairs clear instruction with practice to build mastery, and it also covers writing, grammar and study skills from 463 Lafayette Center in Manchester.

Best for: West County families who want structured, center-based math and reading help.

6. The Literacy Link Reading Center

The Literacy Link is led by founder Mary Kaeser-Miller, a certified Barton Reading and Spelling System instructor with more than 30 years in education, including over a decade teaching kindergarten and first grade. She previously co-owned Dyslexia St. Louis and is Vice President of The Reading League Missouri. Instruction is one-on-one and covers decoding, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary and spelling at 1730 Fenpark Drive in Fenton.

Best for: Struggling readers and students with dyslexia.

7. Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors was founded in 2007 by St. Louis native Chuck Cohn while he was a student at Washington University. It’s now part of Nerdy Inc., headquartered at 8001 Forsyth Boulevard in Clayton, and it matches students with tutors across a huge range of subjects, mostly online. Because it’s a national platform, the tutor you get will vary.

Best for: Families who want a large tutor network and easy online scheduling.

8. Doria’s ACT Tutoring

Doria’s ACT Tutoring is run by St. Louis-area high school English and math teachers with 20 and 30 years of classroom experience. It recommends a minimum number of sessions based on a student’s current and goal scores and publishes its package prices on its website.

Best for: Students who want ACT prep from working high school teachers, with prices posted up front.

9. Mathnasium of Kirkwood

This locally run Mathnasium center serves Kirkwood, Webster Groves and nearby communities from 12143 Manchester Road in Des Peres. It starts with an assessment and builds a personalized math plan for K-12 students. It’s part of a national franchise, so the curriculum is standardized.

Best for: K-12 students who need math catch-up, homework help or enrichment.

10. Teachers As Tutors

Teachers As Tutors is a St. Louis small business founded in 2021 by a former teacher. It contracts licensed teachers and matches them with families for pre-K through high school help, ACT prep and some college courses, in person or online.

Best for: Families who want a certified classroom teacher for elementary or middle school help.

How do I choose the right tutor in St. Louis?

• Start with the goal. Test prep, a specific class, reading support, learning differences or study skills? There are specialists for each, and a few firms cover several.
• Ask who will actually teach. Get the tutor’s name and background, and ask whether the same person will teach every session.
• Look for a baseline and a plan. A good tutor starts with a diagnostic, sets a goal and a timeline, and tells you how progress will be reported.
• Check the logistics. In-person or online, location, session length, pricing, packages and the cancellation policy.
• Watch for red flags. Guaranteed score jumps, no diagnostic, big non-refundable packages up front, vague answers about who the tutor is, and no updates for parents.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the best tutor in St. Louis?

Our top pick is Mackler Associates, where every session is taught by president Jason Marks, J.D., who has tutored St. Louis students since 2000. Kleitz Education Group and Only a Test are strong test-prep alternatives, and Fit Learning and The Literacy Link specialize in students who are behind or have learning differences.

How much does tutoring cost in St. Louis?

It depends on the subject, the tutor’s credentials and whether it’s one-on-one or small group. Specialized test prep usually costs more per hour than homework help. Ask for the hourly rate, what a typical program includes and the cancellation policy.

How long does ACT or SAT prep take?

Many programs run 8 to 12 weeks. Mackler’s typical course, for example, is 20 hours over about 10 weeks. Start early enough to allow a retake before application deadlines.

Is one-on-one tutoring better than a group class?

One-on-one lets the tutor target exactly where a student is losing points. Group classes cost less but move at a single pace. Students with specific gaps or high goals usually benefit most from individual work.

When should my child start ACT or SAT prep?

Most students start the summer before or the fall of junior year, after a practice test or the PSAT, which leaves time for two or three official attempts.

Should we choose in-person or online tutoring?

Both work. In-person sessions help younger and easily distracted students; online saves drive time. Many St. Louis tutors offer both.

Who is the best ACT tutor in St. Louis?

For one-on-one ACT prep with the same instructor every session, our pick is Mackler Associates in Creve Coeur. Kleitz Education Group and Only a Test in Ladue are strong test-prep specialists, and Doria’s ACT Tutoring publishes its package prices.

The bottom line

For a dyslexic reader, look at The Literacy Link. For math catch-up, Simply Math & Reading or Mathnasium. For a single test-prep specialist, Kleitz or Only a Test. And if you want one highly credentialed instructor teaching every session, from ACT prep to college essays, start with Mackler Associates.