Helping build impactful futures from early ages

Every kid is different with unique interests and strengths. Helping them own in on these strengths to standout for life is very important and can be overwhelming.

A Welcome from Kate

When I was motorcycling through the rice fields of Bali in 2009, teaching with the Princeton Fellowship program, I never imagined my work would grow into the holistic preparatory program it is today—helping hundreds of students not just get into top universities, but build extraordinary lives.
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In my early years working under top college coaches and learning from elite admissions leaders, I mastered the art of packaging successful applicants. But alongside that, I was chasing my own lifelong dream of becoming a working actress—a journey that took me from Hollywood to international film sets.
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Auditioning taught me that high stakes demand preparation and sold me on the power of storytelling. Over time, I became known for drawing stories out of teenagers and teaching them how to tell their stories in compelling ways.

But the deeper I got into this work, the more I saw the flaw in the college prep industry.

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Too much focus on shaping the perfect application, and not enough on shaping the person. I didn’t want to just help kids tell their stories—I wanted to help them create stories. And I didn’t want to serve only the top 5% of students already destined for success. I wanted to help all students build lives so interesting, so bold, that their stories naturally became compelling.

Today, I’ve doubled down on my mission to solve education problems in this country, starting with my own local community. I look forward to the opportunity to work with your family.

Our Approach

It’s more about mentorship, character development, and pushing students to do things they never thought possible.

Kate Stone, Founder of Kate Stone Prep

Meet Kate’s Husband, Zac

Of all the jobs I’ve had in education, nothing beats being a coach on Kate’s team.

Before joining full-time, I worked as an AP and IB high school teacher, a college professor, an online instructor with 100k+ students, and the owner of several education companies. For years, I watched Kate pour hours into providing the highest level of service to some of the most exceptional students I’ve ever met.

Kate is hands down the best implementer I’ve ever seen—she craves excellence, anticipates needs before anyone else, and constantly iterates on how to serve families better. Watching her in action is what made me want to build alongside her.

At first, I streamlined operations—systems, training, capacity—so she could stay focused on what she does best: coaching. But eventually I returned to my first love, coaching students directly. Today, I specialize in academic readiness, motivational coaching, and equipping students with skills to thrive in competitive environments.

My current focus is training our next generation of coaches—passing along Kate’s approach so more families can experience the same transformation.

Mission & Values

Our Mission is

To solve general education problems.  Schools don't teach the real-world skills and experiences critical for success in life, so we do.  

Excellence always  

One of our values is excellence, we hold very high standards for our students and ourselves

Adapt and Grow

As students evolve, we adjust our approach—staying aligned through every stage of their journey.

Long-term  Partnership

We are going to have very hard, motivational and honest conversation so kids understands what they have to do to meet goals while working with whole family

Transparency

To accomplish really big goals, we need every body brought in and on same page transparency with parents and motivation for kids

Strengthen families

There is info we know about your kid that you need to know there is going to be somethings you hear better coming from us rather than them

Support Our Community

Private success fuels public impact, as we give back through local workshops and free resources in the local community of Darien

Depth of Engagement

We start as early as middle school and stay through every stage. Every meeting, revision, and milestone is included in our plans.

Family-Centered

Parents are partners, not bystanders. We align strategies with family values and strengthen bonds while building independence.

Personal development

Beyond scores, we teach skills like communication, networking, and confidence. These abilities prepare students for college and life.

Community Impact

We give back locally through free workshops and resources. Our work strengthens families today and communities for generations.

Lasting Partnerships

We form relationships that span years and generations. Together, we build legacies founded on trust and shared vision.

White-Glove Service Model

Excellence drives every detail. With proactive communication and careful organization, we ensure clarity and confidence in every step.

What makes us different

Our approach is very unique to give you a sense that you are not alone. We are together all through our partnership

Backed by an Esteemed Board of Advisors

Kate Stone Prep is guided by leading experts—award-winning authors and admissions heads from top universities like Princeton, Yale, and Georgetown.

Join our team

Got what it takes to push education beyond limits, check out our opening roles at Kate Stone Prep. We look forward to receiving your applications.

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