Stepping Stones Academy

Summary:

Stepping Stones Academy is a public charter elementary school serving 217 students in grades K-8 in Phoenix, Arizona. The school consistently outperforms the state average in both English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency across all grade levels, ranking in the top 20% of Arizona elementary schools.

Stepping Stones Academy has maintained a strong statewide ranking, placing 11th out of 904 Arizona elementary schools in the 2023-2024 school year and earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school also has consistently high rankings for specific student groups, such as female students, male students, and white students. Additionally, Stepping Stones Academy has a very low dropout rate, ranging from 0% to 2.1% over the past several years, significantly lower than the state average.

Compared to nearby schools in the Cave Creek Unified District and Deer Valley Unified District, Stepping Stones Academy outperforms in both ELA and Mathematics proficiency. The school has also maintained a consistently high level of academic performance over the past several years, with its ranking and proficiency rates remaining strong across multiple grade levels and subject areas.


Detail:

Public, Charter K-8

 35812 N 7th St
       Phoenix, AZ  85086-7410


(623) 465-4910

District: Stepping Stones Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
11th of 904 Arizona Elementary Schools


Student/teacher ratio:  0.0 Help
Number of students:  217

Racial breakdown:

White:
81.6%
Hispanic:
15.7%
Two or more races:
1.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  0% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Stepping Stones Academy ranks better than 98.8% of elementary schools in Arizona. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 97.45. (See more...)
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Compare Details Stepping Stones Academy ranks better than 96.2% of middle schools in Arizona. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.29. (See more...)
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (81.6%), Hispanic (15.7%), two or more races (1.8%). (See more...)
Finance
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Stepping Stones Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Stepping Stones Academy 11th of 904 Arizona public elementary schools. (See Stepping Stones Academy in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Male students:
White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Stepping Stones Academy 20th of 533 Arizona public middle schools. (See Stepping Stones Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


White students:


Stepping Stones Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Stepping Stones Academy 12th of 288 Arizona school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Stepping Stones Academy

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Stepping Stones Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 67.56 364th 1062 65.7%
2010 62.02 416th 1090 61.8%
2011 80.75 197th 1075 81.7%
2012 67.65 351st 1141 69.2%
2013 75.45 263rd 1158 77.3%
2014 67.88 356th 1079 67.0%
2015 83.80 135th 955 85.9%
2016 86.54 136th 1079 87.4%
2017 83.52 180th 1106 83.7%
2018 82.55 183rd 1109 83.5%
2019 84.16 145th 1039 86.0%
2021 73.21 311th 1226 74.6%
2022 83.71 118th 1000 88.2%
2023 82.00 216th 1245 82.7%
2024 97.45 11th 904 98.8%
See the entire list of Arizona Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Multi-racial students at Stepping Stones Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 35.32 680th 1027 33.8%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for elementary school Special Education students at Stepping Stones Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 67.95 176th 1201 85.3%
2022 71.44 49th 145 66.2%
2023 59.68 233rd 820 71.6%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Stepping Stones Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 72.43 283rd 1023 72.3%
2019 92.79 32nd 862 96.3%
2021 84.47 169th 1219 86.1%
2022 84.89 64th 824 92.2%
2023 77.93 239th 1219 80.4%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Stepping Stones Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 82.87 167th 1032 83.8%
2021 52.87 501st 1220 58.9%
2022 76.67 151st 830 81.8%
2023 78.72 228th 1216 81.3%
2024 97.41 5th 609 99.2%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school Hispanic students at Stepping Stones Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 76.77 177th 1198 85.2%
2022 80.52 99th 716 86.2%
2023 83.30 134th 1170 88.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Stepping Stones Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 64.06 265th 720 63.2%
2019 70.78 137th 595 77.0%
2021 60.11 413th 1161 64.4%
2022 84.22 54th 800 93.3%
2023 72.06 237th 1024 76.9%
2024 94.22 6th 477 98.7%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Arizona Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Stepping Stones Academy

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Rank History for all middle school students at Stepping Stones Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 69.27 189th 663 71.5%
2010 74.05 163rd 692 76.4%
2011 66.26 213th 685 68.9%
2012 52.90 353rd 772 54.3%
2013 61.75 285th 787 63.8%
2014 67.28 210th 690 69.6%
2015 86.18 54th 521 89.6%
2016 73.19 152nd 677 77.5%
2017 67.14 185th 695 73.4%
2018 45.45 340th 711 52.2%
2019 75.35 142nd 605 76.5%
2021 65.83 215th 832 74.2%
2022 83.27 66th 605 89.1%
2023 61.89 260th 854 69.6%
2024 96.29 20th 533 96.2%
See the entire list of Arizona Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Stepping Stones Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 64.04 91st 789 88.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Stepping Stones Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 62.05 243rd 820 70.4%
2022 71.96 98th 494 80.2%
2023 63.50 230th 806 71.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Stepping Stones Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 51.19 312th 818 61.9%
2022 75.59 71st 476 85.1%
2023 63.92 234th 810 71.1%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Stepping Stones Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 69.14 151st 802 81.2%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Stepping Stones Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.07 288th 436 33.9%
2021 46.53 386th 780 50.5%
2022 82.88 35th 446 92.2%
2023 44.97 347th 675 48.6%
2024 90.90 19th 273 93.0%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Arizona Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Stepping Stones Academy Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 







Data source: Arizona Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Thursday, May 31, 2018

Open Quote My kids have all graduated from SSA and were very well prepared for high school. They were surrounded by many friends and excellent teachers, which made going to school actually kind of fun. I highly recommend this amazing school! Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, May 31, 2018

Open Quote I love Stepping Stones Academy! All of the teachers are so caring and are experts at what they teach. I love the caring/friendly/loving atmosphere as well as what they do academically. The best of both worlds coming from a parent. This school is a dream come true! Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, May 27, 2018

Open Quote Thank you Stepping Stones Academy, my children had an awesome year. We are excited for next year. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Stepping Stones Academy

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2000 81 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 81
2001 144 2 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 148
2002 157 5 2 2 0 n/a n/a 0 166
2003 157 5 2 2 0 n/a n/a 0 166
2004 152 6 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 161
2005 188 5 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 195
2006 152 0 7 2 0 n/a n/a 0 161
2007 145 1 5 1 2 n/a n/a 0 154
2008 126 1 3 3 1 n/a n/a 0 134
2009 126 1 4 7 1 n/a n/a 0 139
2010 161 1 4 7 1 n/a n/a 0 174
2011 136 1 5 20 2 0 3 0 167
2012 138 1 3 23 1 0 1 0 167
2013 173 2 2 20 1 0 1 0 199
2014 175 1 0 28 0 0 3 0 207
2015 171 4 0 28 1 0 1 0 205
2016 170 4 0 27 0 0 2 0 203
2017 170 5 0 30 0 0 2 0 207
2018 169 5 0 35 0 0 2 0 211
2019 173 1 0 36 0 0 3 0 213
2020 165 2 2 32 1 0 5 0 207
2021 178 2 1 28 2 0 4 0 215
2022 162 2 1 28 2 0 4 0 199
2023 177 1 0 34 1 0 4 0 217

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Stepping Stones Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2000 81 n/a 0.0 n/a
2001 148 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 166 n/a n/a n/a
2003 166 n/a n/a n/a
2004 161 n/a n/a n/a
2005 195 n/a n/a n/a
2006 161 n/a n/a n/a
2007 154 n/a n/a n/a
2008 134 n/a n/a n/a
2009 139 n/a n/a 1.4
2010 174 n/a n/a 0.6
2011 167 n/a n/a 0
2012 167 n/a n/a n/a
2013 199 n/a n/a n/a
2014 207 n/a n/a n/a
2015 205 n/a n/a n/a
2016 203 n/a n/a n/a
2017 207 n/a n/a n/a
2018 211 n/a n/a n/a
2019 213 n/a n/a n/a
2020 207 n/a n/a n/a
2021 215 n/a n/a n/a
2022 199 n/a n/a n/a
2023 217 n/a n/a n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Stepping Stones Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2000 81 n/a 0.0 n/a
2001 148 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 166 n/a n/a n/a
2003 166 n/a n/a n/a
2004 161 n/a n/a n/a
2005 195 n/a n/a n/a
2006 161 n/a n/a n/a
2007 154 n/a n/a n/a
2008 134 n/a n/a n/a
2009 139 n/a n/a 1.4
2010 174 n/a n/a 0.6
2011 167 n/a n/a 0
2012 167 n/a n/a n/a
2013 199 n/a n/a n/a
2014 207 n/a n/a n/a
2015 205 n/a n/a n/a
2016 203 n/a n/a n/a
2017 207 n/a n/a n/a
2018 211 n/a n/a n/a
2019 213 n/a n/a n/a
2020 207 n/a n/a n/a
2021 215 n/a n/a n/a
2022 199 n/a n/a n/a
2023 217 n/a n/a n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Stepping Stones Academy

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $190 (2.1%) $24 (0.3%) $404 (4.6%) $6,246 (70.6%) $2,384 (27.0%) $8,629 (97.6%) $8,844
2020 $65 (0.7%) $159 (1.7%) $290 (3.1%) $6,395 (68.6%) $2,706 (29.0%) $9,101 (97.6%) $9,325

Data source: Arizona Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Stepping Stones Academy

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 145th of 1039 Elementary schoolsRanks 216th of 1245 Elementary schools
 3.4%
Ranks 142nd of 605 Middle schoolsRanks 260th of 854 Middle schools
 7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students213217
 1.9%
African American11
American Indian01
Asian00
Hispanic3634
 5.6%
Pacific Islander00
White173177
 2.3%
Two or More Races34
 33.3%


Schools Near Stepping Stones Academy









Frequently Asked Questions about Stepping Stones Academy

In the 2022-23 school year, 217 students attended Stepping Stones Academy.

Yes! Stepping Stones Academy is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 11th of 904 Arizona elementary schools.

Students at Stepping Stones Academy are 82% White, 16% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arizona Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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