STEP Academy Elementary

Summary:

STEP Academy Elementary is a public charter elementary school in Saint Paul, Minnesota, serving 257 students from kindergarten to 5th grade, with a predominantly African American student population of 99.61%.

STEP Academy Elementary faces significant academic challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom quartile of Minnesota elementary schools based on the SchoolDigger statewide ranking. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school ranked 776 out of 881 Minnesota elementary schools, with a 1-star rating. Its proficiency rates on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA-III) in math, reading, and science are significantly lower than the state averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 25.19% of STEP Academy students were proficient or better in math, compared to the state average of 45.47%. However, the school's African American students and English Language Learner students perform better relative to their peers in Minnesota, suggesting that the school may be providing targeted support for these student populations.

Interestingly, the nearby schools, such as American Indian Magnet School, Txuj Ci HMong Language & Culture Lo, and HOPE Community Academy Elementary, also have relatively low academic performance and rankings compared to the state averages. This suggests that the academic challenges faced by STEP Academy Elementary may be reflective of the broader educational landscape in the area, which is predominantly served by Saint Paul Public Schools. Additionally, the high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch at STEP Academy Elementary, ranging from 43.97% to 61.6% over the past three school years, indicates that the school serves a predominantly low-income community, which likely contributes to the academic challenges faced by the school.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-5

835 5th St E
Saint Paul, MN 55106-8888

(651) 289-6120

District: STEP Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
776^th of 881 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $2,731

Student/teacher ratio: 14.4

Number of students: 257

Racial breakdown:

African American:

99.6%

Two or more races:

0.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 44%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details STEP Academy Elementary ranks worse than 88.1% of elementary schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 12.36. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (99.6%), two or more races (0.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 44% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at STEP Academy Elementary is 14.4. (See more...)

Compare STEP Academy Elementary employs 17.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at STEP Academy Elementary is $2,731.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

STEP Academy Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks STEP Academy Elementary 776^th of 881 Minnesota public elementary schools. (See STEP Academy Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

STEP Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks STEP Academy 340^th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for STEP Academy Elementary

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Rank History for all students at STEP Academy Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2019	17.46	742^nd	870	14.7%
2021	8.08	784^th	869	9.8%
2022	17.59	717^th	858	16.4%
2023	14.46	725^th	845	14.2%
2024	12.36	776^th	881	11.9%

See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at STEP Academy Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2019	56.13	73^rd	239	69.5%
2021	52.50	66^th	175	62.3%
2022	59.08	72^nd	256	71.9%
2023	49.36	123^rd	276	55.4%
2024	62.42	72^nd	303	76.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at STEP Academy Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2019	38.63	507^th	740	31.5%
2021	21.76	565^th	683	17.3%
2022	35.77	447^th	663	32.6%
2024	26.74	631^st	793	20.4%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at STEP Academy Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2019	19.79	670^th	787	14.9%
2021	5.58	737^th	783	5.9%
2022	17.03	673^rd	799	15.8%
2023	23.46	625^th	787	20.6%
2024	20.78	666^th	809	17.7%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at STEP Academy Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2019	17.61	685^th	798	14.2%
2021	11.31	699^th	784	10.8%
2022	18.94	684^th	808	15.3%
2023	11.59	713^th	799	10.8%
2024	9.74	753^rd	826	8.8%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at STEP Academy Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2019	56.47	116^th	283	59.0%
2021	34.46	154^th	227	32.2%
2022	50.44	129^th	282	54.3%
2023	45.71	138^th	279	50.5%
2024	36.00	197^th	310	36.5%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota 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.

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

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Enrollment information for STEP Academy Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Hispanic	Two or More Races	Total
2018	2	149	0	0	151
2019	1	148	0	0	149
2020	1	234	1	3	239
2021	0	253	3	3	259
2022	0	244	2	4	250
2023	0	256	0	1	257

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 STEP Academy Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2018	151	1.2	122.7	98
2019	149	0.5	292.1	98
2020	239	13.4	17.8	65.7
2021	259	15.3	16.8	61.4
2022	250	19.9	12.5	61.6
2023	257	17.8	14.4	44

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 STEP Academy Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2018	151	1.2	122.7	98
2019	149	0.5	292.1	98
2020	239	13.4	17.8	65.7
2021	259	15.3	16.8	61.4
2022	250	19.9	12.5	61.6
2023	257	17.8	14.4	44

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 STEP Academy Elementary

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$2,731

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on STEP Academy Elementary

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 742^nd of 870 Elementary schools	Ranks 725^th of 845 Elementary schools	0.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (STEP Academy Elementary)	33.3	42	8.7%
3rd Grade Math (STEP Academy)	33.3	42	8.7%
3rd Grade Math (Minnesota)	65.6	59.1	6.5%
3rd Grade Reading (STEP Academy Elementary)	16.7	26	9.3%
3rd Grade Reading (STEP Academy)	16.7	24.6	8%
3rd Grade Reading (Minnesota)	54.6	47.4	7.2%
4th Grade Math (STEP Academy Elementary)	50	21.3	28.7%
4th Grade Math (STEP Academy)	50	21.3	28.7%
4th Grade Math (Minnesota)	63.9	57.1	6.8%
4th Grade Reading (STEP Academy Elementary)	38.5	23.4	15.1%
4th Grade Reading (STEP Academy)	38.5	26.2	12.2%
4th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	55.4	48.4	7.1%
5th Grade Math (STEP Academy Elementary)	40	14.9	25.1%
5th Grade Math (STEP Academy)	40	12.3	27.7%
5th Grade Math (Minnesota)	52	44.4	7.6%
5th Grade Reading (STEP Academy Elementary)	44	40.4	3.6%
5th Grade Reading (STEP Academy)	44	37.9	6.1%
5th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	65.8	58.7	7%
5th Grade Science (STEP Academy Elementary)	28	10.9	17.1%
5th Grade Science (STEP Academy)	28	12.5	15.5%
5th Grade Science (Minnesota)	54.9	48.4	6.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	149	257	72.5%
African American	148	256	73%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	0	0
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	1	0	100%
Two or More Races	0	1
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	98%	44%	54%

Schools Near STEP Academy Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCA-III Math (2024)							MCA-III Reading (2024)							MCA-III Science (2024)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 5th Grade	MCA-III Science 8th Grade	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
STEP Academy Elementary	Public, Charter	K-5	835 5th St E	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	STEP Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 289-6120	257	18	14.4	44.0%	0 (0.0%)	256 (99.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	12.4	776^th of 881 public elementary schools	11.9%		14.5	725^th of 845 public elementary schools	14.2%	51	47.5	25.5	6.3				25.2	22.5	27.1	25.0				25.0	4.3		4.3	$2,731
STEAM Academy Charter School	Public, Charter	K-6	4100 66th St E	Inver Grove Heights	55076	Dakota County	STEAM Academy Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 236-8280	57	2	28.6	91.2%	0 (0.0%)	55 (96.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							18.8							12.5
Daytons Bluff Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	262 Bates Ave	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 293-8915	248	26	9.6	89.1%	30 (12.1%)	81 (32.7%)	31 (12.5%)	66 (26.6%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	37 (14.9%)	12.8	773^rd of 881 public elementary schools	12.3%		3.7	815^th of 845 public elementary schools	3.6%	42	48.4	28.6	25.0				33.7	12.9	13.9	12.5				13.1	9.4		9.4	$18,892
HOPE Community Academy Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	720 Payne Ave	Saint Paul	55130	Ramsey County	Hope Community Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 796-4500	479	57	8.4	86.4%	2 (0.4%)	7 (1.5%)	4 (0.8%)	465 (97.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	4.9	842^nd of 881 public elementary schools	4.4%		3.3	822^nd of 845 public elementary schools	2.7%	20	22.4	18.2	6.0				15.3	11.7	17.1	20.5				16.5	4.8		4.8	$14,114
American Indian Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	1075 3rd St E	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(651) 778-3100	524	42	12.4	87.8%	36 (6.9%)	71 (13.5%)	108 (20.6%)	159 (30.3%)	59 (11.3%)	0 (0.0%)	91 (17.4%)	4.7	846^th of 881 public elementary schools	4.0%		6.1	791^st of 845 public elementary schools	6.4%	55	14.3	4.8	1.4	11.8	8.8	7.7	7.8	18.4	14.6	15.5	23.1	14.0	18.9	17.3	0.0	9.8	4.1	$17,042
Txuj Ci HMong Language & Culture Lo	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	1089 Cypress St	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(651) 293-8935	670	61	11.0	82.2%	14 (2.1%)	5 (0.7%)	19 (2.8%)	613 (91.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (2.8%)	23.8	698^th of 881 public elementary schools	20.8%		18.1	701^st of 845 public elementary schools	17.0%	3	34.8	34.6	42.5				37.3	22.4	25.0	44.6				30.7	24.1		24.1	$16,185
LIFE Prep	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	930 Geranium Ave East	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	Life Prep	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 793-6624	174	17	10.5	91.4%	6 (3.4%)	103 (59.2%)	13 (7.5%)	44 (25.3%)	3 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.9%)	8.1	809^th of 881 public elementary schools	8.2%		4	811^th of 845 public elementary schools	4.0%	2	0.0	8.7	0.0	7.1			3.8	8.7	13.0	10.5	57.1			19.0	10.5		10.5	$15,084
Bruce F Vento Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	409 Case Ave E	Saint Paul	55130	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 293-8685	546	49	11.1	91.0%	52 (9.5%)	192 (35.2%)	62 (11.4%)	201 (36.8%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (6.8%)	3.4	860^th of 881 public elementary schools	2.4%		4.3	807^th of 845 public elementary schools	4.5%	53	11.5	16.7	4.0				10.6	6.4	16.4	10.5				11.3	4.0		4.0	$18,990
Community of Peace Academy Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-4	471 Magnolia Ave E	Saint Paul	55130	Ramsey County	Community Of Peace Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 280-4579	325	20	16.2	90.8%	17 (5.2%)	99 (30.5%)	68 (20.9%)	115 (35.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (8.0%)	4.6	847^th of 881 public elementary schools	3.9%		3	829^th of 845 public elementary schools	1.9%	18	17.7	12.5					15.2	15.7	14.3					15.0				$15,690
Water Lily Montessori	Public, Charter	PK-K	499 Wacouta St	Saint Paul	55101	Ramsey County	Minnesota Wildflower Montessori School	Yes	No	No	No	(651) 227-7483	12	1	12.0	41.7%	4 (33.3%)	3 (25.0%)	1 (8.3%)	4 (33.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about STEP Academy Elementary

What district is STEP Academy Elementary in?

STEP Academy

Is STEP Academy Elementary a good school?

STEP Academy Elementary ranks in the bottom 11.9% of Minnesota elementary schools.

How many students attend STEP Academy Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 257 students attended STEP Academy Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of STEP Academy Elementary?

Students at STEP Academy Elementary are 100% African American.

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