The admission process for Eligible
Students consists of
five
stages, in chronological order:
- Nominate a Student
- Attend a Family Information Meeting
- Complete a Written Application
- Take the Steppingstone Exam
- Participate in an Interview
1. NOMINATE A STUDENT
Steppingstone welcomes nominations for fourth, fifth, or seventh grade students who would be a good match for The Steppingstone Academy.
A teacher or other community member can nominate a student. Once a nomination is received, Steppingstone sends informational materials and the application to the student. The student and his or her family will then make the decision to apply to Steppingstone.
Nominate a Student
If you are a student interested in our program, or the parent or guardian of a student who might be an appropriate candidate, please visit our Request More Information page and submit the form.
2. FAMIILY INFORMATION MEETINGS
When students and their families are considering whether to apply to Steppingstone, they must first attend a Family Information Meeting (FIM) where the benefits and commitment of The Steppingstone Academy are described in detail. They are typically one hour long, and there are several dates between October and January.
Family Information Meeting Dates
3. WRITTEN APPLICATION
After attending a Family Information Meeting, families may submit an application. The application consists of parent/guardian and student questionnaires, a teacher recommendation (including grade reports and test scores), and an essay.
After the student submits his or her completed portion of the application, she or he will ask their teacher to submit a recommendation form.
Steppingstone Application
4. STEPPINGSTONE EXAM
In February, applicants in the fourth, fifth, or seventh grade who have completed and submitted a complete application are invited to take the required Steppingstone Exam, which is given only once a year. The exam is used to assess an applicant's strengths, weaknesses and performance relative to other applicants. Based on the application, teacher recommendations, and Steppingstone exam results, Steppingstone then selects a group of finalists and invites these families to an interview.
For specific dates of the exam, visit the Admission Calendar
5. INTERVIEW
The interview is an important chance to assess whether or not Steppingstone is a good fit for each applicant and his or her family, and vice versa. A personal interview for finalists allows the Steppingstone staff to get a feel for the applicant's qualities and traits that cannot be shown on paper, and provides families an opportunity to learn more about the challenges and rewards of being a Steppingstone Scholar. Decisions are made following interviews, and all parts of the application process are considered.
Final admission decisions are made in May.
