The top reported proficiency rate is 86% in Math. The lowest is 72% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Stepping Stones Academy (10966)
Stepping Stones Academy is a single-school K-8 charter district in Maricopa County. Because it serves only kindergarten through eighth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report, and the academic picture comes entirely from state assessments in math, English language arts, and science.
The district’s math performance is strong across the grades that have reported results. In third, fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, the share of students scoring proficient or above is well above what most Maricopa County districts see. The one grade where data was suppressed due to a small testing group still had enough students tested to suggest a similar pattern, though the exact rate is not publicly available. English language arts results are more uneven. Third and fifth grade show very high proficiency, while fourth, sixth, and seventh grade rates are lower, with seventh grade notably below the district’s own math numbers. Eighth grade ELA results were also suppressed. For science, both fifth and eighth grade results were suppressed because of small cohorts, so no district-level science performance is available. Taken together, overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places Stepping Stones Academy in the top quarter of Maricopa County districts, a strong showing for a small school.
The school enrolls a small student body, with classes averaging around two dozen students per grade. The student population is predominantly white, with a Hispanic or Latino share that is smaller than the county’s overall composition. No data was reported on economic disadvantage or on students with disabilities or English learners, so it is not possible to assess the level of support resources or the diversity of needs served.
Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing a certain share of school days, is reported at a rate that is higher than the midpoint among county districts. While the figure is not extreme compared to the highest rates in the county, it sits above the typical level and is an area a parent may want to look into further with the school. Per-pupil spending is in the middle range, near the median for Maricopa County, which suggests a funding profile consistent with many small charter districts.
Stepping Stones Academy appears to operate as a stable, mature school. A search of publicly reported sources found no recent curriculum changes, boundary adjustments, or property-tax measures that would affect current or prospective families. The absence of such news, combined with the school’s small scale, suggests a setting where a family can expect continuity from year to year.
This is a school that fits a family seeking a small, K-8 charter environment with consistently high math achievement and a reading profile that varies by grade. The relatively small size means that classroom dynamics and individual attention may be a strong point, but it also means that some performance data is suppressed to protect student privacy. The attendance pattern is worth understanding before enrolling. Without a high school, families will need to plan for where students go after eighth grade, typically into a local district high school or another charter. Stepping Stones Academy offers a focused elementary and middle school experience with clear academic strengths in mathematics and a more mixed picture in literacy.
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