The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 38% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Wallace Stegner Academy
Wallace Stegner Academy is a charter school district in Salt Lake County that serves kindergarten through eighth grade. The district operates as a single entity under a charter, but it has grown rapidly from one original campus to several across the Wasatch Front. Currently, the district includes a Salt Lake City campus, a West Valley campus opened in 2021, a newer West Valley K-6 campus established in 2024, a Kearns campus that opened in 2025, and a Sunset K-8 campus also established that year. This expansion means families in Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Kearns, and Sunset now have public charter options under the same network, and the district intends to keep growing to serve through twelfth grade.
Academically, the district’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint among Salt Lake County’s districts. That puts Wallace Stegner Academy in a relatively strong position compared with many of its county peers, though there is still a wide range of performance across the county. Test results are available for math, English language arts, and science, all drawn from Utah’s RISE assessment for grades three through eight. Because the district does not serve high school grades, there is no four-year graduation rate to report, which is expected for a K-8 system.
The student body is diverse. A substantial share of students are Hispanic, with smaller but still notable populations of White students, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students, and other racial and ethnic groups. The district’s enrollment is large for a K-8 charter network, with students spread across grade levels fairly evenly from kindergarten through eighth grade. Data on economic disadvantage and special education enrollment were not available, so a parent may want to ask the district directly about the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals or who receive special education services.
Chronic absenteeism, a measure of how many students miss a significant number of school days, is a concern. The district’s chronic absenteeism rate falls below the midpoint compared with other Salt Lake County districts, meaning it has a higher rate than many of its neighbors. This is a soft spot that families may want to explore with the school to understand what supports are in place. Per-pupil spending is in the lower range among county districts, which may reflect the charter model’s typical funding levels, but the district’s academic results relative to its spending suggest efficient use of resources.
The rapid expansion of campuses is the most notable feature of this district’s current story. Families considering Wallace Stegner Academy should be aware that it is still adding grade levels and buildings. The network’s website describes it as serving kindergarten through tenth grade for the coming year, on its way to becoming a full K-12 system. That growth brings both opportunity and transition: new campuses may have developing facilities and staffing, while the network’s established culture and curriculum are being replicated across sites.
For a parent, this district fits families who want a charter school option with a track record of above-midpoint academic performance in the county, who value a diverse student body, and who are comfortable with a rapidly growing network that may still be settling into its newest locations. The absenteeism rate is something to investigate, and the absence of free-lunch and special education data means a direct conversation with the school is necessary to get a full picture of student supports. The district’s K-8 focus means families will need to plan for high school elsewhere unless the planned expansion to twelfth grade materializes by the time their child reaches that point.
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