Admission Process
Eligibility
- Be a Boston resident
- Be in 4th or 5th grade at the time of application
- Be motivated and eager to learn
- Be committed to attending a new school for 6th or 7th grade
- Attend an eligible school*
- Are committed to supporting their students through the Steppingstone journey.
- Demonstrate a need for our tuition-free program (note: there is a $100 fee for each summer of academic program in grades 5–7, which can be reduced or waived if it is a hardship).
- Are interested in exploring independent schools and select Boston public schools, including the three exam schools.
Admission Timeline
1. Submit an Inquiry Form
2. Attend a Family Information Meeting
5. Final Admission Decisions and Next Steps
Finalists will be notified if they have been accepted to the program in mid-April. Accepted Scholars will complete enrollment paperwork and attend the New Scholar and Family Welcome Event in May. Scholars begin their first Steppingstone summer in July.
Teacher Recommendation
- Families applying to the program must share the Teacher Recommendation Form with their student’s current classroom teacher and ask them to complete it by January 15, 2025
- Includes a brief evaluation of student, Term 1 Report Card, Spring 2024 MCAS scores, and most recent MAP scores
- We encourage you to start speaking to your current classroom teacher now about your interest in Steppingstone. As a reminder, the links to your Student and Family application as well as the Teacher Recommendation Form will be emailed to you in early December.
Finalists for the program will be selected at the end of January based on an evaluation of the Student and Family Application, Teacher Recommendation, report card, and standardized test scores. All components must be submitted by Wednesday, January 15, 2025 in order for a student to be considered for admission.
4. Complete an Interview and Exam
Finalist students and families are invited to interview with Steppingstone staff. Interviews take place throughout the months of February and March. Finalist students will take the Steppingstone Exam in mid-March.
3. Submit Your Application
After attending a Family Information Meeting, you will be sent a link by email to complete a written application. The required components of the written Steppingstone application are:
Student and Family Application
- Includes family contact and demographic information as well as short answer questions for both the student and the parent/guardian
Have questions?
The Admission team is here to help!
admissions@steppingstone.org | 617-423-6300 (press one for Admissions)
Hablamos español.
Ailyn Rivera '09
Program Operations Coordinator
Ailyn joined Steppingstone in 2023 and supports both the Admission and Academy teams in her role. She is a Steppingstone Alumna and first-generation college graduate, receiving her B.A. in feminist, gender, and sexuality Studies from Stanford University. In her role, she looks forward to learning from and supporting the Steppingstone community throughout the first chapters of the Scholars Program journey.
Cindy Chen
Admission Associate
Cindy was born in Boston and she grew up in the Greater Boston Area. In 2022, she earned a B.A. in political science and Chinese language and culture from Beloit College. While she believes the Midwest is underrated, she has since returned to Massachusetts. Cindy joined Steppingstone as an Admissions Assistant in 2023. As a first-generation college graduate, she values the opportunity to work with Scholars and support them in achieving their academic goals.
Khadeejah Clemons
Director of Admission
Khadeejah Clemons is a proud Bostonian, born and raised in Dorchester. She has a passion for connecting people with opportunities and academic excellence. Khadeejah joined Steppingstone in 2024. Previously, she taught English in the U.S. and abroad and also worked in the financial services industry. Khadeejah obtained her BBA in International Business from Howard University and is an alumna of Boston Latin School. She brings extensive experience in education, marketing, analytics and youth mentorship. During her free time, she loves dancing, camping, biking, playing Sudoku, watching thriller movies, and finding local neighborhood hidden gems.
Steppingstone is an educational nonprofit which serves students of every race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, or political beliefs to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to Scholars enrolled in the program. It does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs, or other organization-administered activities.
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