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.
Eddy Zhang
Admission Assistant
Eddy recently joined Steppingstone in 2024 as an Admissions Assistant. Eddy grew up in Westchester, New York, and attended Colgate University – graduating in 2024 with a major in political science. Prior to joining Steppingstone, Eddy interned at Colgate’s Office of Admissions and has experience as an AmeriCorps fellow. He is excited to make Boston his home and is passionate about addressing educational inequity. Outside of work, Eddy enjoys exercising, baking, reading and spending quality time with his friends and family.
Jeniffer Castillo Gutierrez '12
Admission Associate
Jeniffer first joined Steppingstone in 2011 as a Scholar and commenced in 2012. She returned during her time at college as an Intern for College Success Academy between 2019-2021. Her passion for educational equity moved her to return again as Admissions Associate in 2025! Born and raised in East Boston, she is a proud Alumna of Boston Latin School. She received her B.A from Simmons University in 2023 with a major in psychology and minor in political science. In her role, she is excited to now work alongside Steppingstone to continue its mission. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and friends, traveling, binge watching shows, and exploring Greater Boston!
Khadeejah Clemons
Director of Admission
Khadeejah Clemons is a proud Bostonian, with a passion for connecting individuals to opportunities and fostering academic success. She joined Steppingstone in 2024, bringing experience in education, community outreach, business development, and relationship building. She holds a B.B.A. in International Business from Howard University and is an alumna of Boston Latin School. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, reading, biking, and traveling off the beaten path.
Steppingstone is an educational nonprofit which serves students of various backgrounds. It does not discriminate in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs or other organization-administered activities.
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