Admission Process
Eligibility
- A Boston resident
- Currently in 4th or 5th grade
- Attending an eligible school*
- Motivated and eager to learn
- 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 on May 1. 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 3, 2024
- Includes a brief evaluation of student, Term 1 Report Card, Spring 2023 MCAS scores, and most recent MAP scores
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 3, 2024 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, complete the following required components of the Steppingstone application:
Student and Family Application
- Includes family contact and demographic information as well as short answer questions for both the student and the parent/guardian
- Optional Independent School supplement for families interested in applying to independent schools
Have questions?
Contact a member of the Admission team. Hablamos español.
Elena Jay, Director of Admission: 617-862-2217, ejay@steppingstone.org
Cindy Chen, Admission Assistant: 857-201-0625, cchen@steppingstone.org
Deysi Gutierrez, Admission Assistant: 857-201-0482, dgutierrez@steppingstone.org
Cindy Chen
Admission Assistant
Cindy was born in Boston and grew up in the Greater Boston Area. She earned her B.A. in Political Science and Chinese Language and Culture from Beloit College in 2022. Though she thinks the Midwest is underrated, she has since returned to Massachusetts and she joined Steppingstone as an Admission Assistant in 2023. Being a first-generation college graduate herself, she appreciates being able to both work with Scholars and help them reach their academic goals.
Elena Jay
Director of Admission
Elena Jay joined the Steppingstone Admission team in 2016, and before her full-time role here, she was an intern at Steppingstone’s affiliate, Hartford Youth Scholars. Prior to joining Steppingstone, she worked in her hometown of Hartford, CT at Family Life Education—a nonprofit dedicated to empowering first-generation, immigrant families. Elena received her B.A. in Sociology and Spanish from Bates College and is a graduate of Tufts University’s Institute for Nonprofit Practice. Outside of work, she enjoys being outdoors in any capacity, meeting all the dogs she comes across, and cooking/trying new restaurants.
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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