Annual Report 2 011 1 High expectations are the foundation of When Lamarr enrolled at the University of The Steppingstone Academy’s success. Once Miami, he was well-prepared for the path admitted to the program as rising fifth- and ahead. But Lamarr’s story doesn’t end with sixth-graders, Scholars work hard to gain college admission. access to an independent or public exam And in 2011, we didn’t feel like our mission school, and Steppingstone provides Scholars was fully expressed either, particularly as with the academic and social-emotional tools our awareness grew of the national college they need to achieve their goals. Steppingstone’s completion crisis and its impact on the city services continue through high school, and of Boston, where only 35% of the students their impact is clear: 99% of Scholars who in the Class of 2000 who graduated from a complete the academic component graduate district high school and enrolled at a four- from high school. 91% of the high school year college ultimately earned their degree graduates enroll at four-year colleges. within seven years. By altering one word in In Lamarr Rollins’ case, he and his family our mission statement, we expanded our set their sights on The Roxbury Latin focus from college access to college success School, a school only a few miles away from and restructured our advising efforts to the recently closed Farragut School, where include current college students. More than Lamarr spent his elementary school years. 80% of Scholars who enroll at four-year Steppingstone provided academic preparation colleges earn their degree, and we are work- and placement services, working alongside ing hard to bump that number higher. Lamarr and his family through every stage of So while Lamarr has earned many the admissions process. After he was admitted, wins since fifth grade when he began The Steppingstone’s college readiness services Steppingstone Academy, Steppingstone continued through middle and high school. counts as its ultimate success the day when Lamarr hung his University of Miami diploma on the wall of his office at The Architectural Team, Inc., in Chelsea, MA. 2 Lamarr Rollins ’99 works as an architect at The Architectural Team, Inc., in Chelsea, MA. “Along with the advanced academic coursework, Steppingstone really prepared me to hone my time management and organization skills. I applied those skills at Roxbury Latin, University of Miami, and actually, every day in my life since graduating from the program.” succeed 1 The Scholars We Serve: The Steppingstone Academy Placement Schools • Through The Steppingstone Academy and the College Success Academy, Steppingstone Beaver Country Day School serves more than 1,000 children in grades Belmont Day School who are we? five through 12 and an additional 400 Belmont Hill School in college. Boston College High School The Steppingstone Foundation runs three Boston Latin Academy distinct yet related educational programs • National Partnership for Educational Boston Latin School based in Boston, all with the goal of enabling Access members collectively serve more Boston Trinity Academy college success: than 100,000 underrepresented students Boston University Academy Brimmer and May School nationwide. • Since 1990, The Steppingstone Academy Buckingham Browne & Nichols has prepared underserved students—called • The average family income for a Stepping- Cambridge School of Weston Scholars—to get into and succeed at stone Academy Scholar is $39,981. Commonwealth School Concord Academy selective independent and public exam • 97% of College Success Academy Scholars Dana Hall School schools in the sixth and seventh grades. qualify for free/reduced meals. Dedham Country Day School Steppingstone provides ongoing Deerfield Academy comprehensive support services to ensure • Scholars in both programs come from Derby Academy that Scholars thrive in middle and high Boston neighborhoods, including Dorchester, The Dexter School Governor’s Academy school, ultimately graduating from high East Boston, Mattapan, Roxbury, Hyde Holderness School school and from four-year colleges. Park, Charlestown, South Boston, Jamaica Plain, and Allston-Brighton. Fay School • In 2007, Steppingstone created the The Fenn School The Fessenden School National Partnership for Educational • 40% of all Scholars in both programs The Meadowbrook School Access, a learning community of are male. of Weston organizations committed to increasing Milton Academy educational opportunities for underrepre- Newton Country Day School sented students. Racial Diversity of Scholars Noble and Greenough School in both The Steppingstone Academy John D. O’Bryant School • Launched in 2011, the College Success and the College Success Academy The Park School Academy provides middle-grade students Phillips Academy in Boston public schools with rigorous Phillips Exeter Academy 6% White 9% Multiracial 2 academic programming after school and The Rivers School The Roxbury Latin School during the summer for four years. Once in Shady Hill School high school, Scholars receive the same support St. Mark’s School services provided in The Steppingstone St. Paul’s School Academy all the way through college St. Sebastian’s School 18% Asian graduation. The Southfield School 45% Black Thayer Academy The Winsor School The Steppingstone Scholars Program, Philadelphia 22% Hispanic Xaverian Brothers High School and The Steppingstone Academy Hartford: The Steppingstone Academy program model has College Success been replicated in Philadelphia and Hartford. Both Academy Schools affiliate programs prepare underserved students for college success. Edison K-8 School Gardner Pilot Academy Jackson/Mann K-8 School As we reflect on 2011, and on our own trail in 1997. And, even as we have expanded And we are doing this together, in partner- tenure with Steppingstone, we are amazed the number of Scholars participating in the ship with each other and with you. to count between the three of us almost 60 Academy, our success rate has remained high: We are humbled by the expression of years of experience with the organization. more than 80% of Scholars completing support for our mission in the last year. In Oddly enough, that doesn’t make us feel The Steppingstone Academy’s academic addition to our committed Board of Directors, Board of Directors old. Steppingstone is only 22 years old, component graduate from a four-year college. we welcomed an extremely impressive Board and at 22, we are close in age to a Scholar Some parts of our new adventure are of Advisors, who lend us their invaluable Amy Smith Berylson completing college. becoming visible to all. The College Success educational and nonprofit expertise. Our Todd Bland Chuck Brizius And like a newly minted college graduate, Academy sets Boston public school students brand new Board of Ambassadors is spreading Brian Conway, Chairman we are grounded in the fundamentals, on the path to college graduation without the word in the Boston community about Michael P. Danziger prepared for new challenges, and encouraged being placed in an independent or public Steppingstone’s mission and is adding value Michael Denning to dream boldly about new adventures. exam school. to our work in numerous ways. Bart Epker This new program is underway and growing, Many of you have increased your phil- Richard Friedman increasing the number of Scholars we serve anthropic investment, including a group of Thomas F. Gilbane, III in the academic component by 30%—even anonymous board members who initiated a Professor Andrew Hahn in its pilot form—and challenging our staff Challenge Grant, in which every donation William Helman to continue to design an impactful and over the initial fundraising goal was matched, Allison Johnson scalable program for the long haul. Just this dollar for dollar, up to $500,000. Isabelle Loring Dr. Richard I. Melvoin last summer, the second class of College As you read this report, know that A. Peter Monaco, Jr. Success Academy Scholars began their journey Steppingstone’s long-term commitment to Mike Pascucci alongside the initial pilot class, with 78 Scholars and their families would not be Brent Edward Shay fifth- and sixth-grade Scholars spending six possible without your thoughtful dedication. John G. Simon weeks engaged in math, English, science, Your partnership with Steppingstone buoys John S. Weinberg and study skills classes. Scholars every step of the way, from when a Christina Wing-O’Donnell The National Partnership for Educational potential Scholar hands in his initial application Access (NPEA) continues to thrive, linking to join the program to when he crosses the 225 non-profit members that collectively stage at his college graduation. On behalf of serve more than 100,000 underrepresented the Scholars we serve, we thank you for your Our flagship program, The Steppingstone students seeking college access. We hope generous support. Academy, continues to perform at a high you will join us for NPEA’s fifth annual Now, on to the next adventure. level, preparing Boston students for schools conference in Boston in April 2013 and see 3 Michael P. Danziger, Founder & CEO, that lead to college success, and serving firsthand the effectiveness of Steppingstone’s Kelly D. Glew, President & COO, and approximately 1,400 Scholars from fifth convening power. Brian J. Conway, Board Chairman grade through college graduation. The Other areas of growth are perhaps less method and culture we have worked so hard visible but equally as vital. We have deepened to develop has demonstrated its effectiveness our commitment to the Scholars’ long-term over the last 22 years, as more than 700 trajectory, creating the new college services Scholars have enrolled at four-year colleges department dedicated to working alongside since the pilot class of 14 Scholars blazed the Scholars once they enter college. The Scholars have consistently risen to the challenges placed in front of them, and in this increasingly daunting educational arena, we felt we could do no less. 4 grow Students throughout the city of Boston are We believe the Scholars will succeed, hungry for the opportunity to succeed in in part by having access to the tools and college.