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Step Academy Charter School

Q: Is Step Academy Charter School a good school?

Step Academy Charter School ranks 246 th of 473 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades 6-12

246^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 473 Minnesota High Schools

Better than 48% of Minnesota high schools

Summary

STEP Academy Charter School is a 6–12 charter school with 366 students at 835 5th St E on Saint Paul's East Side, and it makes up its own district, STEP Academy. About 92.08% of its students qualified for free or reduced lunch in 2024-25 — the highest rate among nearby schools and a sharp jump from 65.78% two years earlier. The school ranked 246th of 473 Minnesota schools (48th percentile) in 2025-26, similar to 2023-24 and a big rebound from the 13th percentile in 2022-23.

Graduation is where STEP Academy Charter School stands out. Its 2024-25 graduation rate was 95.3% with a 1.5% dropout rate — the highest completion and lowest dropout in the comparison group, and about 10 points above Minnesota's 84.9%. For context, Twin Cities Academy posted 90.5%, Community of Peace Academy High School 86.4% and Harding Senior High 85.1%, while LEAP High School (10.2%) and Face To Face Academy (4.7%) are small, specialized alternative programs whose numbers aren't directly comparable. STEP's graduation rate has stayed remarkably steady: 100.0%, 97.1%, 95.5% and 95.3% over four years, with dropout never above 1.9%.

Test scores tell a different story. In 2025-26, 40.4% of students met reading standards — above STEP's own district figure of 35.1% and above every nearby school with reported data — and 10th-grade reading (47.8%) actually beat the state (42.5%). Math is the deepest weakness at 7.9% against a 44.9% state rate, though that is roughly in line with nearby urban peers. Science was 15.9%. The school's strongest results come from specific student groups: its English learners ranked 1st of 110 Minnesota schools and its African American students 9th of 114, while students from low-income families ranked in the 75th percentile and male students in the 42nd. One watch item: the student-teacher ratio has risen to 22.8, the second-highest in the group.

366

Students ?

22.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,333

Per pupil spending ?

92.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

835 5th St E
Saint Paul, MN 55106-8888

(651) 289-6120

District: STEP Academy

Racial breakdown:

African American:

98.9%

White:

0.3%

Asian:

0.3%

See top rated Minnesota high schools

Compare Step Academy Charter School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 26th percentile in 2015 → 48th in 2026

Strengths

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the Minnesota average (85%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 22 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (24% vs 43% meeting standards)

!Math scores 37 pts below the Minnesota average

!Large classes — about 23 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school24%

District avg22%

Minnesota avg43%

Middle school

450^th of 546

Minnesota public middle schools ?

Bottom 18%▼ down 19 pts since 2016

From bottom 37% (2016) to bottom 18% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

246^th of 473

Minnesota public high schools ?

Bottom 48%▲ up 19 pts since 2016

From bottom 29% (2016) to bottom 48% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

368^th of 458STEP Academy among Minnesota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	20.9	450 of 546	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.7	418 of 519	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.0	377 of 545	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.2	331 of 529	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.0	336 of 520	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.8	400 of 521	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.9	380 of 533	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.5	324 of 518	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	41.6	331 of 523	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	42.1	322 of 508	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	22.9	422 of 516	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	27.3	391 of 490	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	42.5	113 of 185	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.8	98 of 169	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	63.0	46 of 179	74.3%	★★★★☆
2023	68.5	38 of 164	76.8%	★★★★☆
2022	67.4	35 of 162	78.4%	★★★★☆
2021	58.0	50 of 141	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.4	39 of 148	73.6%	★★★★☆
2018	85.5	12 of 137	91.2%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	44.4	84 of 170	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.8	37 of 153	75.8%	★★★★☆
2024	89.8	4 of 158	97.5%	★★★★★
2023	68.5	16 of 133	88.0%	★★★★☆
2022	71.3	11 of 130	91.5%	★★★★★
2021	66.7	12 of 102	88.2%	★★★★☆
2019	85.8	5 of 120	95.8%	★★★★★
2018	97.1	2 of 109	98.2%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	24.0	369 of 467	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.2	374 of 450	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.3	375 of 474	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	40.8	285 of 455	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.6	320 of 467	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.7	301 of 443	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.3	338 of 439	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.6	326 of 436	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	35.8	317 of 458	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	37.1	289 of 432	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.5	227 of 473	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.0	135 of 404	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.3	192 of 399	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.8	146 of 415	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	75.2	65 of 401	83.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	21.2	400 of 483	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.6	365 of 452	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.5	314 of 479	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.5	317 of 464	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.0	329 of 476	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	15.0	391 of 437	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.3	337 of 454	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	53.2	215 of 438	50.9%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	51.9	246 of 473	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.7	245 of 480	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	12.3	415 of 476	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.9	363 of 472	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.8	338 of 428	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	57.1	257 of 492	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.3	303 of 494	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	38.4	344 of 489	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	36.5	348 of 489	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	30.6	371 of 504	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	44.8	314 of 483	35.0%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	86.9	9 of 114	92.1%	★★★★★
2024	70.4	26 of 109	76.1%	★★★★☆
2023	31.7	67 of 98	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.9	41 of 102	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.8	21 of 68	69.1%	★★★★☆
2019	89.5	9 of 103	91.3%	★★★★★
2018	85.9	12 of 106	88.7%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	98.2	1 of 110	99.1%	★★★★★
2024	81.6	8 of 102	92.2%	★★★★★
2023	72.5	12 of 90	86.7%	★★★★☆
2022	38.1	53 of 87	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	69.4	7 of 47	85.1%	★★★★☆
2019	54.4	27 of 85	68.2%	★★★★☆
2018	92.8	5 of 78	93.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	61.6	162 of 398	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.0	172 of 403	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	16.6	347 of 396	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.0	321 of 388	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.1	248 of 339	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	43.6	259 of 401	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.9	267 of 395	32.4%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	68.1	94 of 377	75.1%	★★★★☆
2024	64.4	120 of 389	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	35.1	209 of 312	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	55.3	119 of 270	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	76.2	70 of 370	81.1%	★★★★☆
2018	67.0	110 of 374	70.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	44.8	228 of 395	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.9	290 of 405	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	6.7	378 of 398	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	22.0	341 of 403	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.6	309 of 351	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	57.5	188 of 411	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	37.9	289 of 398	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Middle school

English Language Learner (2026)51st percentile+33 vs school

African American (2026)39th percentile+21 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)31st percentile+13 vs school

Female (2026)21st percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)17th percentile~ school

High school

English Language Learner (2026)99th percentile+51 vs school

African American (2026)92nd percentile+44 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)75th percentile+27 vs school

Female (2026)59th percentile+11 vs school

Male (2026)42nd percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading40%-8 vs state

Science16%-10 vs state

Math8%-37 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

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2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, June 13, 2014

excellent for Magnet students. Close Quote

Schools Near Step Academy Charter School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)					MCA-IV Science (2026)			MCA-III Math (2026)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-IV Reading 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 7th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 8th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 10th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 8th Grade	MCA-IV Science End of Course	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Total
Step Academy Charter School	Public, Charter	6-12	835 5th St E	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	STEP Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 289-6120	366	16	22.8	92.1%	1 (0.3%)	362 (98.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	51.9	246^th of 473 public high schools	48.0%					(n/a)	37.5	23.1	45.2	47.8	40.4	4.8	26.1	15.9	9.4	3.8	7.1	14.3	7.9	$17,333
HOPE Community Academy High School	Public, Charter	9-12	720 Payne Ave	Saint Paul	55130	Ramsey County	Hope Community Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(651) 796-4500	124	7	17.1	85.5%	1 (0.8%)	1 (0.8%)	2 (1.6%)	115 (92.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.0%)	31.2	335^th of 473 public high schools	29.2%					(n/a)				31.3	31.3		25.8	25.8				12.9	12.9
Leap High School	Public	9-12	740 York Ave	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 228-7706	220	13	17.5	61.8%	0 (0.0%)	33 (15.0%)	132 (60.0%)	55 (25.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5.3	458^th of 473 public high schools	3.2%		8	427^th of 450 public high schools	5.1%	31				2.0	2.0		0.0	0.0				7.1	7.1	$22,112
Alternative Learning Center Gateway to College	Public	8-12	740 York Ave	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 403-4452	107	3	31.4	68.2%	12 (11.2%)	40 (37.4%)	21 (19.6%)	14 (13.1%)	6 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (13.1%)								(n/a)														$13,563
MNIC Online East Campus	Public, Charter	9-12	965 Payne Ave	Saint Paul	55130	Ramsey County	Minnesota Internship Center	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(612) 588-1449	0																		(n/a)
City Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	958 Jessie St	Saint Paul	55130	Ramsey County	City Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(651) 298-4624	135	8	17.1	87.4%	14 (10.4%)	42 (31.1%)	20 (14.8%)	39 (28.9%)	2 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (13.3%)	7.6	444^th of 473 public high schools	6.1%					(n/a)							7.7	7.7				0.0	0.0	$15,624
Face to Face Academy Online	Public, Virtual, Charter	9-12	1165 Arcade St	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	Face To Face Academy	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(651) 772-5544	12	0		58.3%	8 (66.7%)	2 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Face To Face Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	1165 Arcade St	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	Face To Face Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 772-5544	83	7	11.6	79.5%	27 (32.5%)	37 (44.6%)	8 (9.6%)	6 (7.2%)	4 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.2%)	50.6	252^nd of 473 public high schools	46.7%		72.2	122^nd of 450 public high schools	72.9%	130				26.7	26.7							42.9	42.9	$18,159
Community of Peace Academy High School	Public, Charter	9-12	471 Magnolia Ave E	Saint Paul	55130	Ramsey County	Community Of Peace Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 280-4527	250	17	14.8	78.0%	15 (6.0%)	62 (24.8%)	73 (29.2%)	84 (33.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (6.4%)	12.6	424^th of 473 public high schools	10.4%		29.9	340^th of 450 public high schools	24.4%	84				13.7	13.7		3.9	3.9				15.7	15.7	$14,996
Twin Cities Academy	Public, Charter	6-12	690 Birmingham	Saint Paul	55106	Ramsey County	Twin Cities Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 205-4797	547	41	13.2	62.3%	82 (15.0%)	157 (28.7%)	177 (32.4%)	99 (18.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (5.7%)	17.9	403^rd of 473 public high schools	14.8%		13.3	401^st of 450 public high schools	10.9%	2	19.0	21.6	20.8	22.8	21.3	1.4	17.4	9.2	7.0	7.7	5.6	9.1	7.3	$14,125

Frequently Asked Questions about Step Academy Charter School

What district is Step Academy Charter School in?

STEP Academy

How many students attend Step Academy Charter School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 366 students attended Step Academy Charter School.

Is Step Academy Charter School a good school?

Step Academy Charter School ranks 246^th of 473 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Step Academy Charter School?

Students at Step Academy Charter School are 99% African American.

Rate Step Academy Charter School!

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresNewSep 30, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 8, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.