STEP Charter Elementary School

11250 South Wilcrest Drive

School District

Step Charter School
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

charter

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 30, 2024

Far from a safe and nurturing environment. I find the principle to be passive aggressive and aloof in regards to children safety, bullying, etc. Teachers there are also not very personable and like to tell you things after the fact not very proactive with learning or discipline. School lacks an overall welcoming attitude.
Submitted by student on February 23, 2024

some teachers are rude and some are super nice.I dont want explain too much I do not want to write like 5 paragraphs.We learn sign languge too so thats good.
Submitted by student on September 20, 2023

MEEP, honestly good school but a few problems.
Submitted by parent on January 24, 2023

There is no family engagement. The communication is the worst! I couldn't even log on anywhere to see my child's grades. There are bullies in this school and the superintendent does not take them seriously. He doesn't even like meeting with parents. He avoids parents or he doesn't like to be confronted. My daughter was special needs and I was actually told that Step Charter probably wasn't the best "fit" for her because they don't accommodate kids like her. Anytime I would try to meet with the superintendent/principal, he would redirect me to someone else. Then they would tell me that I had to meet with him. It was ridiculous. So much discrimination. Also, I don't think the superintendent knew anything about special education. Listening to him speak was a joke. Do not send your child to Step Charter. They expect all kids to be the same here. My daughter said that they would get yelled at horribly for the smallest mistakes and I've heard other parents say the same thing too. She was miserable there. The teachers look unhappy there. Safety is an issue. They don't even have an alarm system and doors are always unlocked. Go see for yourself. Do yourself a favor and find another school.
Submitted by parent on November 12, 2022

This is not a school I would recommend for anyone’s child. First, it is not a supportive environment. The teachers will find everything wrong with your child that they can first and begin to “report” the smallest issues to you. The smallest things, such as them assuming things about your child. For example, say your child didn’t “look at them a certain way” or “your child slid into his chair today”. I can't make this stuff up. It gets worse. The accusations about your child get worse. You start to feel that your child is being bullied by the staff. You try to voice your concerns about how when a teacher constantly reports nothing but negative about your child, you begin to think that something else is going on. Your words get turned around into them saying that you don’t want to hear about how your child is doing at all. Taking it a step further, imagine you decide to try to conduct a meeting with the principal, and surprise. You find out she can’t even hold a conversation without being rude and your child gets called things worse. Ok. You take it a step further. Superintendent level. Everything then gets turned around on you. You basically get told everything that you said was a lie. You hear about how long they have all been knowing each other. You get told that everything the staff says must be true and you get a fake apology about “sorry our school wasn’t a fit for your child”. This is sad and a very unprofessional way to run a business. The parents have no voice. If you have any concerns, they will not be addressed. In the end, the problem will most definitely end up being you and your child. The staff apparently never does any wrong at this school. Whatever they say is deemed true. Their word against you and your child. I don’t know if it was the lying by adults who manage children daily that got to me, or the fact that everything that was first reported about your child got extra added toward the end. I hope this review saves a parent and child from mental agony and unwanted stress. There are too many other schools and resources besides settling for this school. Your child deserves better. They deserve a better place to receive their education. Referencing the previous review about, “walking on eggshells”, that is exactly what it begins to feel like. When your child starts complaining of headaches most days after school, I am sure it is because of the mental stress of them being in trouble for not looking to the left or blinking a certain way.
Submitted by parent on May 10, 2022

This school is a joke. Academics are not a priority. Classroom management is all that the superintendent cares about and that means the kids have to act like little soldiers. Kids are not allowed to be kids here. We feel trapped and like we're walking on eggshells every moment. Everyone's mental health is spiraling downwards. Absences aren't excused. No one knows the rules or school laws. Lots of things happening that are being swept under the rug. SOS. Don't send your kids here. Don't work here. No support whatsoever. RUN.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2020

My son started this year at STEP on Wilcrest. The teachers and staff are very dedicated and the communication from the school has been good. They care for our kids. It's a good school.
Submitted by other on June 10, 2018

Stepping Stones was a generally awful experience. The students are more violent than the administration lets on, and the teachers of core subjects are atrociously ignorant of their own curricula, not to mention terrible instructors/disciplinarians. Choosing this school for your child is a mistake.
Submitted by parent on August 18, 2017

Is an excellent school the staff and teachers are so nice and friendly, you can talk to the principal directly, every time you call there is always someone answering.
Submitted by teacher on August 07, 2014

I love working at Stepping Stones. It is such a healthy, safe environment for the staff and students. I truly feel supported, and therefore am able to give my best to students. As a parent, I would confident that my child is in a school that cares about his or her individual needs. Each teacher has their own method of instruction, but is constantly in professional development with the curriculum development specialist. The principal cares about the academic standards and the management of the classes. The classrooms are very organic and hands-on. The environment has been carefully planned to yield the most educational experience for students. Have you looked at the STAAR test scores? The 7th and 8th grade scores were through the roof this year!