- Enrollment
- 366
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Saint Paul, MN
Step Academy Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Step Academy Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 270036705139Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Step Academy Elementary earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Minnesota median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- #5 of 26
- elementary schools in Saint Paul · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.6:1
- students per teacher
- 43.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Step Academy Elementary has class sizes near the Minnesota median. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Step Academy Elementary ranks #5 of 26 elementary schools in Saint Paul, MN.
School address
District: Step Academy · Minnesota
NCES ID 270036705139 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-28 students YoY
Step Academy Elementary shrank from 257 students in 2022-23 to 229 in 2023-24 (-10.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 17.8 → 13.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-28 students YoY 270036705139 · Saint Paul, MN Elementary · SMALL · CHARTER
214 enr · 12.6:1 · 43.6% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Step Academy Charter School (366 students)
Step Academy Elementary shrank from 257 students in 2022-23 to 229 in 2023-24 (-10.9%). Teacher FTE lost 17.8 → 13.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Step Academy Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Step Academy C
Step Academy Charter School
366 students
- This school
Step Academy Elementary
214 students
- Step Academy K
Step Academy Kg-5th - Burnsville
171 students
What this shows Step Academy Elementary reports 214 students on the CCD universe file.
How Step Academy Elementary compares
Step Academy Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.6:1 | ▼ 20% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.6% | ▲ 2% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 214 | top 55% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.6:1
Leaner classes than 70% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
214
Bigger than 21% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.6:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 34% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 66% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
17.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,145
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
132
in-school suspensions + 47 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 61.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 83.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 99.1%
White 0.9%
Largest group: African American at 99.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 1.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 1.8, Step Academy Elementary is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Step Academy reports $14,145 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Step Academy Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step Academy Charter School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Step Academy Kg-5th - Burnsville | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Step Academy Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 171
- Students per teacher
- 57:1
- Resource Index
- 0/100
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~214 students)
Frequently asked questions about Step Academy Elementary
How many students attend Step Academy Elementary?
Step Academy Elementary has 214 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Saint Paul, MN. CCD year-over-year: 257 (2022-23) → 229 (2023-24), down 28.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Step Academy Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Step Academy Elementary is 12.6:1, which is 20% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 20% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Step Academy Elementary?
43.6% of students at Step Academy Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Step Academy Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Step Academy Elementary is African American at 99.1% of enrollment, in Saint Paul, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Step Academy Elementary?
Step Academy Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Step Academy Elementary rank among elementary schools in Saint Paul?
By Resource Investment Index, Step Academy Elementary ranks #5 of 26 elementary schools in Saint Paul, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Saint Paul on the city page.
What other schools are in Step Academy?
Besides Step Academy Elementary, Step Academy also operates Step Academy Charter School (366 students) and Step Academy Kg-5th - Burnsville (171 students). See the Step Academy district page for the complete list.