Stepping Stones Academy vs. Desert Mountain School
Should you attend Stepping Stones Academy or Desert Mountain School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
School
Top Rankings
Stepping Stones Academy ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Arizona for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Most improved public schools
Math Proficiency
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Desert Mountain School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Arizona for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Math Proficiency
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Overview
Serving 217 students in grades Kindergarten-8, Stepping Stones Academy ranks in the top 10% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 5%, and reading proficiency is top 5%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 80-84% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 35%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 60-64% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 40%).
Minority enrollment is 18% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Serving 472 students in grades Prekindergarten-8, Desert Mountain School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in Arizona for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 55% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 35%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 57% (which is higher than the Arizona state average of 40%).
The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is lower than the Arizona state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 21% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Arizona state average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Grades Offered
K-8
PK-8
Total Students
217 students
472 students
![This chart displays total students of Stepping Stones Academy by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays total students of Stepping Stones Academy by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/total_students/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-4lgHzq.png)
![This chart displays total students of Desert Mountain School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays total students of Desert Mountain School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/total_students/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-baoZkv0.png)
% Male | % Female
50% | 50%
54% | 46%
![This chart displays gender of Stepping Stones Academy This chart displays gender of Stepping Stones Academy](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/gender/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-bvcD5FA.png)
![This chart displays gender of Desert Mountain School This chart displays gender of Desert Mountain School](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/gender/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-bpxATrD.png)
Total Classroom Teachers
n/a
29 teachers
n/a
![This chart displays the total teachers of Desert Mountain School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the total teachers of Desert Mountain School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/total_teachers/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-NcBplg.png)
Student : Teacher Ratio
n/a
16:1
n/a
![This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Desert Mountain School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Desert Mountain School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/teacher_student_ratio/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-b0GmU5y.png)
Test Scores
Overall Testing Rank
#121 out of 1956 schools in AZ
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
#312 out of 1956 schools in AZ
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
![This chart displays the overall school rank of Stepping Stones Academy, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the overall school rank of Stepping Stones Academy, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/overall_school_rank/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-bf6dKHm.png)
![This chart displays the overall school rank of Desert Mountain School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the overall school rank of Desert Mountain School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/overall_school_rank/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-WiEGcY.png)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
80-84%
55%
![This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/math_percent/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-nhZ4zj.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Desert Mountain School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Desert Mountain School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/math_percent/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-lpHqOa.png)
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
60-64%
57%
![This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/rla_percent/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-KTo9yR.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Desert Mountain School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Desert Mountain School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/rla_percent/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-4aBCXh.png)
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
30-39%
50-54%
Students by Grade
Students by Grade
![This chart displays the students of Stepping Stones Academy by grade. This chart displays the students of Stepping Stones Academy by grade.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/students_by_grade/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-BK7bBI.png)
![This chart displays the students of Desert Mountain School by grade. This chart displays the students of Desert Mountain School by grade.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/students_by_grade/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-SJITVP.png)
Pre-K Students
-
17
Kindergarten Students
26
45
Grade 1 Students
24
49
Grade 2 Students
25
32
Grade 3 Students
23
53
Grade 4 Students
30
54
Grade 5 Students
25
60
Grade 6 Students
28
52
Grade 7 Students
20
46
Grade 8 Students
16
64
Students by Ethnicity
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
![This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Stepping Stones Academy and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Stepping Stones Academy and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/american_indian_ethnicity/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-qYA2TX.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Desert Mountain School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Desert Mountain School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/american_indian_ethnicity/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-HxUaf8.png)
% Asian
n/a
n/a
![This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of Asian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of Asian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/asian_islander_ethnicity/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-HycC98.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2019-20 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2019-20 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/asian_islander_ethnicity/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-dLUyWD.png)
% Hispanic
16%
15%
![This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/hispanic_students_ethnicity/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-bn26nbw.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/hispanic_students_ethnicity/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-bvaplK4.png)
% Black
n/a
1%
![This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of Black public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of Black public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/black_students_ethnicity/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-W4ftnt.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of Black public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of Black public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/black_students_ethnicity/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-HynMOL.png)
% White
82%
79%
![This chart displays the percentage of White students in Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of White public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of White students in Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of White public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/white_students_ethnicity/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-dLXdJe.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of White students in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of White public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of White students in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of White public school students in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/white_students_ethnicity/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-baqerPh.png)
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
2%
4%
![This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/two_or_more_races_students_ethnicity/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-y6LdWk.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/two_or_more_races_students_ethnicity/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-sRMibN.png)
Diversity Score
0.30
0.36
![This chart displays the diversity score of Stepping Stones Academy and the public school average diversity score of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the diversity score of Stepping Stones Academy and the public school average diversity score of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/diversity_score/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-pfWLMG.png)
![This chart displays the diversity score of Desert Mountain School and the public school average diversity score of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the diversity score of Desert Mountain School and the public school average diversity score of Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/diversity_score/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-qYTTrG.png)
Additional Information
Eligible for Free Lunch
1%
17%
![This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2009-10 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Stepping Stones Academy and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2009-10 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/freelunch_students/118000/117551/stepping-stones-academy-chart-OXbetQ.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/freelunch_students/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-LkUi9E.png)
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
1%
6%
n/a
![This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Desert Mountain School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Arizona by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.](http://images3.publicschoolreview.com/charts/reduced_pricelunch_students/3000/3275/desert-mountain-school-chart-nnaSMH.png)