City kids experience benefits of boarding as Steppingstone Scholars

As a fourth-grader at Boston Renaissance Charter School, Karl Jennings liked school, but he never dreamed that one day he would be living at school — and loving it.

Karl and his mother, Sandra Jennings, hadn’t pictured him as a boarding student.

“Our impression was that it was only for the elite who could afford it; we did not understand the benefits of boarding,” Sandra said .

Four years later, with the support of The Steppingstone Academy, Karl is a successful boarding student at The Fessenden School.

In 2004, Karl was accepted to The Steppingstone Academy, a tuition-free program that prepares Boston schoolchildren for success at the city’s top independent and public exam schools and then supports them until they reach college. Steppingstone enrolls motivated and hardworking fourth-, fifth- and seventh-grade students in its out-of-school time program and supports them through 14 rigorous months of academic preparation designed to prepare them for a college preparatory school.

While a huge commitment for students and their families, Steppingstone offers key support through all stages of independent and exam school preparation and success. Most Steppingstone Scholars attend local schools as day students, but a growing number of them are exploring the boarding school option, particularly for ninth-grade placement.

With the help of their Steppingstone advisor, the Jennings applied to independent schools and gained acceptance to The Fessenden School, a college-preparatory all-boys school in West Newton. As an eighth-grader, Karl is now a five-day boarder at Fessenden, and both son and mom rave about the boarding experience.

“Because I don’t spend an hour driving him to and from school everyday, Karl’s boarding has allowed me to be involved in more of his after-school activities and to spend more quality time together when he is home,” Sandra said .

Boarding has provided Karl a nurturing yet structured environment. The boarding community acts like a family; school faculty members live in the dorms together with students, challenge them in the classroom and lead them in recreational activities.

As director of residential life at Milton Academy, another one of Steppingstone’s placement schools, André Heard has witnessed firsthand the growth opportunities afforded boarding students.

“There are basics steps of independence — like setting the alarm, doing laundry and organizing time — that boarding students must take,” Heard said. “Beyond these basics, a boarding community encourages students to take ownership of their learning and to develop into strong contributing community members.”

Sharon Doyle could not agree more. Her daughter Jewrisha, a Steppingstone Scholar, is a tenth-grade boarding student at Dana Hall School in Wellesley.

“I miss my shopping buddy being around all the time,” said Doyle, “but I know that Jewrisha has support systems at Dana Hall and Steppingstone that care about her and about her education.”

Steppingstone prepared Jewrisha for the academic rigor of an independent school, and now provides her with a myriad of free support services.

“Steppingstone has done everything to help us along this journey, from homework help and tutoring to college counseling and financial aid assistance,” Doyle said.

Each winter, fourth-, fifth- and seventh-grade students from all Boston neighborhoods may apply to The Steppingstone Academy. Steppingstone looks for hardworking students with a passion for learning, a desire to be challenged and an interest in attending an independent or public exam school.

Students and families who would like to know more about Steppingstone may call 617-423-6300 for more information.