The Impact of Small Steps

By the time our students graduate from Small Steps, on average, they score above national norms!

Small Steps partnered with TIMES (Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics) at the University of Houston to conduct a program evaluation in 2018.

The Small Steps outcomes evaluation focuses on the impact of Small Steps’ high-quality education program on student performance, beginning with their enrollment at Small Steps and following their progress through elementary and middle school.

Small Steps students begin the program scoring below national norms in oral language performance as measured by nationally recognized expressive and receptive vocabulary assessments.

In the 2025-2026 school year, we will transition to utilizing the CIRCLE Assessment to test all our pre-K students. The CIRCLE assessment tool will allow us to assess many more students and to intervene earlier to meet their varied academic needs. It will also enable Small Steps to conduct academic testing at both campuses, furthering our goal of consistency across both campuses.

Alumni Spotlight

Louis, who attended Small Steps in 2001 and 2002, graduated from Baylor University in 2019 with a Health Science Studies degree and a goal of becoming a surgeon.

We look forward to cheering Louis on as he continues to pursue his dream.

Reflecting on his experience at Small Steps, Louis wrote, “Small Steps gave me the confidence I have today, and as I look back, I want to thank everyone who has influenced me…Small Steps isn’t just a school, it’s a family.”

Louis recently completed his masters in Biotechnology Health Science at Johns Hopkins University.