- Enrollment
- 1,720
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Independence, MO
Bridger Middle
Federal NCES profile for Bridger Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 291548000709
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 21
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bridger Middle earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Missouri schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools.
- #2 of 5
- middle schools in Independence · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.2:1
- large classes for Missouri
- 51.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Bridger Middle has class sizes larger than 88% of Missouri schools. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bridger Middle ranks #2 of 5 middle schools in Independence, MO.
School address
District: Independence 30 · Missouri
NCES ID 291548000709 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-74 students YoY
Bridger Middle shrank from 770 students in 2022-23 to 696 in 2023-24 (-9.6%).
Teacher FTE added 46.4 → 47.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-74 students YoY 291548000709 · Independence, MO Middle · MID · TRAD
744 enr · 16.2:1 · 51.9% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Truman High (1,720 students)
Bridger Middle shrank from 770 students in 2022-23 to 696 in 2023-24 (-9.6%). Teacher FTE added 46.4 → 47.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Bridger Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Truman High
Truman High
1,720 students
- William Chrism
William Chrisman High
1,417 students
- Van Horn High
Van Horn High
1,067 students
- Clifford H. No
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle
902 students
- This school
Bridger Middle
744 students
- Pioneer Ridge
Pioneer Ridge Middle
731 students
What this shows Bridger Middle reports 744 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bridger Middle compares
Bridger Middle is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.2:1 | ▲ 27% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.9% | ▲ 13% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 744 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.2:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
744
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
51.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% above the Missouri average of 46.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.2:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 88% in Missouri - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
31.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,302
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $14,087
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 372 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
226
in-school suspensions + 136 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 30.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 48.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 50.3%
Hispanic or Latino 21.4%
African American 15.6%
Two or More 10.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.3%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 50.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.6, Bridger Middle is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Independence 30 reports $12,302 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bridger Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truman High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William Chrisman High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Van Horn High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clifford H. Nowlin Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pioneer Ridge Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bridger Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,417
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,067
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 902
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 731
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~744 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Bridger Middle
How many students attend Bridger Middle?
Bridger Middle has 744 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Independence, MO. CCD year-over-year: 770 (2022-23) → 696 (2023-24), down 74.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bridger Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Bridger Middle is 16.2:1, which is 27% higher than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bridger Middle?
51.9% of students at Bridger Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bridger Middle?
The largest demographic group at Bridger Middle is White at 50.3% of enrollment, in Independence, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bridger Middle?
Bridger Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bridger Middle rank among middle schools in Independence?
By Resource Investment Index, Bridger Middle ranks #2 of 5 middle schools in Independence, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Independence on the city page.
What other schools are in Independence 30?
Besides Bridger Middle, Independence 30 also operates Truman High (1,720 students), William Chrisman High (1,417 students), and Van Horn High (1,067 students). See the Independence 30 district page for the complete list.