- Enrollment
- 756
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Merrill, WI
Bridges Virtual Academy
Federal NCES profile for Bridges Virtual Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 550921002927Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 98
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bridges Virtual Academy earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Wisconsin schools.
- #1 of 7
- public schools in Merrill · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.9:1
- large classes for Wisconsin
- 24.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Bridges Virtual Academy has class sizes larger than 86% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bridges Virtual Academy ranks #1 of 7 public schools in Merrill, WI.
School address
District: Merrill Area School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550921002927 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-34 students YoY
Bridges Virtual Academy held near 697 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-34 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 40.0 → 38.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-34 students YoY 550921002927 · Merrill, WI Other · MID · CHARTER
674 enr · 16.9:1 · 24.1% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Merrill High (756 students)
Bridges Virtual Academy held near 697 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-34 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 40.0 → 38.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Wisconsin schools → · Find another →
Bridges Virtual Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Merrill High
Merrill High
756 students
- This school
Bridges Virtual Academy
674 students
- Prairie River
Prairie River Middle
507 students
- Kate Goodrich
Kate Goodrich Elementary
337 students
- Washington Ele 257
Washington Elementary
257 students
- Pine River Sch 124
Pine River School for Young Learners (Prsyl)
124 students
What this shows Bridges Virtual Academy reports 674 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bridges Virtual Academy compares
Bridges Virtual Academy held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.9:1 | ▲ 17% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.1% | ▼ 37% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 674 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
674
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% below the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 86% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
0.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$13,547
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wisconsin avg of $15,645
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.9%
Hispanic or Latino 8.2%
Two or More 6.8%
African American 2.1%
Asian 1.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 80.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.3, Bridges Virtual Academy is less mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
District finance for Merrill Area School District reports $13,547 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bridges Virtual Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrill High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Prairie River Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Kate Goodrich Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Washington Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pine River School for Young Learners (Prsyl) | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bridges Virtual Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 507
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 337
- Students per teacher
- 10.5:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 257
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 124
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar other schools in Merrill
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other 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 (~674 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bridges Virtual Academy
How many students attend Bridges Virtual Academy?
Bridges Virtual Academy has 674 students enrolled. It is a public school in Merrill, WI. CCD year-over-year: 731 (2022-23) → 697 (2023-24), nearly flat (-34).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bridges Virtual Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Bridges Virtual Academy is 16.9:1, which is 17% higher than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bridges Virtual Academy?
24.1% of students at Bridges Virtual Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bridges Virtual Academy?
The largest demographic group at Bridges Virtual Academy is White at 80.9% of enrollment, in Merrill, WI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bridges Virtual Academy?
Bridges Virtual Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher 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 Bridges Virtual Academy rank among public schools in Merrill?
By Resource Investment Index, Bridges Virtual Academy ranks #1 of 7 public schools in Merrill, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Merrill on the city page.
What other schools are in Merrill Area School District?
Besides Bridges Virtual Academy, Merrill Area School District also operates Merrill High (756 students), Prairie River Middle (507 students), and Kate Goodrich Elementary (337 students). See the Merrill Area School District district page for the complete list.