Bridges Middle School

What it reported doing in 2024

Academic program - in order to be successful, it is our belief that students need a small, multisensory classroom that helps each student increase academic skills as well as social skills and enhance self-confidence. Realizing that students have individual learning styles and needs, bridges middle school provides a highly individualized program in a success-oriented environment where students learn and grow together. Bridges' small class sizes (approx. One teacher per twelve students) allow individualized assistance and the ability to tailor lessons to build on the strengths and creative interests of each student. In the course of daily lessons, students develop effective social and academic strategies that help them become (continued on schedule o)successful learners and flourish in a community of supportive teachers and peers. During the 2024-2025 tax year, bridges middle school focused on strengthening the foundation for its next stage of growth while remaining deeply committed to access and affordability. A major priority was preparing for a move to a larger campus that would better support the school's specialized program, student needs, and long-term sustainability. This planning work included organizational preparation, community engagement, and early efforts to ensure that the future campus would allow bridges to serve students and families more fully.at the same time, bridges continued its strong commitment to financial aid, ensuring that students who need the school's specialized learning environment have a pathway to attend. The school's financial aid efforts reflect its belief that a bridges education can be life-changing for students with learning differences and neurodiverse learners, and that family income should not be the sole barrier to access.bridges also began intentional work to strengthen its voice and visibility in the broader community. Through in-depth storytelling and spotlight blog posts, the school highlighted the people who make the bridges community distinctive, including staff members, board members, and alumni. These stories helped communicate the impact of a bridges education, elevate the expertise and commitment of the school's team and leadership, and show how students continue to grow beyond their time at bridges.together, these efforts reflected bridges' commitment to both mission and momentum: preparing for expanded capacity, sustaining access through financial aid, and deepening public understanding of the school's role in supporting neurodiverse learners and students with learning differences.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 75.5%; rating input score 75
• Program expense ratio: 78.1%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.19 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 3.4%; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.61; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.91; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 17.7%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.2% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 8.5% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 12.3% per year; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings