Bridges Public Charter School

What it reported doing in 2024

Bridges public charter school (the "charter school") was established to provide preschool education to students with and without special needs in the district of columbia. The charter school was incorporated under the laws of the district of columbia in august 2003. The school was granted a 15-year charter to operate as a public charter school in the district of columbia under the dc public school reform act of 1995. The school program opened in august of 2005. In march 2012, the charter school was granted approval by the dc public charter school board to expand into an elementary school program, to serve grades pre-k through fifth. The charter school reached grade level capacity in the 2017-2018 school year with fifth grade. During november 2015, the charter school's legal name was changed from bridges charter school to bridges public charter school. Bridges' charter was renewed by the dc public charter school board for an additional 15 years on november 18, 2019, to operate as a public charter school in the district of columbia under the dc public school reform act of 1995. Bridges public charter school is unique in the dc education landscape serving a higher percentage of students with special needs in one school building than all but one other charter school in dc (st. Coletta). Bridges provides a continuum of inclusive learning environments and high-level special education classrooms. The school student population is 38% students with special needs, 52% english language learners, and 65% students who qualify for free or reduced lunch (low-income). The charter school's activities are funded primarily by the district of columbia's per pupil allocation formula, supplemented with federal funds allocated to the state education agency to be distributed to schools for staff development, special education services, and other eligible expenses.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 69.5%; rating input score 69
• Program expense ratio: 88%; rating input score 88
• Fundraising efficiency: $75.64 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • 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: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 20%; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.94; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.12; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.8%; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.8% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10.9% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 21.5% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings