Key ES vs Bridges PCS

Key ES and Bridges PCS are both PK–05 elementary schools in Washington, District of Columbia, separated by 5.3 miles. Key ES holds an overall rating of 9.4/10 against Bridges PCS's 8.8/10 — a 0.6-point gap that translates into a meaningful difference in state rank: Key ES sits at #4 of 240 schools in the District of Columbia while Bridges PCS ranks #18 of 240. Both schools place in the top ten percent of the city, but Key ES holds a clear positional edge.

The academic scores tell the sharpest story. Key ES earns a perfect 10.0/10 on academics versus Bridges PCS's 8.1/10 — a 1.9-point difference that signals consistently higher tested proficiency at Key ES. Growth, however, runs in the opposite direction: Bridges PCS scores 9.7/10 on growth compared to Key ES's 9.0/10, meaning students at Bridges PCS are making faster year-over-year gains relative to expectations. Families who prioritize where a child tests today will lean toward Key ES; families who prioritize trajectory and acceleration over time have reason to consider Bridges PCS seriously.

Key ES enrolls 347 students and Bridges PCS enrolls 365 — comparable scales that both support an elementary community without feeling institutional. The more notable difference is student-teacher ratio: Bridges PCS runs at 9.9 students per teacher versus Key ES's 12.4:1. That gap of 2.5 students per teacher represents meaningfully more individualized attention at Bridges PCS, particularly relevant for families with children who benefit from closer adult contact or differentiated instruction.

Structurally, Key ES is a traditional District of Columbia public school while Bridges PCS operates as a public charter. Both serve PK through grade 5, so neither offers an extended grade ladder. Charter enrollment typically requires a lottery application with separate deadlines outside DCPS's standard My School DC match process, which is an important logistical distinction for families evaluating both schools simultaneously.