Bridge vs Bowman
Bridge and Bowman are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.2 out of 10. In math proficiency, Bridge leads at 89.0%.
Bridge
Lexington, MA
365 students
Bowman
Lexington, MA
428 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Bridge | Bowman |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.2 / 10 | 9.5 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.5 | 9.8 |
| Growth Score | 8.9 | 9.3 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 0% | 0% |
| Environment Score | 9.6 | 9.7 |
| State Rank | #67 of 1,793 | #27 of 1,793 |
| State Percentile | 96th | 99th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Bridge | Bowman |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 89.0% | 85.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 89.0% | 83.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
Neighborhood
| Metric | Lexington (02421) | Lexington (02421) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $212,843 | $212,843 |
| Median Home Value | $1,147,700 | $1,147,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,847 | $2,847 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 84.7% | 84.7% |
| Poverty Rate | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Avg Commute | 31 min | 31 min |
The data story: Bridge vs Bowman
Bowman Elementary and Bridge Elementary sit 1.7 miles apart in Lexington, Massachusetts, yet their state rankings reveal a meaningful gap: Bowman ranks #19 of 1,791 Massachusetts schools while Bridge ranks #43 of 1,791. Both scores are exceptional in absolute terms — Bowman at 9.3/10 and Bridge at 9.1/10 overall — but parents weighing a 24-rank difference in one of the most competitive elementary markets in the state should treat that gap as real signal, not rounding noise.
Academically, Bowman leads Bridge by 0.3 points — a 9.7/10 versus Bridge's 9.4/10 — and that edge extends to growth as well, where Bowman posts a 9.3/10 against Bridge's 9.0/10. The growth score is particularly telling because it reflects how much students advance relative to peers with similar starting points, meaning Bowman's students are outpacing academic expectations at a slightly higher rate than Bridge's. Both schools operate the same grade span of kindergarten through fifth grade, so the comparison is clean and apples-to-apples across every year of elementary school.
Bowman enrolls 428 students compared to Bridge's 365, a difference of 63 students — roughly 15 percent larger. That scale difference shows up in the student-teacher ratio: Bowman runs 11.6 students per teacher while Bridge comes in at 10.4. Bridge's tighter ratio gives students marginally more adult attention per classroom, which can matter for children who thrive with more individualized instruction. Families who prioritize a smaller-feeling community may find Bridge's environment a better fit despite its slightly lower ranking.
Both schools share Lexington's strong district foundation and operate identical grade configurations, so grade-level programming, curriculum pacing, and school calendar are likely similar. The differentiation between Bowman and Bridge comes down to academic performance margins — Bowman's 0.3-point academic score advantage and its #19 state rank versus Bridge's #43 — weighed against Bridge's lower student-teacher ratio of 10.4:1, which represents one fewer student per teacher than Bowman's 11.6:1.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Bridge
Bowman Elementary suits families who prioritize maximum academic output and state-ranked performance. With a 9.7/10 academic score and a #19 statewide ranking, it is the stronger choice for parents whose primary criterion is how students perform relative to peers across Massachusetts, and whose child adapts well to a slightly larger classroom community.
Bowman
Bridge Elementary fits families who want top-tier Lexington academics with a smaller, more intimate setting. Its 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio — more than a full student lower per teacher than Bowman — makes it a better match for children who benefit from closer teacher access, or parents who simply prefer a tighter-knit school community at 365 students.