Average
#1618 of 2,105 schools in WI
Bridges Virtual Academy
School · Merrill Area School District · Merrill, WI
A Merrill Area School District charter school where students score 35 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1201 N Sales St, Merrill, WI 54452
- Math 26% vs WI 53% (2025)
- Reading 38% vs WI 52% (2025)
- 4/5 advanced STEM subjects
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Bridges Virtual Academy score 32% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).
2025 FORWARD proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WI average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 13 points since 2017, to 32% in 2025, across a 14-year record (2012–2025).
Show all 9 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 30% (multi-year average, 2012-2025) · reading/ELA 46% (multi-year average, 2012-2025)
Based on 28 test records from WI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
7.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Bridges Virtual Academy sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 27Car-Dependent
- Bike 35Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,620/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Merrill), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$65,522
Median home value
$162,500
Median rent
$777/mo
College educated
19.3%
Homeownership
76.5%
Poverty rate
12.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 54452; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
2 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ntc Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.0private | PK–12 | 1.2 mi | 30 | Compare → |
| Pine River School for Young Learners (prsyl)Enrollment path unverified | 3.5 | PK | 2.0 mi | 133 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Merrill Area School District
- Schools in district
- 7
- Rank in district
- #3 of 6
- District spending per student
- $13,547NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Bridges Virtual Academy is listed in Merrill Area School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Bridges Virtual Academy
Bridges Virtual Academy is a public school in Merrill, WI, part of Merrill Area School District, serving approximately 697 students in grades Pre-K-12th with a 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,618 of 2,105 schools in WI. State assessment records show 30% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bridges Virtual Academy
What grades does Bridges Virtual Academy serve?
Bridges Virtual Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.
How many students attend Bridges Virtual Academy?
Bridges Virtual Academy has an enrollment of approximately 697 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bridges Virtual Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Bridges Virtual Academy is 18.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bridges Virtual Academy rank in WI?
Bridges Virtual Academy ranks #1,618 of 2,105 schools in WI.
What is Bridges Virtual Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Bridges Virtual Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Bridges Virtual Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Bridges Virtual Academy has 30% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025).
Is Bridges Virtual Academy a charter school?
Yes, Bridges Virtual Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Bridges Virtual Academy a Title I school?
No, Bridges Virtual Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bridges Virtual Academy?
7.7% of students at Bridges Virtual Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 12th
- Enrollment
- 697
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Lincoln County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 0.7%
- Phone
- (715) 536-9593
- Area population (ZIP 54452)
- 18,949
- Area average commute
- 21.1 min
- Area median age
- 47.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 FORWARD · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 FORWARD. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 FORWARD · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 FORWARD. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 54452; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2012-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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