BRIDGES COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY

320 GARFIELD AVE
NORTH MANKATO, MN 56003

bcs.isd77.org/

251 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Bridges Community Elementary, located in North Mankato, Minnesota, is a unique K-5 public school operating under the Mankato Area Public Schools (ISD 77) district. The school is distinct for its focus on a "community-based" learning model, which emphasizes smaller class sizes and a highly collaborative environment. By integrating hands-on learning, service projects, and parent involvement, Bridges aims to foster a tight-knit atmosphere where students are encouraged to develop strong character and personal responsibility alongside their academic goals.

The school’s curriculum is designed to be personalized, often utilizing multi-age classrooms or flexible groupings to meet the diverse needs of its student population. Because it functions as a choice school within the district, it attracts families who are looking for a more intimate, project-based educational experience compared to a traditional neighborhood school. With its emphasis on building a supportive community, Bridges Community Elementary serves as a hub for both student growth and family engagement in the North Mankato area.

251

Total Students

15.7

Full-Time Teachers

16.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

19.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for BRIDGES COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY
Demographic	Student Count
White	202
Hispanic	16
Black	8
Asian	10
Two or More	14
Pacific Islander	1

White
202 (80.5%)
Hispanic
16 (6.4%)
Two or More
14 (5.6%)
Asian
10 (4.0%)
Black
8 (3.2%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.4%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Phone:	(507)387-2800
Website:	http://bcs.isd77.org/
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	251
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	15.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	27
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	21

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 38

Grade 1 38

Grade 2 45

Grade 3 46

Grade 4 44

Grade 5 40

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for BRIDGES COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY
Grade	Student Count
Kindergarten	38
Grade 1	38
Grade 2	45
Grade 3	46
Grade 4	44
Grade 5	40

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for BRIDGES COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	124	49.4%
Male	127	50.6%

Elementary School Pre-K - 6th