Bridges Academy

274 Students

Middle School 7th - 8th

School Overview

Bridges Academy, located on McLaughlin Avenue in San Jose, is a specialized charter school serving students in grades 6 through 12. The academy is widely recognized for its unique educational model, which is specifically designed to support "twice-exceptional" (2e) students—individuals who are identified as both gifted and talented while also navigating learning differences such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or dyslexia. By providing a curriculum that prioritizes intellectual rigor alongside essential social-emotional support, the school aims to create an environment where students can thrive academically without the common stressors found in traditional classroom settings.

The school’s philosophy centers on a strength-based approach, emphasizing deep-dive projects and collaborative learning rather than standardized rote memorization. Through a small-class-size setting and personalized academic planning, Bridges Academy encourages students to lean into their specific passions and talents. By fostering a community that understands and accommodates neurodiversity, the academy strives to empower its students to develop the confidence, self-advocacy skills, and academic foundation necessary for success in higher education and beyond.

274

Total Students

14.7

Full-Time Teachers

18.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

89.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Bridges Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	2
Hispanic	208
Black	2
Asian	55
Two or More	5
Pacific Islander	2

Hispanic
208 (75.9%)
Asian
55 (20.1%)
Two or More
5 (1.8%)
White
2 (0.7%)
Black
2 (0.7%)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.7%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Franklin-McKinley Elementary
Phone:	(408)283-6400
Grade Range:	7th - 8th
Total Students:	274
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	14.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	223
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	22

* 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

Grade 7 135

Grade 8 139