Bridges Virtual Academy

Merrill Area School District
1201 N Sales St
Merrill, WI 54452
Charter School 731 Students
Other Pre-K - 12th
School Overview
Bridges Virtual Academy (BVA), located in Merrill, Wisconsin, is a tuition-free, public virtual charter school operating under the Merrill Area Public Schools district. Designed to serve students across the state of Wisconsin from kindergarten through 12th grade, the academy focuses on providing a personalized, flexible education that allows students to learn at their own pace. By utilizing a hybrid approach, BVA combines rigorous online curriculum with strong parental involvement and support from licensed educators, making it an ideal choice for families seeking an alternative to the traditional classroom setting.

The school is defined by its commitment to student-centered learning and community building. While much of the coursework is completed remotely, BVA emphasizes the importance of social connection by offering various extracurricular activities, field trips, and local meet-up opportunities for families. By balancing the autonomy of virtual instruction with a robust support system of mentors and teachers, Bridges Virtual Academy empowers students to tailor their academic path to their unique interests, strengths, and personal schedules.
731
Total Students
40.0
Full-Time Teachers
18.3
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.0%
Free/Reduced Lunch
Student Demographics
  • White
    598 (81.8 %)
  • Two or More
    57 (7.8 %)
  • Hispanic
    41 (5.6 %)
  • Asian
    18 (2.5 %)
  • Black
    14 (1.9 %)
  • Pacific Islander
    2 (0.3 %)
  • American Indian
    1 (0.1 %)
School Location
School Details
Status: Open
School Level: Other
School Type: Regular School
Charter Status:* Charter School
Virtual Instruction: Exclusively virtual
Shared Time Status: No
District: Merrill Area School District
Phone: (715)536-9593
Website: http://www.bvaedu.org
Grade Range: Pre-K - 12th
Total Students: 731
Full-Time Teachers (FTE): 40.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 18.3
NSLP Participation:1 No
Qualified Free Lunch: 68
Qualified Reduced Lunch: 5

* 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
Pre-Kindergarten 34
Kindergarten 54
Grade 1 49
Grade 2 67
Grade 3 55
Grade 4 62
Grade 5 52
Grade 6 49
Grade 7 65
Grade 8 50
Grade 9 51
Grade 10 43
Grade 11 44
Grade 12 56
Gender Ratio