Original Research by School Decision on College Bridge Academy District
College Bridge Academy District is a small charter district serving only high school students, grades nine through twelve, through a single school of the same name located in Long Beach. The district operates as an alternative high school focused on credit recovery, meaning students who have fallen behind in their coursework or need a different learning pathway can complete their diplomas here.
The student body is predominantly Latino, with a substantial Black student population as well. Fewer than a handful of students from other backgrounds attend. The overall enrollment is small, with roughly equal numbers across the four grades, though ninth grade runs slightly smaller than the others. The district does not report the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, nor does it report the rates of students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent would need to contact the school directly to understand these aspects of the student population.
State testing data and graduation rates are not available in the public record for this district, which is common for small alternative schools that may operate outside the standard state assessment calendar or serve populations for whom traditional testing metrics do not apply. A parent considering this school should ask directly about how student progress is measured and what graduation outcomes look like.
One metric that does appear puts the district in a difficult position. Chronic absenteeism—the share of students missing substantial school time—is very high compared to other districts in Los Angeles County. This is a real concern and worth investigating carefully with the school. Schools with high absenteeism often struggle to support students toward completion, though context matters; some alternative schools serve highly mobile students or those with barriers to attendance that go beyond school control. A parent may want to ask what the school does to address attendance and what its actual graduation and diploma completion rates are, since that will tell the real story.
The district spends above the median per-pupil amount for Los Angeles County districts, which suggests resources are being deployed, though spending level alone does not determine outcomes.
College Bridge Academy positions itself as serving students who need a second chance or a different format. That mission can be valuable for the right student, but the high absenteeism number is a signal that families should understand what supports exist, what the actual completion rate is, and whether their student's needs and learning style genuinely fit a school with these particular conditions. The lack of publicly reported test results and graduation outcomes makes it harder to assess this from the outside; direct conversation with school leadership is essential.
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