The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Science. The lowest is 10% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bridges School
Bridges School is a small alternative school in Morehead City serving grades 6 through 12. It enrolls a very small population, with the majority of students in grades 7 through 9 and only a handful in the upper grades. More than three quarters of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, and the enrollment is split roughly evenly between Black and white students, with a smaller Hispanic representation.
The school's academic performance is quite limited. In the most recent math assessment results available, only a small fraction of tested students met proficiency. English language arts results were slightly better but still low. A science assessment from several years ago showed roughly half the students meeting proficiency, though that snapshot is older and not recent. Because Bridges is such a small school, test numbers are very small, and state assessment data is sparse. The school does serve a population that is harder to reach through traditional school settings, which is the purpose of alternative education, and assessment results at alternative schools often reflect that mission rather than serving as a direct comparison to mainstream school performance.
State testing data was the only academic indicator available; no high school graduation rate, course offerings, or staffing information was provided in the available records, so a full picture of program pathways or counseling and support structures could not be assessed from the data.
The school sits in Morehead City, a working coastal port town defined by the fishing industry, maritime employment, and a growing retiree population rather than seasonal tourism. The town's identity is anchored to the Port of Morehead City and Carteret Health Care. A compact historic downtown and waterfront on the eastern peninsula contrast with newer commercial strip development along U.S. 70 to the west. Walkability is concentrated downtown; outside that core, the town is car-oriented. The area is in a steady growth phase tied to coastal in-migration and infrastructure upgrades to the Highway 70 corridor, with new housing developments including workforce affordable units now under construction.
Carteret County Public Schools, the parent district, recently won voter approval for a school bond that is now funding substantial capital projects across the district, including classroom additions and renovations at high schools, new facilities at middle and elementary schools, and gym infrastructure. The district also approved an early-start school calendar beginning in the 2024-25 school year, aligning with Carteret Community College's schedule to expand dual-enrollment options, though that decision has attracted legal challenge. These are tangible shifts affecting scheduling, facility quality, and access to postsecondary pathways that touch families across the county.
A parent considering Bridges should understand it is a very small school serving a specialized population in a resource-constrained setting with low tested proficiency. The school's role is alternative education, which typically means serving students who have struggled in traditional schools. Whether this school is the right fit depends on the individual student's needs, prior school history, and the specific support and instructional approach the school offers. Those details would be worth exploring directly with the school, as the data available does not capture the nature of its programs, staffing, or how it structures instruction and student support around its mission.
See more original research from School Decision →