Does Bridge To Independence accept the Florida scholarship in Orange County?
Yes. On October 28, 2026, the Florida Department of Education directory carries Bridge To Independence as a participant in the Florida Tax Credit / Family Empowerment Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) program, so an Orange County household can direct the state award to this school: $8,420 per student in grades K-3; $7,831 per student in grades 4-8; $7,639 per student in grades 9-12 for 2026-27, delivered to the school each quarter by way of EMA.
Bridge To Independence carries the state's Unique Abilities (FES-UA) participant flag. Under FES-UA's base tier, an Orange County student with a qualifying diagnosis or IEP gets $10,584 in K-3, $9,995 in 4-8 or $9,803 in 9-12, and it can fund therapy and tutoring too. It also holds the state's PEP flag, which means a household with a Personalized Education Program account can pay for a part-week schedule here.
An independent school sets its own need-based aid policy, and the state scholarship works exactly as it does at a religious school.
In the 2025 state survey the school counted 114 students; that ranks Bridge To Independence 6th by size among the 15 schools in College Park & Ivanhoe that gave an enrollment figure.
Check my funding for this school →
How many students are in each grade at Bridge To Independence?
The 2025 state survey reports 114 students across 13 grade levels.
| Grade | Students |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten | 7 |
| Grade 1 | 12 |
| Grade 2 | 3 |
| Grade 3 | 12 |
| Grade 4 | 7 |
| Grade 5 | 17 |
| Grade 6 | 9 |
| Grade 7 | 6 |
| Grade 8 | 9 |
| Grade 9 | 14 |
| Grade 10 | 10 |
| Grade 11 | 6 |
| Grade 12 | 2 |
What should I ask Bridge To Independence before enrolling?
- Does the school take the Florida Private School Scholarship, and is it set up with Step Up For Students, AAA or both?
- After the scholarship is applied to my child's grade, what balance remains, and which registration, book or uniform charges does it not cover?
- What discounts or aid exist beyond the scholarship: need-based aid, sibling rates, church-member or parishioner pricing?
- Which quarterly EMA deadline will the school use to submit my child's enrollment?
- For high school: does the school have a dual enrollment agreement with Valencia College, and what do course fees come to against the 9-12 award?
What does the state record show about Bridge To Independence, and what does it leave out?
A state directory record is useful for eligibility and limited for everything else.
| The record shows | It does not show | |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarship status | Listed as an FTC/FES-EO participant on October 28, 2026 | Whether seats are open in your child's grade |
| Grades and students | Grades K-12; co-ed | Class size, schedule or teacher qualifications |
| Accreditation | None reported to the state | Whether the school is a good academic fit |
| Tuition | Not reported to the state | Any price: ask the school for a written fee schedule |
Which deadlines apply to a family considering Bridge To Independence?
Four dates drive most 2026-27 decisions.
- Nov 15, 2026New-family application deadline for the 2026-27 Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) and Unique Abilities (FES-UA)
- Dec 15, 2026Deadline for new 2026-27 students to accept the award in EMA, for the school to enter Quarter 3 enrollment and for the parent to approve it
- Jan 1, 2027Federal scholarship tax credit begins; Florida opted in and Step Up For Students is setting up the administering fund
- Jan 15, 2027Final enrollment date to be considered for any 2026-27 funding for a student not enrolled by the Quarter 3 deadline
Which other private schools are near Bridge To Independence?
The state registry lists 18 private schools in College Park & Ivanhoe; 12 take the Private School Scholarship. See all of them →
Avalon School
College Park & Ivanhoe · Grades PK-12
Funding fit →Independent & Secular SchoolsLodestone Academy
College Park & Ivanhoe · Grades 01-12
Funding fit →Independent & Secular SchoolsNew Heights Preparatory Academy
College Park & Ivanhoe · Grades PK-12
Funding fit →Independent & Secular SchoolsThe Childhood Development Center By Attain
College Park & Ivanhoe · Grades 06-12
Funding fit →Independent & Secular SchoolsXl Academy
College Park & Ivanhoe · Grades 06-12
Funding fit →Jewish, Islamic & Other Faith SchoolsAcceleration Academics
College Park & Ivanhoe · Grades 03-08
Funding fit →