In 1960, Ruby one of six black children, in New Orleans, to passed a test allowing them to go to a white school, William Frantz Elementary. However, Ruby ended being the only on to go. Her and her mother were escorted by four federal marshals during the first year Bridges attended William Frantz Elementary.

     Though Ruby's father was reluctant, her mother felt strongly that the switching of schools was no only important for Ruby to get a better education, but to "take a step forward... for all African- American children." Eventually Ruby's father was convinced.

     The first official day of integrated schools in New Orleans, appointed by Judge J. Kelly Wright, was November 14, 1960. Bridges Describes the day. "Driving up I could see the crowd, but living in New Orleans, I actually thought it was Mardi Gras. There was a large crowd of people outside of the school. They were throwing things and shouting, and that sort of goes on in New Orleans at Mardi Gras." One of the deputies recalls, "She showed a lot of courage. She never cried. She didn't whimper. She just marched along like a little soldier, and we're all very very proud of her." 

     When Ruby entered the school, many white parents took their children out of the school. All of the teachers refused to teach while black children were enrolled. Barbara Henry was the only person willing to tech Ruby, and for over a year she did it as if she were teaching a full class.

     Ruby's first day was spent in the office because all the chaos prevented them from moving to a classroom till the second day. On the second day a white student broke the boycott by entering the school. A 34-year-old Methodist minister, Lloyd Anderson Foreman, walked his 5-year-old daughter Pam through the angry mob, saying, "I simply want the privilege of taking my child to school ..." Days later other white parents cave and protests calmed. On the way to school, one women threatened to poison Ruby. Because of this U.S. Marshals allowed Ruby to only eat food she brought from home.

     Another women put a black doll in a small wooden coffin and stood outside to protest with it. At her mother's suggestion, Ruby began to pray on the way to school. She found this provided mental protection from the cruel comments.

     A child psychiatrist offered to counsel Bridges for her first year at Frantz. He met with her weekly in the Bridges home, later writing a children's book, The Story of Ruby Bridges, to acquaint other children with Bridges' story. 

     The Bridges family suffered greatly from their decision to send Ruby to William Frantz Elementary.  Her father lost his job, the grocery store the family shopped at would no longer let them shop there, and her grandparents, who were sharecroppers in Mississippi, were turned off their land. Ruby recalls that many people in her neighborhood, black and white, showed support in several ways. Some white families continued to send their children to Frantz despite the protests, a neighbor provided her father with a new job, and local people babysat, watched the house as protectors, and walked behind the federal marshals' car on the trips to school.