Campus Programs
One Mission. Every Campus. All Students.
For more than 45 years, The Puente Project has been building bridges to higher education for students across California, and the journey starts wherever students are. Puente's campus programming spans middle schools, high schools, and community colleges, meeting students at every stage of their academic path with the same core commitment: rigorous academics, culturally affirming counseling, and community mentorship that reflects who students are and where they come from. Open to all students, Puente prepares scholars and develops leaders who return to their communities and lift others along the way.
Secondary Programs
The Puente Secondary Program builds the academic foundation, college-going identity, and sense of belonging that students need to thrive — starting as early as middle school. Students take a two-year college preparatory English sequence taught by a Puente-trained teacher, work closely with a dedicated counselor, and participate in a community leadership program that connects academic goals to cultural pride and civic purpose. With 40 high school sites and 11 middle school sites across California, the secondary program is expanding its reach — and its impact.
Community College Programs
The Puente Community College Program is a lifeline for students navigating the transfer pipeline — particularly the first-generation scholars who make up 9 out of 10 Puentistas at the community college level. Through intensive English instruction with a Puente-trained teacher, dedicated counseling focused on transfer readiness, and a professional mentorship match with community leaders, Puente students build both the skills and the network they need to succeed. Across 75 California community college campuses, Puente students transfer, persist, and thrive at rates far above their peers.
93% of students report Puente involvement helped them succeed academically
Puente scholars outperform their peers on nearly every college readiness measure: A-G course completion, college enrollment, community college persistence, and transfer rates to four-year universities. These outcomes are the result our proven model: intentional, evidence-based, culturally responsive practice, continually refined by real data and a deep belief that every student deserves to see themselves in their education. Puente serves over 300,000 students across more than 120 middle school, high school, and community college campuses.
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