Secondary Programming
Building Bridges to College, One Student at a Time
For many students, the path to college feels distant or uncertain. Puente Secondary changes that — not by telling students what they're capable of, but by building an environment where they discover it themselves. Through a two-year college preparatory English class, dedicated academic counseling, and a community leadership program rooted in cultural pride, Puente students develop the skills, the identity, and the network to make college not just possible, but expected.
The Puente Secondary Program is designed to help students graduate, become college eligible, and enroll in college through the efforts and support provided by a Puente-trained team.
English
The English Component includes rigorous writing practice through a two-year English class sequence taught by the Puente teacher to all Puente students. These classes provide a supportive environment and student centered curriculum which integrates Latinx and multicultural literature and themes of identity within the framework of college preparatory English classes. Puente English is a UC recognized a-g course and should be added to your course catalog upon implementation.
Counseling
The Counseling Component includes a comprehensive guidance curriculum implemented by the Puente counselor to all Puente students during the duration of their enrollment. The Puente counselor works closely with Puente students to support their academic, college & career, and social/emotional development.
Leadership
The Community Leadership Component is a vital link between the local community and the school program. The community leadership program encourages students to pursue professional and leadership goals that amplify Community Cultural Wealth.
Dual Enrollment
In Development, and Coming Soon!
Puente's Dual Enrollment initiative brings college-level coursework to high school students — but with equity at its core. Unlike standalone dual enrollment, Puente's approach pairs academic access with the culturally responsive pedagogy, proactive student outreach, and wraparound support systems that make a real difference for historically underrepresented students. This program is designed to close achievement gaps, not just open course catalogs.
We Lead with Impact
Puente's secondary program outcomes are measured, tracked, and continuously improving,because accountability to students is built into how Puente works. The data below reflects the real-world impact of an integrated model that combines rigorous academics, dedicated counseling, and community leadership. For educators and administrators considering Puente for their campus, these numbers tell a clear story: when students are supported in the right ways, they exceed expectations — and then some.
82%
of Puente high school graduates enroll in 2-year and 4-year college programs
(compared to 66% of California high school graduates statewide)
78%
of Puente students complete A-G course patterns
(compared to 54% of all California high school graduates and 47% of all California underrepresented students)
92%
of Puente four-year college applicants gained admission to universities
8 in 10
Secondary Puentistas are First Generation Scholars
"Many of my classmates and teachers believed that I had the potential to be successful, but it was not until I joined Puente that I actually started believing it."
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Ready to Bring Puente to Your Campus?
Puente's secondary program is expanding across the country, and we're looking for schools ready to invest in their students' futures. Whether you're a principal, counselor, or district administrator, we'd love to talk about what Puente could look like on your campus. The program comes with full implementation support, ongoing professional development, and a statewide network of educators who have been doing this work for decades.