Mission

To increase the number of educationally underrepresented students who enroll in four-year colleges and universities, earn degrees, and return to he community as leaders and mentors of future generations

Founded

1981 by Felix Galaviz and Patricia McGrath

Scope

*96 programs at 54 community colleges and 36 high schools throughout California

*Students served to date: over 20,000 directly and over 280,000 through the extended impact of Puente training services

Student Program

Accelerated Writing * Academic Counseling * Community Mentoring

Training

Comprehensive, year-round training in innovative and effective methodologies for teachers, counselors, and mentors

Community

Over 400 organizations and 4,000 professionals donate time and resources annually to Puente students and sites.

Results

Puente high school students enrolled at four-year colleges and universities at twice the rate of matched controls. Term-to-term retention of Puente community college students is 92%, compared with 60% for community college students statewide.

Sponsors

The California Community Colleges and the University of California

Sources:
Gandara, Patricia. Final Report of the Evaluation of High School Puente, 1994-1998
Puente Project, 1997