Puente Learning Center stands as a beacon of educational opportunity and community empowerment in the heart of Los Angeles. Annually, Puente Learning Center dedicates itself to fostering impactful outcomes across four key program areas: children’s education, youth development, adult learning, and community enrichment. This commitment ensures that individuals of all ages have access to resources and support for personal and academic growth.
Early Childhood Education: Building Foundations at Puente Preschool
Puente Learning Center’s preschool program plays a crucial role in early childhood development, currently serving 42 children aged 3.5 to 5 years. Operating in two half-day sessions, Puente Preschool is committed to preparing young learners for kindergarten through a high-quality, standards-based curriculum designed by Quality Start LA (QSLA). Notably, Puente Preschool has achieved Tier 5 recognition from Quality Start Los Angeles, the highest distinction awarded, making it the sole early education center in its service area to reach this prestigious level. This recognition underscores Puente Learning Center’s dedication to excellence in early childhood education.
Elementary Education: PUENTE Charter Elementary School
PUENTE Charter Elementary School (CES) extends Puente Learning Center’s educational impact by serving over 300 students in grades TK-5. The core objectives at PUENTE CES are focused on student success: facilitating the reclassification of English Learner students to proficient English speakers and significantly enhancing English Language Arts and Math proficiency rates across the entire student body. Through targeted instruction and a supportive learning environment, Puente Learning Center ensures its elementary students are on a path to academic excellence.
Extended Learning Opportunities: Afterschool Enrichment and Summer Camp
Recognizing the importance of continuous learning, Puente Learning Center offers comprehensive Afterschool Enrichment and Summer Camp programs open to all PUENTE Charter School students. These programs provide vital additional instructional support and enriching activities to over 150 students each year. By extending learning beyond the regular school day, Puente Learning Center reinforces academic concepts and broadens students’ horizons through engaging experiences.
College and Career Program: Empowering Future Leaders
Puente Learning Center’s College and Career Program is designed to empower over 500 high school and college students annually. Through a multifaceted approach encompassing classes, workshops, mentorship, college and career counseling, internships, and scholarships, the program guides students towards high school graduation and persistence in post-secondary education. Key goals for this program are ambitious and achievement-oriented: 100% financial aid application completion and renewal rates, 100% high school graduation rate, 90% college acceptance rate, a 75% college transfer rate for students from 2-year colleges, 100% retention of college students progressing towards graduation, and 100% of retained college graduates entering a career or advanced degree program within a year of graduation. Puente Learning Center is committed to fostering the next generation of leaders and professionals.
Adult Education: Lifelong Learning and Skill Development
Adult Education at Puente Learning Center caters to over 600 adult students weekly, offering classes six days a week. Courses range from English as a Second Language (ESL) to High School Diploma & High School Equivalency, Citizenship preparation, and Career Skills development, including workforce certifications and technical training. The primary goals for adult education are to empower students to achieve their postsecondary educational aspirations by mastering English, earning a high school diploma or its equivalent, and acquiring valuable workforce development training and certifications. Puente Learning Center recognizes the importance of lifelong learning and provides pathways to economic opportunity for adults in the community.
Holistic Support through Wrap-Around Services
To comprehensively support educational achievement, Puente Learning Center collaborates with community partners to deliver targeted wrap-around services. These essential services include workforce readiness skill-building, financial literacy education, tenants’ and immigration rights workshops, health and community resource fairs. Specifically, preschool and CES students benefit from free vision and dental health screenings and social-emotional wellness services through partnerships with Vision to Learn, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, Care Solace, and Comprehensive Therapy Associates. This holistic approach ensures that Puente Learning Center addresses the diverse needs of its community, fostering a supportive ecosystem for learning and growth.
Puente Learning Center’s multifaceted approach to education and community support makes it an invaluable resource in Los Angeles, fostering individual growth and collective community advancement.
