PUENTE Learning Center

Since its inception in 1985, PUENTE Learning Center continues to achieve its mission of strengthening families in the neighborhoods of East and South Los Angeles. PUENTE's impact on the families it serves spans its preschool and charter kindergarten, its after-school programs for youth, and its adult education programs. Its mission is stated within its name: People United to Enrich the Neighborhood Through Education.

Founded by Sister Jennie Lechtenberg, today, PUENTE offers tuition-free, California Standards-aligned classroom instruction to more than 4,100 students annually at its two state-of-the-art campuses. The East Los Angeles campus features 15 classrooms in a 40,000-square-foot building, while the South Los Angeles campus consists of 10 classrooms in a 30,000-square-foot facility. To date, PUENTE has served over 80,000 individuals through its educational programs.

Designed to meet the educational needs of individuals of all ages and backgrounds, PUENTE's programs are family-focused and intended to motivate students to realize their academic potential in order to improve their lives, the lives of their families, and the community at large. The unifying theme in all programs is the use of technology as a tool of learning. Students have daily access to state-of-the-art technology, enabling them to acquire essential skills while becoming proficient users of the technological tools of the 21st century.