AVID & Puente

AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a school-wide transformation effort focused on leadership, systems, instruction, and culture. It is a national program designed to increase the number of students who enroll and succeed in higher education and in their lives beyond high school. AVID-trained educators teach students academic and social skills to help them develop the habits and behaviors needed to succeed in rigorous curriculum. As an academic support elective, AVID seeks to prepare students for college eligibility and empowers them to strive for academic excellence.

Established in 1981, the Puente Program's mission is to increase the number of educationally underrepresented students who enroll in four-year universities, earn college degrees and return to their communities as mentors and leaders. The Puente Program was introduced in Desert Mirage High School in the 2015-2016 school year and is now in its seventh year. Most recently, the Puente Program welcomed its first freshmen class at Coachella Valley High School for the 2022-2023 school year. Although initially created as a two-year program, it was transformed into a four-year program at Desert Mirage High School, one of a handful of high schools to offer this option in California. This model has allowed Puentistas, students in the Puente Program, to take academically challenging courses (i.e., AP and honors) in preparation for their postsecondary education. Furthermore, the Puente Program centers itself on culturally relevant curriculum, community service, and peer mentoring in partnership with their Puente teachers and Puente counselor. Since its implementation in CVUSD, the Puente Program has seen tremendous success among students' graduation, A-G completion, and college-going rates. "Once a Puentista, always a Puentista!"