Jolene Caruso-Soares's Contact Details

Jolene Caruso-Soares's Company Details

Peninsula Bridge

San Mateo, CA, US • 20 - 49 Employees
Education/Training

Since 1989, Peninsula Bridge has been changing the lives of motivated middle school children from under-resourced communities by promoting academic success and self-confidence. To date, we have close to 6,000 alumni. Peninsula Bridge's five-week tuition free program spans four consecutive summers. Our summer scholars are immersed in high touch, rigorous and engaging academic programs that enable them to succeed on the college track in high school. In addition, our 8th grade Transitions Program further facilitates students' access to the college track, while providing workshops for their parents to help them and their students navigate high school. 95% of Bridge alumni graduate from high school in four years as compared to 25% of their peers. The majority of our students attend San Mateo and Santa Clara County public schools and will be the first in their family to graduate from high school or go to college. Our signature program occurs during the summer, when low-income children experience greater summer learning loss than their higher income peers due to a lack of opportunity—not a lack of potential. Low income and high engagement, as evidenced by attendance, are prerequisites for recommendation to Bridge. Although our students are in the top quartile of their class, they attend under-performing schools so, while motivated, many are still below grade-level.