Preparing First-Gen Students for College and Career Success

Peninsula Bridge empowers first-generation students from low-income backgrounds in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties to access and thrive in higher education through a holistic, cohort-based model that spans 13 years—from the summer after 3rd grade through college graduation. Founded in 1989, the organization addresses systemic inequities with a wraparound approach that combines academic rigor, social-emotional learning, mental health support, and college and career preparation—alongside robust family engagement.

Students are recruited in partnership with 79 local public schools and commit to the program for the long term. Cohorts remain intact over time, fostering relational trust, peer connection, and a deep sense of belonging. Year over year, the program maintains a 95% cohort retention rate, reflecting strong family commitment and the value placed on Peninsula Bridge’s offerings. Programming is grounded in a whole-child, culturally responsive philosophy that integrates project-based learning, outdoor education, and leadership development.

The model includes five integrated programs:

Elementary/Middle School: Offers inquiry-based, hands-on instruction in language arts, STEM, and social-emotional learning to close opportunity gaps and nurture a love of learning.
High School Program: Provides academic tutoring, leadership development, financial literacy, and enrichment—including career exposure and a signature outdoor summer experience for rising 9th graders.
College Access & Success: Begins in 11th grade with individualized college counseling, application and financial aid application support, and continues through college graduation.
Career Readiness & Transition: Connects students to paid internships, workplace skills training, and professional networks to ensure post-college success.
Mental Health Wellness Program: Offers bilingual/bicultural individual counseling and parent workshops to address emotional well-being and normalize mental health care within the community.

Peninsula Bridge places special emphasis on key transition points, particularly 8th and 9th grade, where academic and social shifts can derail long-term progress. Interventions at these stages include focused support in Algebra, reading, and writing; high school readiness workshops; and confidence-building outdoor learning. Families are engaged throughout, with dedicated parent cohorts, leadership boards, and education workshops designed to empower caregivers as advocates and partners in their students’ journeys. With a 100% high school graduation and college matriculation rate among its alumni, Peninsula Bridge is creating a sustainable pipeline of diverse, college-educated leaders who will shape the future of their communities.

Peninsula Bridge delivers consistently strong outcomes across academic growth, college access, career readiness, and socio-emotional development. Serving 986 first-generation students annually, the organization has achieved a 100% high school graduation and college matriculation rate—an extraordinary milestone, particularly given that:

94% of its students graduate from college within five years, compared to just 11% of low-income students nationwide
Nearly 90% attend four-year institutions, and 88% of college graduates secure full-time, career-track employment or internships.

Recent data from across the program reinforce its effectiveness:

Middle School: 80% of students improved their math skills; 89% strengthened reading comprehension.
High School: Students maintained an average GPA of 3.2, with 83% reporting increased classroom confidence.
College & Career Readiness: 100% of scholars complete at least one internship before college graduation.

Beyond academics, Peninsula Bridge’s wraparound services contribute to holistic student well-being. Its Mental Health Wellness Program—delivered by bilingual, bicultural clinicians—offers counseling and psychoeducational workshops to students and families. Eighty-two percent of students report that the program supports their mental health, and many caregivers have pursued services themselves after witnessing the positive impact on their children. Key qualitative outcomes speak to the depth of engagement: 98% of students feel respected by staff; 98% believe they can go to college; and there is 95% retention across cohorts year over year.

Peninsula Bridge alumni are excelling at top universities—Harvard, UC Berkeley, Tufts, Smith, and others—and building successful careers in biotech, finance, higher education, public health, and beyond. Many return to the program as mentors, tutors, and teachers: over 30% of staff are first-gen college graduates, reflecting a powerful cycle of leadership and investment. Others serve on alumni boards, help shape curriculum, and mobilize support for future cohorts.

These outcomes are made possible by a unique 13-year, cohort-based model rooted in trust, consistency, and high expectations. With a strong college-going culture and deep family partnerships, Peninsula Bridge not only helps students succeed in school—it prepares them to thrive in college, careers, and community life as the next generation of diverse changemakers.

Peninsula Bridge

Preparing First-Gen Students for College and Career Success

Model and Strategy

Impact

Leadership

Randi Shafton

MaryBeth Ventura

Rene Jimenez

Amika Maria Maran Guillaume