There is an A-rated public charter school in the heart of Gulfton that has been quietly doing extraordinary work for over two decades, and its new superintendent wants to make one thing very clear: the best kept secret in this neighborhood is about to become a lot less secret.
Amigos Por Vida — Friends for Life Public Charter School has served the Gulfton community since 1999, offering a tuition-free Pre-K through 8th grade education to the families who call this neighborhood home. Rated A by the state of Texas and ranked among the top charter elementary schools in the state, Amigos Por Vida is not just a school. It is proof that Gulfton is a community that invests in its children and demands excellence on their behalf.
A Superintendent Who Calls This Home
Four months ago, Justin Fuentes stepped into the role of Superintendent of the Amigos Por Vida — Friends for Life Public Charter School District, bringing with him 25 years of experience in Houston ISD, three years leading Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success, and something even more personal: a deep, lived connection to the neighborhood he now serves.
“I used to live in this neighborhood as a young teacher,” Fuentes recalls. “Getting out of college fresh, not knowing where to go — I needed somewhere that was affordable, that was safe, and that was close to the city. I actually lived here for about six or seven years in my early 20s. So to me, it’s part of my home. It’s part of my story.”
That personal history was no small factor in his decision to take the job. “My job here is just to enhance, make things better than they already are, because they’re already great. I just need to make them fantastic.”
What Drives Him Every Day
Fuentes grew up watching his single mother navigate the pressures of working-poor life, moving frequently and searching for stability. That experience shaped everything about how he approaches education.
“I wanted some consistency in my life. Education was something that was very consistent, always needed.” He also points to an unlikely early inspiration — the 1988 film Stand and Deliver, in which math teacher Jaime Escalante pushed students in South Los Angeles to pass AP Calculus against all expectations. “With his push and his desire, he was able to do great things for people. That inspired me.”
Today, walking into Amigos Por Vida every morning, Fuentes says he feels that same possibility. “What motivates me is that we have a community that needs us, but we need them too. It’s a mutual relationship. And honestly, it’s in our name. We’re friends. We strive to build that relationship with them.”
Built for This Community
Amigos Por Vida has proudly served families in Houston’s Gulfton area for more than two decades, one of the city’s most diverse and vibrant communities, and its educational approach reflects that reality directly. A significant portion of the families the school serves are immigrants who came to the United States seeking a better life for their children — and the school meets them exactly where they are.
One of the school’s most distinctive commitments is its early exit ESL program, which focuses on getting all students speaking English by third grade. “A lot of the families we serve are immigrants from other countries,” Fuentes explains. “One of the things they came to the United States for was to get that better life, to learn English, to get to the point where their children can thrive in our community. We push our students to speak English, and we’re getting them there by third grade. A lot of schools don’t do that.”
The results speak for themselves. While enrollment is declining across many school districts, Amigos Por Vida carries an overall score of 91 with a Student Progress rating of 91 and a Closing Performance Gaps rating of 92 — metrics that reflect not just where students perform, but how much they grow. Fuentes puts it plainly: “We’re the only school that isn’t losing enrollment. We’re the only A-rated school and district in the Gulfton neighborhood.”
More Than a Classroom
Ask Fuentes what sets Amigos Por Vida apart and the answer is immediate: personalization. Every student comes from a different background, a different education level, a different family structure. The school’s educators meet each one individually.
“The individualization and personalization that they give to our students is fantastic. That’s one of the things that’s needed right now — people expect that one-to-one, especially after COVID. Our students need it because they’re coming from such different places, and our teachers do a wonderful job of delivering it.”
The school’s commitment to the whole child extends far beyond academics. Volleyball. Soccer. Flag football. Music, arts, fine arts, and theater. Before and after school programming. A recently completed 34,000-square-foot expansion featuring a two-story classroom wing, a multi-purpose cafeteria, and flexible middle school learning environments that signal just how seriously this institution is investing in its future.
“We don’t do just the classroom. We don’t do just the STAR test,” Fuentes says. “We do a lot outside. We’re always looking to build our students through any avenue we can possibly find.”
What’s Coming Next
Fuentes arrived at Amigos Por Vida with a clear message for anyone who will listen: “We will not be the best kept secret in Gulfton anymore. We are going to get out there.”
That means deepening partnerships with apartment complexes, city agencies, county partners, and neighborhood organizations. It means exploring the possibility of opening a second campus to serve the full scope of need in a neighborhood this large. It means a first annual golf tournament this fall and a community breakfast in the spring. And it means working alongside partners like the Gulfton Management District to make sure that everyone in this neighborhood knows what is available to them right here, on their own street.
“We need to give back as well,” Fuentes says. “We’re looking at ways to partner more, grow more, and expand our footprint in Gulfton.”
Get Connected
Amigos Por Vida — Friends for Life Public Charter School is a tuition-free public charter school serving Pre-K through 8th grade students in the Gulfton community. Enrollment is open.
Visit the school at 5503 El Camino Del Rey St, Houston, TX 77081, call (713) 349-9945, or explore enrollment options at amigosporvida.com. Follow the school on Instagram at @amigosporvida.cs and on Facebook. To support the school’s mission, visit the Donate Now button on their website.
The Gulfton Management District is proud to spotlight the schools and institutions that make our community an exceptional place to live, learn, and grow.