Breakthrough admits students as 6th graders and makes a six-year commitment to helping them graduate from high school and enter college. Breakthrough’s program addresses fundamental gaps in students’ skills and resources, providing academic enrichment, mentoring, family involvement, leadership and service, test preparation, and clear information on navigating school bureaucracy, financial aid, and the college admissions process. Key programs and services include:
Case Management: Working year round, Breakthrough shepherds the critical relationship between students, parents, schools, and community from the summer after sixth grade until high school graduation, filling gaps and finding resources to make college possible. We work holistically over the long term to meet the needs of the whole child – academic, social, physical, and emotional – to ensure s/he remains on the path to college.
School Success: Breakthrough closely monitors every student’s school progress and intervenes to ensure academic success. We work with students, parents, and campus staff to assess needs, and we leverage tutors, mentors, and school and community services to meet them.
Middle School Summer Program: Rising 7th and 8th graders complete a six-week, academically rigorous program for two consecutive summers at the University of Texas, including English, math, science, and social studies courses and two hours of nightly homework. In 2008, we will launch a third middle school summer session, engaging our rising 9th graders in an intensive high school transition experience aimed at increasing 9th grade pass rates and overall academic achievement.
High School Placement: We motivate and support our 8th grade students to apply to rigorous college-preparatory high school programs.
High School Transition: We conference with 9th grade students and families to ensure rigorous course selection, and we provide information about high school programs, services, and requirements.
Early College Start Enrollment: We advise and support high school students to take free college classes and earn college credit through dual enrollment at Austin Community College.
College Preparation: 11th graders visit colleges, attend college fairs, receive SAT/ACT registration support and preparation, and begin scholarship searches.
College Admissions and Financial Aid Guidance: 12th graders receive individualized support as they apply for college and financial aid.
It's a long road from sixth grade to college, but our students have the motivation, leadership and inspiration to finish first.
