Our Model
A Ten-Year Promise
Breakthrough New York makes a ten-year commitment to support students to and through college.
Breakthrough works to level the playing field for lower-income high potential, BIPOC students through our 10-year, tuition-free programming designed to ensure students enroll in and graduate from four-year colleges and universities by cultivating a sense of belonging, fostering near-peer relationships, and exposing students to diverse teachers and leaders. We do so in three stages: middle school, high school, and college.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
School Year Program
Twice-weekly afterschool programming focused on academic support, plus high school seminars, weekend workshops, college workshops, and community-building to deepen content mastery and develop new interests.
Summer Learning
A five-week summer program for rising 7th to 9th graders to prevent summer learning loss and prepare them for the rigor of competitive high schools. The summer content focuses on previewing key standards from the upcoming school year in core subjects such as Math, Literature, and Writing.
High School Options
A high school options course paired with individualized 1:1 advising provides support for test prep, interview practice, and financial aid applications, from staff and near-peer high school placement associates to students and their families to ensure placement in college-preparatory high schools.
HIGH SCHOOL
Super Saturdays
Monthly full day seminars that support students throughout each step of their high school journey. Younger students build college knowledge through academic enrichment, college-level discussions, and SAT prep, while older students learn about the college admissions process, including essay writing, college list building, and financial aid navigation.
Summer Opportunties
Students are expected to pursue meaningful summer experiences throughout high school, for which BTNY often provides small grants to offset costs associated with study abroad or unpaid internship opportunities.
College Admissions
Mentors to guide students through college admissions, financial aid, and campus visits. Individualized advising to support with the rigor of college applications and in-depth FAFSA advising.
COLLEGE
College Coaches
Career Readiness
Internship bootcamps with corporate partners, internship recruitment pipelines, and in-person networking events that connect students with professionals across diverse industries and build professional connections and explore unique career opportunities.
Financial Support
Small dollar grants to help cover last dollar gaps, or covering ancillary costs like books and supplies, as well as opportunity grants to support study abroad, unpaid internships, and other career exploration opportunities.
Breakthrough New York’s Catalyst
At the heart of the Breakthrough model is a simple but powerful idea: high expectations paired with high support. This comes to life through our “near-peer” teaching model. Breakthrough New York hires and trains over 100 college students and young professionals who serve as teachers, mentors, and application coaches.
Students connect with these teachers on a deep level—seeing in them not only relatable mentors, but reflections of what’s possible in their own futures. For our Teaching Fellows and mentors, their experience is just as transformative.
College students gain direct teaching experience and build meaningful relationships with students. Many of Breakthrough New York teachers go on to pursue careers in education. They come to understand teaching as a joyful, relational act and see firsthand how powerful student-educator connections can be to unlock the power of education and a lifetime of opportunity.