About Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia
Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia is a non-profit organization that aims to provide talented middle school students with the necessary tools and resources to succeed in competitive high schools, setting the foundation for college and career success. The program is dual-mission, as it also trains and inspires outstanding high school and college students to pursue careers in education.
The organization was founded on the belief that every student deserves access to quality education, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia works towards this goal by providing academic enrichment programs, mentoring, counseling, and support services to middle school students from under-resourced communities.
The program is designed to help students develop critical thinking skills, improve their academic performance, build confidence and self-esteem, and prepare them for success in high school and beyond. The curriculum includes rigorous coursework in math, science, English language arts (ELA), social studies/history as well as electives such as art or music.
Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia also provides opportunities for its participants to engage in extracurricular activities such as sports teams or clubs. These activities help foster a sense of community among the students while also providing them with valuable life skills such as teamwork and leadership.
One unique aspect of Breakthrough's program is its use of near-peer mentors. High school and college-aged mentors work closely with middle schoolers throughout the year providing academic support but also serving as role models who can relate more closely than adult teachers might be able too. This approach has proven successful at helping younger students feel more comfortable asking questions about academics but also about navigating adolescence generally.
In addition to supporting middle-schoolers directly through its programs during summer sessions (which are intensive)and after-school tutoring during the year; Breakthrough invests heavily in training future educators through its Teaching Fellowship Program which recruits outstanding high school juniors who have an interest in teaching careers later on down the line. These fellows receive extensive training over two summers before being placed into classrooms where they co-teach alongside experienced educators during summer sessions themselves.
Breakthrough's impact has been significant since it began operating over 25 years ago; 100% percent of its graduates have gone on to attend four-year colleges or universities - an impressive statistic given that many come from low-income families where higher education may not have been seen previously seen as attainable goal .
Overall Breakthrough's mission is clear: To provide access & opportunity for all young people regardless of background so they can achieve their full potential academically & personally while inspiring future generations along way!