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Breakthrough students all aspire to go to college and are willing to push themselves to excel academically.

Do you love to learn?

Are you planning to go to college?

Do you want to meet other hardworking students?

Are you a fourth grader?

If so, Breakthrough San Francisco may be for you!

Please read on to learn more.

Complete the Interest Form
The application process for 2022-23 is now closed. We’ll reopen the application in October 2023 for fourth graders interested in starting at Breakthrough in summer 2024. (Each year, we also accept applications from fifth graders to fill any openings in the class.) To express interest and receive notification when the application launches, please complete the form above.

Missed our 2022-23 Family Info Sessions? No problem – you can watch the recording here.

About Us

Breakthrough San Francisco is a tuition-free, year-round academic enrichment program for motivated San Francisco students with limited educational opportunities. We offer an exciting curriculum and small classes taught by trained college students. Students apply during the fall or winter of their fourth grade year. Accepted students make an eight-year commitment with the goal of attending and succeeding at a college-prep middle school and high school, and a best-fit four-year college. All programming is tuition-free for Breakthrough families, and takes place at SF Day School (350 Masonic Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94118).

Qualifications

Breakthrough students have a demonstrated need for this tuition-free program.  Students selected for Breakthrough meet at least three out of these five criteria:

  1. Qualify for free or reduced-price lunch at school.
  2. Will be the first in their family to attend a four-year college.
  3. Speak a language other than English at home.
  4. Live in a single-parent household.
  5. Attend an under-resourced school (SFUSD, charter, and most faith-based schools.)

 

 

Commitment

Accepted students make an eight-year commitment. Students are required to attend our summer program, school year program, and high school program.

Summer Commitment

(through end of middle school)

  • Students are required to attend for six weeks during the summers before 5th – 8th grades.

  • We expect students to come to Breakthrough every day excited to learn, question, debate, write, experiment, and challenge themselves.
  • Daily attendance from Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm, is mandatory.
  • Optional after-school program from Monday-Friday, 3:30 – 5:30 pm.
  • Each night, students will have approximately one hour of homework, preparing them for college-preparatory classes in middle and high school.

School Year Commitment

(through end of middle school)

  • Students are required to attend Breakthrough’s after-school program twice per week.
  • Students receive personalized tutoring and attend engaging enrichment classes.
  • 5th and 6th graders generally attend on Mondays and Wednesdays (4:30 – 6:30 pm).
  • 7th and 8th graders generally attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays (4:30 – 6:30 pm).

High School Commitment

  • Students are required to attend Breakthrough throughout their 9 – 12th grade years.
  • Students attend monthly Saturday workshops and take part in ACT prep, college campus visits, and personalized admissions counseling.
  • Students have summers available to pursue other opportunities. Or, they can volunteer in our summer program!

2023 Mandatory Program Dates (for accepted students):

  • Pre-Summer Orientation: Sat, June 10 from 10 am – 12 pm (tentative). All accepted students must attend along with a parent or guardian.
  • 2023 Summer Program: Tue, June 20 – Fri, July 28 from 8:00 am – 3:30 pm. Daily attendance is required.
  • 2023 End of Summer Celebration: Thu, July 27 from 6 – 8 pm. Attendance is required for all students and families.
  • 2023-24 School Year Program: All students are expected to attend two days a week throughout the school year. 5th and 6th graders attend Mondays and Wednesdays (4:30 – 6:30 pm). 7th and 8th graders attend Tuesdays and Thursdays (4:30- 6:30 pm).
  • Future Summer and School Year Programs: Dates are TBD, but attendance is mandatory at both the summer and after-school program until graduation from middle school. Then students move into our High School Program, with workshops one Saturday per month.