Breakthrough DC

Breakthrough DC is the newest site in the Breakthrough Collaborative (formerly Summerbridge), a national network of summer and after-school programs for high potential, low-income middle school students. We increase educational opportunities for our younger students while simultaneously training and inspring high school and college students to pursue careers in education.

Breakthrough DC will be the first site in the national collaborative to be hosted in a charter school and one of the few sites hosted in a public school system. In our first year, BDC will serve 20 rising 7th graders from public and charter schools in Wards 6, 7 and 8. At full capacity, we will serve 80 rising 7th and 8th graders, while also tracking 160 local high school alumni who will receive academic support as well as help with locating meaningful summer opportunities and planning for college.

BDC students are chosen for their motivation and academic potential, as well as demonstrated need and make a two-year year-round commitment to Breakthrough. In particular, BDC seeks to serve students who qualify for free or reduced lunch, come from single parent households, and/or would be the first in their family to attend college.