Breakthrough Greater Boston

Breakthrough Greater Boston (BTGB) is a successful academic enrichment program that provides a path to college for middle school students with high potential but limited opportunities while promoting careers in education for high school and college students. Using a Students Teaching Students model, BTGB provides dynamic, tuition-free academic programming in the summer and during the school year. Our younger students gain the skills and motivation to succeed in rigorous high school programs and, ultimately, in college. Meanwhile, our program empowers older students to teach—every member of our teaching faculty is a high school or college student. Teachers gain hands-on experience in every aspect of education while also receiving training and support from professional staff members.

BTGB is one of 38 Breakthrough locations currently operating around the country and in Hong Kong. Each year, BTGB serves diverse middle school students from Boston and Cambridge Public Schools by providing academic enrichment, skill building, mentoring, and leadership development. Students come to a two-year, year-round middle school program, after which they join our growing ranks of BTGB high school students, who receive academic support as well as help with planning for college and locating meaningful summer opportunities.

Over the past six years, 97% of our graduating students have matriculated to four-year colleges, and 96% of those have persisted through their undergraduate years. Over the past two years, more than 75% of our graduating teachers have gone on to pursue careers in education.