This year, Breakthrough Pittsburgh celebrated 25 years of partnership with Sewickley Academy. Our students and teaching fellow alums alike can be found all over the world doing amazing things and having such a positive impact. We could not be more proud of the achievements of our students!

Breakthrough Pittsburgh aims to provide highly motivated, under-resourced students access to quality educational opportunities. During the six-year program, we provide students with both summer and school year programming, beginning in the summer before seventh grade and continuing through high school graduation, supporting the academic, social, and emotional growth of our students. They are inculcated with resources to ensure that they fulfill their goals of competitive college matriculation. Our program also inspires the next generation of educators by mentoring bright, enthusiastic high school and college students through one of the most hands-on pre-professional teaching fellowships available.

Each year, Breakthrough Pittsburgh welcomes 30 to 35 new Grade 7 students from middle schools all across the Pittsburgh region – from Penn Hills to the North Side and Mount Oliver to Coraopolis. Likewise, each year Breakthrough Pittsburgh brings together cohorts of teaching fellows, tutors, and volunteers to help support these students. Approximately 50 college students and volunteers proudly serve our students in their efforts to become their best academic selves and achieve their dreams of attending college.

The Breakthrough Pittsburgh school-year program continued to make a positive impact on our students last year. Our one-on-one tutoring program at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) continues to expand, with over 50 Pitt, Duquesne University, and Sewickley Academy students serving as tutors. Our Super Saturday program is hosted on the campuses of the University of Pittsburgh, Robert Morris University, and Carnegie Mellon University. Our literacy initiative, #WNR (Why Not Read?), continued throughout the school year, as middle school students utilized the library collection and exchanged books on Super Saturdays. College-bound programming highlights included a SAT/ACT test prep course, FAFSA completion event, essay revision and application assistance with college-bound mentors, and College 101 workshops for families. Ninety-five percent of the Breakthrough Pittsburgh Class of 2019 are attending college this fall at schools like Purdue University, Hampton University, Allegheny College, and Washington & Jefferson College.

In our Summer Program, we continued to make positive changes in both the teacher training and student academic realms. The Summer Program highlights include our annual High School Options and Career Fairs and a College Visit Day at Case Western University.

Now in its 26th year, Breakthrough Pittsburgh is dedicated to increasing opportunity for our students through college access programming, combating learning loss through a rigorous summer educational experience, and improving our local schools through intensive teacher training. These efforts are only made possible through the shared vision and generous support of our philanthropic partners, like you!