Programs (click here for application info)

Breakthrough Cincinnati is a four year, tuition free academic enrichment program that offers both summer and school year programs for under-served Cincinnati public middle school students. Breakthrough students apply in the fifth grade (sixth and seventh graders are welcome to apply, but spots are limited) and attend through the summer preceding their 9th grade year. 

School Year Program

Our School Year Program runs October through April. All Breakthrough students who attended and completed the Summer Session 2009 are welcome to attend the School Year Program. All sessions will be held on Saturdays throughout the school year. The School Year Program is a great way to stay connected to Breakthrough, get some extra attention on classwork and homework, and get ahead in Math and English class.

Breakthrough Cincinnati is actively recruiting talented high school and college students to serve as teachers in this program.  Please click on the link on the left-hand side of this page (School Year Program) for more information on the school year program, including teacher application forms.

Summer Program

The heart of Breakthrough, the summer academic session runs for six weeks over the summer (8 weeks for teachers) during which middle school students take core academic classes (math, science, English and history) as well as foreign languages, elective courses, and study skills from a faculty comprised of talented high school and college students interested in pursuing a career in education. Class sizes are kept small to ensure one on one attention from the teacher. In addition to completing two hours of homework per night, students take final exams, lead their own parent-teacher conference, and have the option of serving on student council. Students also participate in experiential and cultural field trips and service projects.

BTC’s core academic curriculum, based off of State of Ohio content standards and academic benchmarks, is designed to review what students learned the preceding school year and to foreshadow topics in the upcoming school year.  The high school and college students who serve as teachers in the program attend an 8-day training program in which they cover the basics of pedagogy including lesson planning, educational theory and classroom management. Throughout the summer, teachers receive regular feedback by professional teachers who observe them and offered professional development trainings.

What are students saying about their Breakthrough experience?