Breakthrough at Saint Andrew's School

Mission

Breakthrough at Saint Andrew's School provides economically disadvantaged children in local public schools with access to a rigorous and competitive curriculum that will enhance their chances of entering and succeeding in college. Breakthrough also trains and encourages high school and college students to serve their communities as mentors and educators. Breakthrough is part of the national Breakthrough Collaborative program, based in San Francisco.

The single most distinguishing aspect of Breakthrough is its unique affiliation with the Breakthrough Collaborative's national trademark "Students Teaching Students." South Florida Breakthrough's "faculty," high school and college students who have already mastered rigorous college preparatory subjects, such as Geometry, Chemistry, American History, and Expository Writing, pass on their knowledge and skills by teaching their middle school counterparts the same. A 1999 longitudinal study of the program and its students by Stanford University indicates that

• 90% reported that Breakthrough prepared them for high school courses
• more than 80% reported that they learned what it takes to get into college
• 57% were taking algebra or geometry in 8th grade (vs. the national average of 27%)

Breakthrough is a seven-year, non-profit, tuition-free program. Seventy-eight percent of the program's participants receive free or reduced lunch. Breakthrough competes annually for operating support. The program's primary source of support comes from individuals, in-kind donations, and local businesses and foundations. However, additional support is needed.

Curricular Practices

Breakthrough emphasizes: study and critical thinking skills across the curriculum, academic rigor, hands-on experiential learning, and academic excellence.

History

When the Board of Trustees voted to adopt Breakthrough in 1997, Saint Andrew's School entered into a long-term affiliate relationship with, and became members of what was then called Breakthrough National. Founded in 1978, at San Franciso University High School, Breakthrough National, now the Breakthrough Collaborative, is a national education program with more than 25 sites throughout the United States. The organization is consistently recognized by the Princeton Review. It is listed, along with the White House, MTV, and the Supreme Court, by the Princeton Review as one of the Top Ten Internships in the nation.

Breakthrough has two distinct components: an annual six-week Summer Institute (June-July) and an annual fourteen-week School Year Institute (October-May).

Services

Breakthrough provides the following services and opportunities free-of-charge to all participants: summer and school year enrichment classes in core subject areas ( Writing Through Literature, Science, History, Math), elective classes, special projects, field trips, tutoring, homework assistance, high school admission counseling, tracking and intervention, attendance and support at school-related parent meetings.
Members of the Saint Andrew's School community are part of a community-wide effort to ensure the program's success. Saint Andrew's School's teachers, students, and administrators serve as faculty, tutors, mentors, and workshop facilitators in the program. If you are interested in being involved in the program's Summer or School Year Institute (including Saturday Enrichment School or weekday tutoring), please contact the Breakthrough Office at 561/210-2090.