* Recruiting and selectively admitting high-potential sixth graders with limited opportunities from Manchester middle schools for a tuition-free, three-year program

* Providing three rigorous, joyful academic summers and school year supports to admitted students

* Recruiting, training, mentoring and supporting college students, and some local high-achieving high school students, as excellent teachers

* Connecting with similar programs serving Manchester high schools to create a pipeline of opportunity for Breakthrough students as they enter ninth grade

* Engaging a broad array of stakeholders in understanding, promoting, funding and championing both missions of Breakthrough.

* 100% will be the first in their families to graduate from college;

* 72% qualify for free or reduced lunch;

* 69% are students of color and

* 42% of Breakthrough Manchester's students speak English as a second language.

* Bates College (ME)

* College of the Holy Cross (MA)

* Connecticut College (CT)

* Harvard University (MA)

* Keene State College (NH)

* Manchester Community College (NH)

* New Hampshire Institute of Art (NH)

* New Hampshire Technical Institute (NH)

* New York Conservatory for Performing Arts (NY)

* Oxford College at Emory University (GA)

* St. Anselm College (NH)

* University of La Verne (CA)

* University of New Hampshire (NH)

* Wellesley College (MA)

Middle-School Summer Sessions: The intensive six-week summer sessions are the highlight of the Breakthrough experience. Featuring daily academic classes in Literature, Writing, Math, Science, and Leadership, the summer sessions also offer engaging co-curricular and enrichment activities, such as foreign language, music appreciation, dance lessons, athletics, and public speaking. The academic curriculum is rigorous, based on state standards and research-proven best practices in each discipline. Every night, students complete 1 � - 2 hours of homework. Fridays feature dynamic field trips, ranging from visits to universities to community-service projects. The unique Students Teaching Students model creates an intellectually engaging, spirited, and energetic environment for students while fostering a supportive community and building a strong peer network of college-bound students.

Middle-School Year-Round Program: Saturday events once per month in the winter and spring address school-year needs and skill development by focusing on academic acceleration, enrichment, and community-building. Counseling on high-school options helps students successfully enroll in Level 3 and 4 college preparatory courses and, in some cases, students apply for and enter college-preparatory boarding or day schools. The year-round program fosters the energetic and spirited sense of community and engagement that are begun in the summer sessions.

Transition to High School Program: Involvement with Breakthrough during high school is encouraged, but optional, for Breakthrough students. The Derryfield College Counseling office works closely with Breakthrough, has staff with deep knowledge of the college search and selection process from both student and institutional perspectives, provides workshops such as college counseling and financial aid, and maintains the school website with easy access to a wealth of college-bound information and resources. In addition, Breakthrough works hard to establish and maintain a pipeline of opportunities with similar organizations and programs that work closely with Manchester high school students, such as Access Academy through St. Anselm College, Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search (ETS) through UNH, Caring Adults Promoting Student Success (CAPSS) through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and others.

High-School and College Student Teacher-Training Program: To fulfill the other portion of its mission, Breakthrough trains high-achieving high school and college students to teach. With guidance and support from professional educators, college and high-school students shoulder the responsibilities of full-time educators as they implement curricula, plan daily lessons, manage student behavior, and commit their time to helping younger students follow in their footsteps on the road to college. As the college and high-school students connect the sobering statistics about educational inequity with the bright, motivated, and engaging children in their classes, they are challenged and inspired to consider their potential roles in closing the Achievement Gap and ensuring the success of all students. Breakthrough is revolutionary in this regard: those who provide the "services" are educated by the "clients," and those who seek to change lives often find themselves transformed. Quite simply, this means that every day at Breakthrough, students are teaching students from both sides of the teacher's desk.