Breakthrough Manchester’s unique “students-teaching-students” dual mission provides six years of intensive, tuition-free academic programming to support Manchester students from traditionally marginalized communities on their path to college while inspiring emerging leaders in high school and college to be the next generation of educators and advocates for educational equity.
We do this by:
- Sparking excitement for learning: Motivated students gain the skills and confidence they need to excel in school. At Breakthrough, it’s cool to be smart!
- Creating paths to college: We challenge and prepare students to succeed in rigorous academic programs and aspire to continue their education after high school.
- Promoting careers in education: High school and college students receive training, support, and hands-on experience. They are inspired to become the next generation of educators and leaders in our community through competitive recruitment, research-based training, and coaching from master educators.
All Breakthrough programming, including transportation and meals, is provided tuition-free to students and families and is funded by foundations, businesses, and individuals who believe in our mission. A Breakthrough education offers hope. Breakthrough builds skills and resiliency to get students to college, breaking their family’s cycle of socioeconomic hardships, minimum wage jobs, and language barriers.
Founded in 1991 as Summerbridge, Breakthrough partners with The Derryfield School, Manchester Department of Education, and Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Derryfield hosts the Breakthrough program on their campus providing generous in-kind support of benefits, facilities, and administrative needs, as well as legal counsel and governance. The School also serves as Breakthrough’s fiscal sponsor and we fall under their 501(c)(3) umbrella. A partnership agreement was formed with SNHU in 2016 to create our College-Bound program and provide continued support for Breakthrough students during high school years through college matriculation.
