Our Students
Breakthrough Greater Boston students love learning and are determined to achieve the goal of four-year college. Reflective of their high levels of motivation, students commit to BTGB for six years in order to realize their dreams.
Each year, Breakthrough Greater Boston serves 10% of seventh through twelfth grade students attending the public schools in Cambridge and Somerville, as well as students in Boston attending TechBoston Academy, New Mission Collegiate Academy, Neighborhood House Charter School, Codman Academy, Academy of the Pacific Rim and Boston Prep. Breakthrough recruits in every sixth grade classroom in both Cambridge and Somerville as well as in our four partner schools in Boston, accepting students who are willing to make a multi-year commitment to the program and who are serious about pursuing the goal of college.
Cambridge Campus Demographics
94% are students of color |
District wide: 65%
81% are students of low income |
District wide: 45%
77% of students will be the first generation in their families to go to college
Cambridge Campus Demographics
94% are students of color
81% are students of low income
81% of students will be the first generation in their families to go to college
58% of students are multilingual
Boston Campus Demographics
100% are students of color
95% are students of low income
85% of students will be the first generation in their families to go to college
16% of students are multilingual
Boston Campus Demographics
100% are students of color |
District wide: 86%
95% are students of low income |
District wide: 65%
77% of students will be the first generation in their families to go to college
Somerville Campus Demographics
89% are students of color |
95% are students of low income |
91% of students will be the first generation in their families to go to college
Somerville Campus Demographics
88% are students of color
94% are students of low income
88% of students will be the first generation in their families to go to college
56% of students are multilingual
Click here to see where Breakthrough Greater Boston students were accepted to college in 2021!
| American University | Berklee College of Music | Boston University | Brandeis University |
| Bridgewater State University | Bunkerhill Community College | College of Mount Saint Vincent | Cornell University |
| Dean College | Harvard University | Ithaca College | Lesley University |
| Marymount University | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Mass Bay Community College | MCPHS |
| Northeastern University | Roxbury Community College | Salem State University | Simmons University |
| Skidmore College | Syracuse University | The New School | Tufts University |
| University of Maine | University of Massachusetts — Amherst | University of Massachusetts — Boston | University of Massachusetts — Dartmouth |
| University of Massachusetts — Lowell | Valencia College |
Our Families
Breakthrough Greater Boston starts engaging with families well before students enroll in our program. During the recruitment process, Breakthrough sends all eligible 6th grade students home with information and recruitment packets, translated into Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and English. We host general family information sessions throughout the winter and spring and ask prospective families to participate in Student and Family Interview Day where current Breakthrough families share their experience with the program and answer questions.
Once enrolled in Breakthrough, Program Directors strive to cultivate meaningful relationships with parents through several in-person touch points throughout the year (including orientation sessions, Family Night, Summer Celebration, and parent-teacher conferences). Additionally, Program Directors and Breakthrough teachers schedule at least three in-person check ins with families annually, and send periodic calls and emails to parents and guardians. Breakthrough parents are asked to fill out a survey at the end of the summer, assessing their child’s academic and socio-emotional growth over their time with Breakthrough.