Breakthrough Charter Schools operates nine schools in the Cleveland, Ohio area, and serve more than 1,400 students, grades K-8. Of those students, 98% are African American and 78% are low-income. The program offers three models of schools: Citizens, Prep, and Intergenerational.
The Citizens Schools are commited to academic excellence and responsible citizenship. The grades K-5 model provides two hours of daily literacy and math instruction with an integrated citizenship curriculum. The grades 6-8 model continues rigorous academics and features an "Expeditionary Learning" curriculum.
The Prep schools feature a highly structured school culture found in many top-performing urban schools. The grade K-5 schools focus on reading and math instruction, integrating technology, and features two teachers in each classroom. The grades 6-8 schools feature a mentorship program and a unique entrepreneurship curriculum.
The Intergenerational K-8 Schools organize classes into multi-age clusters that align with children’s developmental stages. The programs include senior mentors, to reinforce the philosophy that learning is a lifelong process.
Breakthrough Schools was the first recipient of Charter School Growth Fund (CSGF) funding and support in Ohio. Here's a local TV news report on the Expeditionary school model.
