Breakthrough SF
Breakthrough supports San Francisco students on the path to college and trains the next generation of educators.
In 2024-25, we're supporting 250 students in grades 5-12. Our students apply as fourth graders and commit to attending Breakthrough for eight years after-school, in the summer, and on Saturdays, until high school graduation. Our students come from backgrounds historically underrepresented in higher education - 85% will be the first in their families to attend a four-year college. We're proud that 96% of students in our first six graduating classes have gone on to college, including 89% at four-year schools.
In addition, through our summer teacher residency, Breakthrough trains outstanding college students who are considering an education career. 58% of Teaching Fellows who graduated from college in the past decade are now working in the education sector, most as classroom teachers in urban public schools.
Breakthrough welcomes SF Day 8th graders and alumni to tutor in our after-school program, helping our students succeed. The commitment is one afternoon per week (Mon, Tue, or Wed) in the fall or spring, with applications due at the start of each semester. Please visit the Breakthrough website to learn more.
Breakthrough and SF Day
Breakthrough has been a community involvement initiative of SF Day School since 1993, when a steering committee comprised of parents, administrators, and trustees explored options for broadening the school's impact. SF Day Summerbridge launched that year under Founding Director Al Gonzales and then Head of School Jim Telander. The school has preserved and deepened its commitment in the more than three decades since.
Breakthrough is closely aligned with SF Day's mission and values. The SF Day community supports the program in a number of ways, providing classroom and office space, volunteer support, financial contributions, and much more. Many eighth graders and alumni volunteer each year as tutors in Breakthrough’s after-school program – a unique and meaningful opportunity for service and leadership.