Breakthrough Manchester

Ride the Breakthrough Wave! 🌊

The magic of Breakthrough’s students-teaching-students dual mission will be captured in a tropical setting this summer 🦋🌴🐠🌋

Breakthrough’s captivating academic environment in our 6-year, tuition-free college-access program makes college education a reality for our scholars from marginalized communities - 100% of students who complete Breakthrough’s six-year program continue to higher education, with 98% matriculating to four-year colleges! Census research shows that low-income students who earn college degrees are 96% more likely to escape poverty!

Despite being bright and talented, BTM students face significant barriers to pursuing higher education due to opportunity gaps. 

• 68% will be first-generation college graduates

• 90% identify as students of color

• 64% qualify for free or reduced lunch

• 32% live with an alternative head of household (single parent, relative, foster)

• 84% speak a language other than English at home

Breakthrough Manchester’s unique “students-teaching-students” dual mission provides six years of intensive, tuition-free academic programming to support Manchester students from 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.

"BREAKTHROUGH IS MAGICAL! My Breakthrough Manchester experience has been nothing short of life-changing.  As a young, shy, curious student, I found community in Breakthrough. A network of near-peers, dedicated to my future success, inspired and empowered me to reach the potential I didn’t even believe I had.”

- Alycia, BTM Scholar and Teacher Alumna

Breakthrough Manchester’s unique “students-teaching-students” dual mission provides six years of intensive, tuition-free academic programming to support Manchester students from 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.

A Breakthrough summer focuses on mastering skills from the previous school year and learning concepts to set students up for success in the year ahead! Your support of Breakthrough's 34th summer will create a brighter future ☀️😎:

1. Empowers Breakthrough Scholars to excel academically, navigate the complexities of the college application process, and thrive in their chosen fields 🌟


2. Expand educational access by leveling the playing field, ensuring every student has an equal opportunity to succeed 🎓


3. Promote careers in education: high school and college students receive coaching from master educators and hands-on teaching experience, inspiring them to become the next generation of educators and leaders in our world 🌏

Breakthrough is tuition-free for all scholars and families, including all programming, field trips, transportation, school/technology supplies, and meals (breakfast, snack, lunch). The cost to support a student is $3,300.

34 Gifts unlocks a $3,400 challenge for NH GIVES to advance educational equity for Breakthrough’s 34th summer!

Ride the Breakthrough Wave! 🌊

Support Scholars & Teaching Fellows TEACH, LEARN, & GROW!

Together, we are Breakthrough Manchester!

Who We Are

Bright students with limited resources need tuition-free, challenging summer academic programs. College students want meaningful and responsible summer internships. Enter Breakthrough. The dual missions of Breakthrough Manchester are to launch promising Manchester middle school students, particularly those with limited opportunities, on the path to college while inspiring high school and college students to pursue careers in education.

We do this by:
- Providing a 6-year, tuition-free, academic enrichment and college counseling program to high-potential students with limited opportunities, beginning in sixth grade.
- Providing three rigorous, joyful academic summers and school year supports to Breakthrough students in middle school, on The Derryfield School campus.
- Transitioning students to the Breakthrough Manchester High School Program at Southern NH University for support and college counseling in grades 9-12.
- Recruiting, training, mentoring and supporting college students, and some local high-achieving high school students, as excellent teachers, tutors and mentors
- Engaging a broad array of stakeholders in understanding, promoting, funding and championing both missions of Breakthrough.

Frequently Asked Questions about Contributions to Breakthrough Manchester
Question: How much of my donation to Breakthrough goes to support the program, rather than administrative and overhead expenses?
Answer: 100%. Breakthrough Manchester (originally called Summerbridge Manchester) was founded in 1991, and the founders of the program had the wisdom to establish an endowment fund to provide some operating income for the program in perpetuity...