Breakthrough Sacramento

Inspiring Students. Developing Teachers. Together, We Breakthrough.

Breakthrough Sacramento: Strengthening Communities Through Education

Since 1994, Breakthrough Sacramento has partnered with students from Title I schools across our region, helping them become the first in their families to graduate from college and preparing them to lead in their communities.

• Over 4,000 students supported, 100% of whom graduated from high school

• 85% enrolled in college, with many pursuing careers that contribute to the well-being of their Sacramento-area families and neighborhoods

• 500+ future educators trained, bringing energy, empathy, and lived experience into local classrooms

Breakthrough Sacramento has a dual mission:

1. To support under-resourced students in achieving college success, and

2. To train and inspire the next generation of diverse educators through hands-on, pre-professional teaching internships.

When students succeed, entire communities benefit. Higher education is linked to lower rates of poverty, addiction, and homelessness—and to improved health, family stability, and economic opportunity. Education doesn't just change lives; it shapes stronger, safer, and more vibrant communities for everyone.

As one of 25 Breakthrough Collaborative sites across the country, Breakthrough Sacramento is proud to make a lasting impact—one student, one teacher, and one community at a time.

Under-resourced students need Breakthrough 

Simply stated, 1 in 4 children in Sacramento County live in poverty. And, based on a report from the US Census Bureau in 2014, when impoverished youth earn a bachelor's degree, there is only a 5% probability of returning to poverty. 

Unfortunately, in Sacramento County: 

• 22% of Sacramento’s economically disadvantaged students met math standards, compared to 49% of their more affluent peers. (California Dept. of Ed, 2022/23, ELA CAASPP testing) 
• 31% of Sacramento’s economically disadvantaged students met English language Arts standards, compared to 61% of their more affluent peers. (California Dept. of Ed, 2022/23, ELA CAASPP testing)

The academic achievement gap can hinder students' abilities to reach their full academic potential. To combat this, Breakthrough provides year-round academic support in math and English Language Arts, as well as immersion in STEM fields, to help guide students toward success in college. 

Breakthrough offers five evidence-based services to achieve this goal 

1. Summer Programming – Breakthrough conducts a 6-week Summer Academic Academy for 7th-9th-grade students. The goal of this intensive day camp is to enhance the educational experience of every student, promote educational fairness, and inspire self-assurance by involving them in STEM-based learning that may not be accessible in their local schools. The student-teacher ratio is impactful at just 8:1. Teachers are selected from a diverse pool of high-school and college students who aspire to become educators. Teachers in this "near peer" pre-professional program receive extensive training and are eligible for college credits at CSUS and UC Davis.

2. Weekly Tutoring – Breakthrough middle-school students can take advantage of Weekly Breakthroughs, a tutoring program designed to address learning loss experienced during the school year and accelerate students who are ahead of their peers. The program provides homework assistance and supplemental math and writing lessons, as well as weekly hands-on science experiments.

3. Monthly Field Trips – Students attend monthly experiential field trips during which they tour colleges; attend professional sporting events; experience nature hikes, camping, and snow treks; and enjoy cultural exposure to arts and theater. Sierra Club ICO is a sponsor of all outdoor activities.

4. High School College Prep – Breakthrough’s high-school students receive 4 years of academic direction and college preparatory support. We track grades and attendance, provide counseling for high-school options, and advocate for students to enroll in challenging college-preparatory high-school programs. Additionally, we support students with college-preparation workshops, financial-aid information sessions, and self-advocacy coaching for the entire family to ensure they are prepared for college and life success.

5. Social Justice Internship – Breakthrough offers its high-school students a paid internship that centers on the legalization of marijuana and its impact on the Sacramento community, particularly on young people.

Breakthrough consistently demonstrates that underserved students can achieve at the highest levels when provided with the necessary support to advance academically.

Breakthrough Sacramento is a nonprofit, fiscally sponsored by Community Initiatives, EIN 94-3255070.