Breakthrough San Francisco at SF Day School

Breakthrough San Francisco is a comprehensive, tuition-free after-school and summer program that promotes academic excellence, youth leadership, and intellectual growth for students with limited educational opportunities in San Francisco. The teachers of the program are 7th and 8th grade students from SFDS, as well as talented high school, college and graduate students recruited locally and nationally. The two-year program inspires younger students to love learning and older students to pursue a career in the field of education.

Our History

Breakthrough was founded in 1978 as Summerbridge, an academic outreach program for seventh and eighth graders in San Francisco. The program has now has been replicated in 34 schools across the United States and in Hong Kong. Recognizing the need to serve younger students, the San Francisco Unified School District established Summerbridge Prep in 1991. This program, now known as Breakthrough San Francisco at SF Day School, serves fifth and sixth graders and has been housed at the San Francisco Day School since 1993.

Our Mission

Breakthrough San Francisco aims to provide all children with equal access to excellent educational opportunities and enthusiastic teachers committed to students’ educational success. Breakthrough San Francisco equips both students and teachers alike with the tools to participate in their education, and become leaders within their communities.

Breakthrough Collaborative

Breakthrough Collaborative is the national organization. You can visit them at http://www.breakthroughcollaborative.org/.

Breakthrough San Francisco Staff Andy Shin, Executive Director (415) 568-3661 Heidi Erbe, Associate Director (415) 568-3660 “ Breakthrough has emerged as an enormously powerful intervention in urban schools across America”

Breakthrough San Francisco at SF Day School Advisory Board: Melanie Young , Chair Janie Havemeyer, Chair