Breakthrough Atlanta, hosted by The Lovett School-and now the Atlanta Youth Academy-opened in 1996. Part of the successful Breakthrough Collaborative national program, Breakthrough Atlanta increases educational opportunity for motivated middle school students from metro Atlanta public schools and inspires talented high school and college students to pursue careers in education.
Our dual mission makes us unique:
- We provide a six-year, tuition free, year-round, academically rigorous study skills enrichment program that provides a pathway to college for Atlanta's middle and high school students.
- Our Teacher Interns program provides an intensive hands-on teacher training experience for college students who have an interest in education.
Students are selected to create a student body that is economically, geographically, and ethnically diverse. In addition, we look to bring different students with different family structures and academic abilities together in a safe learning environment. Breakthrough Atlanta is a place where kids build their list of skills by: aiming high, working hard, listening, learning about differences, and being kind. And they find their voice through increased knowledge, confidence, respect and awareness of personal responsibility.
In the summer, middle school students attend a six-week academic program taught by high school and college students aspiring to be teachers.
During the school year, the program continues two Saturdays a month, with a curriculum concentrating on academic areas that foster a lifelong love of learning.
After the middle school component, students continue into the high school College Prep program. This includes workshops on SAT prep, college counseling, team building, leadership, and effective communication, as well as summer workshops to enhance their high school experience and college application.
The Power of Students Teaching Students
Breakthrough Atlanta teacher interns are academically talented college students from around the country selected through a competitive application process. Under the guidance of experienced professional educators (mentor teachers), the teacher interns assume primary teaching responsibilities during the program.
Did You Know?
Breakthrough Atlanta teacher interns are academically-talented students from around the country selected through an intensively competitive process. Since they are closer in age and experience, students can relate to them in a time when they are looking for role models.
