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  • Breakthrough Schools | Students at Citizens Academy

Welcome to Breakthrough Schools

Welcome to Breakthrough Schools, a nationally recognized network of high-performing, free, public charter schools in Cleveland, Ohio. We currently serve more than 1,400 K-8 students across six schools, and will be opening three additional schools in Fall 2012/13. Learn more about our schools here.

Our mission is to provide sustainable, high-quality schools in Cleveland’s under-served neighborhoods, ensuring all students have access to an outstanding college preparatory education.

What makes Breakthrough unique? We offer three unique school models -- Citizens, E Prep, and Intergenerational -- to our students, families, teachers, and community. Each of our schools is part of one of these exciting, proven, effective school models. Click here to learn more about our unique approach to education and offering real choices to our community.

While educationally unique, all our schools are built on our shared Breakthrough principles:

  • We always put children’s needs first, in every decision we make
  • We hold everyone to the highest expectations, from our kindergartners to our board chair
  • We share a never give up attitude, no matter what it takes
  • We believe in our students, and know that every child can learn and excel

Combining our shared principles with our unique educational models, we are able to deliver a portfolio of unique, effective educational options to our community, especially our students. This nationally innovative approach is working:

In 2011, our students -- 90% African American and 80% low-income -- significantly outperformed Ohio public school students (urban and suburban) on average on every single test at every single grade level. Congratulations to our wonderful teachers, leaders, and especially our students and families on another amazing year. Click here to read more about our results.

Breakthrough is also very proud to be the first recipient of Charter School Growth Fund (CSGF) funding and support in Ohio. CSGF invests in high-quality urban charter networks committed to growing to serve more children. Click here to learn more about Breakthrough's unique growth model, as well as read our CSGF Executive Summary.