• students-speaking-at-breakthrough-bash
  • nina-turner-speaks-at-breakthrough-bash
  • students-from-near-west-intergenerational-school
  • e-prep-students-focused-and-hard-at-work
  • students-from-cla-learning-african-drumming
  • students-from-citizens-academy
  • frontpage-slideshow-images-02a-art-boys
  • Our featured student speakers -- Imani, Malcom, and Mateo -- shined at our Breakthrough Bash 2012
  • Ohio Senator Nina Turner inspires a crowd of 530+ supporters at the Breakthrough Bash 2012
  • Two students from our new, charter-district co-located Near West Intergenerational School in Ohio City
  • Two E-Prep scholars focused during class at our E 36th Superior campus (Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer)
  • 6th grade students from Citizens Leadership Academy during African Drumming workshop
  • 3rd grade students from Citizens Academy having some fun between classes
  • Two students from the Intergenerational School work together on portraits during art class

Choose Excellence. Choose Breakthrough Schools.

Welcome to Breakthrough Schools, a nationally-recognized network of high-performing, free, public charter schools in Cleveland, Ohio. Our mission is to provide sustainable, high-quality public schools in Cleveland’s under-served neighborhoods, ensuring all students have access to a public, free, outstanding college preparatory education. Our schools have been honored by local, state, and national organizations for excellence in teaching, leadership, and student achievement. We currently serve more than 1,400 K-8 students across nine free, public charter schools:

  • The Intergenerational School
  • Near West Intergenerational School
  • E Prep & Village Prep Schools, Cliffs Superior Campus
  • E Prep & Village Prep Schools, Woodland Hills Campus
  • Citizens Academy
  • Citizens Academy East
  • Citizens Leadership Academy

What makes Breakthrough unique? We know that students thrive in different settings, and that teachers thrive in different settings. Because of this, our schools offer distinct educational models 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.

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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 high 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 -- more than 95% African American, Latino, and Asian and approximately 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 Schools 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. Read more about this prestigious investment on the CSGF website. 

About Us

Breakthrough Schools is a nationally-recognized network of high-performing, free, public charter schools in Cleveland, Ohio. Our mission is to provide free, sustainable, high-quality public schools in Cleveland's under-served neighborhoods, ensuring all students have access to a public, free, outstanding college preparatory education.

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