Questions about enrolling? Ask for Lashelle at (216) 367-5720.
Our schools have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for excellence in urban education.
A Breakthrough Community of Schools
Students thrive in different settings; teachers thrive in different settings; families feel confident and supported in different settings. There is no one answer to delivering an outstanding education. At Breakthrough Schools, we recognize that. Our distinct educational models reflect our belief that there are many ways to deliver an outstanding college preparatory education. We want to ensure every student, family, teacher can be in a school that will help them achieve their absolute best.
Our Citizens Schools are defined by a commitment to academic excellence and responsible citizenship. Our K-5 model provides two hours of daily literacy and math instruction with an integrated citizenship curriculum. Our 6-8 model continues rigorous academics and prepares leaders of tomorrow through an innovative Expeditionary Learning curriculum. Our Citizens Schools include:
Watch this video about how our Citizens academies build strong school cultures where students can thrive:
History of the Citizens Model: The original Citizens Academy was founded in 1999 by Perry White, intending to prove that inner-city students can excel. Since then, it has developed a national reputation for excellence. Its success stems from a deep commitment to continuous improvement, which helped Citizens Academy become one of only two schools in Ohio to go from Academic Emergency to consecutive ratings of Excellent. In addition to the high expectations school culture, extended student learning, and data-driven approach CA, features: a virtue-centered culture with an integrated citizenship curriculum, a parent engagement program, featuring teacher home visits for every student at the beginning of each year, and a history of building community partnerships to help meet our students’ needs. In 2011, we will be opening our first middle school -- Citizens Leadership Academy -- which will boast a hands-on innovative approach to learning, partnership with Expeditionary Learning Schools and Facing History and Ourselves.
Our Prep Schools are defined by the highly structured school culture found in many of our nation’s top-performing urban schools. Our K-5 schools focus on reading and math instruction, integrating technology, and features two teachers in each classroom. Our 6-8 schools feature a mentorship program and a unique entrepreneurship curriculum. Our Prep schools include:
Entrepreneurship Prep, 6-8 Ohio Dept Ed Rating: Excellent theprepschools.org
Watch this video about how E Prep graduates use their experience to perform at the highest levels after E Prep:
History of the Prep Model: Our founding E Prep School -- Entrepreneurship Preparatory School -- opened in 2006 in response to the pressing need for more educational options for Cleveland’s families and children. Founded by proven local entrepreneurs, the school model features a highly disciplined school culture and academic curriculum which embraces the values hallmark to an entrepreneurial spirit, including: perseverance, responsibility, self-discipline, courage, respect, and choosing to see obstacles as opportunities. While E Prep is unique in Cleveland, it is not an experiment. It is modeled after many very successful high performing urban charter schools in cities such as Boston, New York, Newark, Washington, D.C. and Chicago. The features that make E Prep unique are actually the best-practices used at those high-performing schools. E Prep has already opened its second school -- Village Preparatory School -- in 2008, currently serving K-1 students, growing to K-5.
Our Intergenerational Schools are defined by an innovative academic model that has earned national recognition. These K-8 schools organize classes into multi-age clusters that align with children’s developmental stages. Our Intergenerational Schools create multigenerational learning communities, with senior mentors, to reinforce the philosophy that learning is a lifelong process.
The Intergenerational School, K-8
Ohio Dept Ed Rating: Excellent with Distinction www.tisonline.org
Watch this video about the Intergenerational culture of learning, and how relationships are so critical to helping students excel:
History of the Intergenerational Model: Our founding school -- The Intergenerational School -- was recognized by the US Department of Education for using true educational innovation to close the achievement gap, and is the only K-8 charter school in Ohio with 6 years of Excellent ratings. The school’s philosophy is based on two mainstay ideas: learning occurs through relationships, and learning is a lifelong process. The innovative model incorporates a developmental curriculum and multi-age classrooms, in addition to a variety of regular learning activities with other community members, many of whom are senior citizens. TIS has been approached nationally and internationally by schools and organizations compelled by their unique, innovative model, and has received international grants to explore continued development of the intergenerational program. Our Near West Intergenerational School will be a new school on the near west side of Cleveland, based on the same principles as our founding school.
