1. What We Do
Breakthrough Silicon Valley transforms the lives of
underserved students in San Jose.
Through a rigorous six-year program consisting of academic
preparedness courses, college counseling and life skills
coaching, Breakthrough helps students develop the skills and
knowledge needed to gain acceptance to selective four-year
colleges and thrive into adulthood.
Our program employs a ‘students teaching students’ model,
which puts talented high school and college student interns in
a position to teach, lead and inspire our younger students.
Since most of our participants are the first in their families
to attend college, their involvement with Breakthrough is the
crucial catalyst towards securing better lives for themselves
and their families. Studies have shown that a college
education is the key to breaking out of poverty.
According to the US
Department of Labor,
students who are the
first in their
families
to go to
college end
povertyin their
family lines forever.
This brochure was made with the support of the Taproot Foundation
How you can help
The students enrolled in Breakthrough Silicon Valley today will become
the scientists, teachers, artists, and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. But to
ramp up our program so that we can serve even more gifted students,
we need your help. Here’s a sample of what our services cost:
1 in 5
Santa Clara County youth
do not complete high school
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Please consider donating your time or resources. Volunteer opportunities available year-round.
Find out more online at www.breakthroughsv.org.
$
2,800 Provides a full-year for academic programs for one student
(Cost of one student for one year)
$
100 Furnishes athletic equipment, art supplies and musical
instruments for elective courses
$
1,500 Gives a stipend to a high school or college teaching intern
$
50
Supplies a full week of healthy breakfasts and lunches for
one student during the summer program
$
500 Sponsors one student in the after-school math program
$
25 Provides science lab materials for one biology class
$
250 Underwrites a college readiness workshop
Headquartered at 1635 Park Avenue | San Jose, CA 95126 | info@breakthroughsv.org | 408-287-6357
The Road to College
Begins in Middle School

2. The Need
Nationwide, only 8% of low-income students graduate from college.
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds face a number of challenges that
make it near-to-impossible to meet this academic milestone.
• High school students in impoverished communities often do not
graduate with the prerequisites necessary for UC/CSU enrollment due
to the lack of proper guidance, support and advocacy on their behalf.
• Students who are first in their families to consider college often do not
receive direction from family members or academic leaders to navigate
the confusing maze of college and financial aid applications.
Breakthrough accepts students who meet at least two of the following riskfactors:
• Qualify for free/reduced lunch
• Will be first-generation to graduate from college
• Attend an underperforming school (API score lower than 800)
• Speak a language other than English at home
• Live in a gang-impacted neighborhood
• Have a significant family/personal situation that warrants special
consideration (e.g. single parent household, immediate family
member is incarcerated, etc.)
Our Program
At Breakthrough Silicon Valley, we believe that the road
to college begins in middle school. Through a competitive
application process, we select motivated and high-performing
6th grade students for admission to our six-year program.
We provide a system of academic services and life skills
coaching to prepare students for success in college and
beyond:
• Academic summer classes
• Year-round afterschool tutoring
• On-going academic advising
• College workshops and field trips
• Admissions and financial aid counseling
• Financial literacy workshops
• Parent education and ongoing communication
• Career exposure and professional mentors
Since its founding in 2002, Breakthrough Silicon Valley has
grown from a two-year summer program serving 25 students
from one school into a six-year, comprehensive year-round
program serving 300 students from over 30 schools across
two school districts. At our current rate of expansion, we will
serve 600 students by the fall of 2018.
Our Solution
Through rigorous academic courses, personalized grade monitoring and
tutoring, college counseling and life skills coaching we ensure that students
have the foundation to succeed in college.
of Breakthrough graduates are attending four-year universities
of Breakthrough students enroll in Geometry or Algebra II
by 9th grade (compared to 44% of students in the district)
of all our students, grades 7-12, maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher
of our 11th-12th graders enroll in two or more honors, AP,
or IB courses
“When I entered
Breakthrough at the
end of 6th grade, I came
to realize that I, too, can
attend college. Before
this I always thought
that it was impossible
to go to college; I
thought that only the
wealthy could go. I had
lost hope.
During my journey
with Breakthrough, I
was inspired by high
school and college
students that were like
me: low income, with
parents who did not
understand the college
system. I saw that they
were succeeding in
school and I wanted to
be like them. I wanted
to be passionate
about school and life;
I wanted to believe
that nothing could
get in my way. After
my first summer with
Breakthrough, I knew I
was going to college.
Now I know anything is
possible if you try your
hardest, and I spread
this belief of mine to
the younger students.
I enjoy giving them
hope and seeing them
make a change in their
life. Breakthrough has
changed and shaped
me into the person I am
today. I look forward
to going off college to
show to everyone what I
can accomplish.
”—Ricardo Lopez Borrayo
Breakthrough Class
of 2013, Freshman at
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
“Through Breakthrough, I have learned there is a
bigger picture than just my personal success;
it is me applying my education to
create a positive changein
my community.
”—Nestor Gallardo
Breakthrough Class of 2011
Junior at CSU East Bay
“Breakthrough is special. It gives students the
one-to-one attention they need to
succeed…Breakthrough changes lives.
”—Doug Le
Breakthrough teacher
represent the first generation in
their family to attend college
live in gang-impacted
neighborhoods78% 62%
qualify for
free/reduced lunch
use English as their
second language77% 63%
95%
85%
82%
96%