Summer at Breakthrough Atlanta: Empowering All-Star Scholars
This summer, nearly 300 All-Star Scholars in grades 7–9 embraced hands-on learning, bold challenges, and real-world projects—all designed to ignite curiosity, build confidence, and prepare them for high school and beyond. From designing math quilts to producing podcasts, our Scholars didn’t just learn—they applied their skills to solve meaningful problems.With the dedication of 55 Teaching Fellows and the support of families and our community, Breakthrough’s summer program was more than classes and activities—it was a transformational experience that empowered students, inspired future educators, and strengthened our mission of expanding opportunity for every Scholar.
Scholars in Action: Project-Based Learning
Over five weeks, our Scholars participated in Breakthrough’s Signature High School Readiness Program, logging more than 17,000 total learning hours. Alongside core classes—ELA, Math, STEM, Biology, and High School Readiness—students explored electives ranging from cheer, PE, and majorette to world languages, business, and public speaking.
Project-Based Learning (PBL) invited students to tackle real-world questions through hands-on, interdisciplinary projects. Each grade explored a driving question, developed solutions, and shared their work with our community:
7th Grade
- ELA: Hosted a Mental Wellness Health Fair inspired by Chess Rumble, designing trauma-informed games to help a character—and students like him—manage anger in healthy ways.
- Math: Created dream vacation travel brochures, applying budgeting and planning skills to explore cultures around the globe.
- STEM: Produced digital artifacts with QR codes, presenting solutions to marine pollution and water contamination through a gallery walk.
8th Grade
- ELA: Performed a poetry slam exploring their values and poetic form through The Crossover.
- Math: Designed a “Math Quilt” using the Pythagorean Theorem to address housing insecurity.
- STEM: Engineered theme park rides that balanced thrill, safety, and energy efficiency.
9th Grade
- ELA: Produced podcasts on overcoming barriers to become who they want to be in the world.
- Math: Built “Polynomial Farms” to calculate field dimensions for farmers.
- Biology: Created interactive tutorials on plant and animal cells and their role in sustaining life.
Across grades, 86% of Scholars felt they were capable to go to college.
Teaching Fellows: Leading, Learning, and Inspiring
Central to this success were our 55 Teaching Fellows—college-aged leaders preparing to become educators. Their transformative experience included:
- 72% reported an increased interest in pursuing education as a career.
- 93% felt better prepared to teach following their Breakthrough fellowship.
100% would recommend the fellowship to peers interested in teaching. Georgia Aquarium joined students to explore marine science and conservation through interactive exhibits and workshops.
Partnering with Families for Student Success
Recognizing that families are crucial partners in student achievement, Breakthrough offered a robust summer parent workshop series. Over 180 parents and guardians participated in sessions focused on self-awareness, growth mindset, shifting parental roles, emotional support strategies, and financial literacy.
Looking Ahead: Powered by Promise, Fueled by Community
All of this is possible because of our generous community. Your support fuels summer programs that open doors, build confidence, and equip students with the skills and vision to succeed.
From middle school through college graduation, Breakthrough’s All-Star Scholars are empowered to lead with confidence, achieve with excellence, and inspire the next generation. This summer reaffirmed that when determination meets opportunity, extraordinary results follow—advancing our Scholars boldly toward college, career, and a brighter future.
On behalf of the students, families, and future teachers we serve, thank you for making a lasting, life-changing impact.