Now Recruiting Future Breakthrough Students

Know a middle school student who could benefit from extra academic support and mentorship? Breakthrough Central Texas helps students build confidence, strengthen their skills, and prepare for postsecondary success.

2026 AmeriCorps Summer Teaching Fellow applications are now open!

Breakthrough seeks enthusiastic, creative, and successful high school and college students to teach and mentor middle schoolers during our 9-week Academic Summer Academy. 

Our Most Ambitious Campaign Yet: Pathways to Opportunity

We are thrilled to share a historic milestone for Breakthrough Central Texas: the official launch of our Pathways to Opportunity Campaign, a $30 million accelerator fund to unlock the power of education and expand opportunity for thousands more Central Texas students.

Our 2025 Yearbook is here!

It’s full of stories of student successes and dreams realized. It’s a glimpse into the impact of your support—thank you.

Take a look and celebrate with us!

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Jeremiah, The University of Texas at Austin

“I am proud to share that I am a first-generation college graduate from the McCombs School of Business right here at UT Austin. I am still pushing forward, now earning my MBA at UT San Antonio, and I love my job at H-E-B. As the Internship and Bridges Program Coordinator, I help support designing curriculum, advocate for change, and help our interns and partners realize their vision for themselves and their career.”

Breakthrough is the leading college access and success nonprofit in Central Texas.

For more than 20 years, we have partnered with thousands of middle and high school students who aspire to be the first in their family to graduate with a degree or certificate. We make a radical, long-term commitment to students, to and through college, unlocking the power of education and a lifetime of opportunity. We support the whole student with personalized services, work closely with community partners, campuses, and employers, and advocate for our students with lawmakers.

55% of Breakthrough students graduate with a diploma or certificate, compared to 17% of high school graduates from low-income communities in our region.

My Breakthrough Experience: Da’Keona

My name is Da’Keona Jones, an Austin native through and through. I am a proud first-generation college graduate from Texas State University. I'm here to tell you how Breakthrough shined the light on doors my family and I had yet to discover. A bit about me: I have 2...

My Breakthrough Experience: Jeremiah Thompson

My name is Jeremiah Thompson. Now, let’s all go on a journey together. Think back to that weird time called sixth grade. Do you remember that? I got a picture taken the moment Breakthrough came into my life in May 2013, and I was an awkward, gangly, insecure 6th...

First-Gen College Celebration Day Toolkit

Social Media  The Breakthrough Central Texas community is invited to show their first-gen pride through social media platforms on First-Gen College Celebration Day on November 8. We invite you to share your support and recognize the experiences of first-generation...

Our Most Ambitious Campaign Yet: Pathways to Opportunity

Dear Breakthrough Community, On behalf of our Board of Trustees, campaign leadership, and staff, I am thrilled to announce a historic milestone for Breakthrough Central Texas: the public launch of our Pathways to Opportunity Campaign. Through this $30 million...

Class of 2025

Over 90 Breakthrough college grads were honored at Breakthrough’s 2025 Grad Fest. The event celebrated the life-changing achievement each student set out to accomplish back in middle school: to become a first-generation college graduate. Thanks to the generosity of the Breakthrough community, now more than 500 students have walked this path—with thousands more to follow.

A Historic Milestone: Breakthrough’s Schoolwide Program Celebrates First graduating class at Eastside Early College High School (ECHS)

Breakthrough hosted “Your Journey, Your Future,” at Eastside Early College High School (Eastside ECHS) to commemorate the graduation of 146 students from the organization’s Schoolwide Program who receive comprehensive, year-round postsecondary advising. The “Your...

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fri February 20, 2026

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