Breakthrough Central Texas

How is your organization doing? Biggest highlight from 2025?

Throughout 2025-26, Breakthrough Central Texas (BTCTX) continued to make meaningful strides in supporting Central Texas students on the path to becoming the first in their families to earn a postsecondary degree or certificate. Our advisors serve as consistent guides and advocates, beginning with students in sixth grade and supporting them through high school and up to six years beyond graduation as they navigate their postsecondary journeys.

During the year, BTCTX also experienced continued growth across its programs, serving more students than ever before. Guided by the leadership of our staff, Board of Trustees, and community partners, the organization maintained strong financial stability while laying the foundation for future expansion through our 2024-29 strategic plan.

A major milestone of this plan was the successful completion of Pathways to Opportunity, Breakthrough’s $30 million accelerated growth campaign. The campaign concluded this past summer after raising more than $32.9 million - 110% of the original $30 million goal. These investments will fuel the organization’s planned growth from serving 3,000 students in 2024 to 5,500 students by 2029, expanding access to the resources and support students need to achieve long-term success.

Breakthrough’s growth is already underway. From 2025 to 2026, the number of students served across all programs increased from 3,700 to 4,000, including students in sixth grade through six years after high school graduation. This impact included:

• 2,500 students from three school districts receiving support from sixth grade through Year 6 of postsecondary education
• 1,500 students from Manor New Tech High School and Eastside Early College High School receiving services from 11th grade through Year 5 of postsecondary education
• More than 650 first-generation college graduates earning diplomas and certificates from institutions across the country

Together, these accomplishments reflect Breakthrough’s continued commitment to expanding educational opportunity and supporting first-generation students from middle school through college completion and beyond.

How has your organization grown in the past year?

Over the past year, Breakthrough grew both in scale and in organizational capacity. The organization now serves more than 4,000 students—up from approximately 3,700 in 2025. BTCTX also admitted about 1,200 new students and increased its cumulative number of first-generation college graduates to more than 650 since our inaugural class of students in 2002, with thousands more following in their footsteps. BTCTX also continued to post strong outcomes in high school graduation, direct-to-college enrollment, persistence, and family engagement. These are reflected in our most recent* outcomes from 2025:

• 98% of Breakthrough students graduated within four years (compared to 85% of their low-income peers from the region)
• 89% of graduating high school seniors directly enrolled into college or another postsecondary pathway (compared to 35% of their low-income peers from the region)
• 84% of Breakthrough students persisted into their second year of postsecondary enrollment (compared to 75% of their low-income peers from the region)
• A three-year average showed that 55% of Breakthrough high school graduates completed their postsecondary degree or certificate within 6 years following high school, which is significantly higher than the regional benchmark rate of 17% among students from low-income communities
• 83% of families responding to an annual survey reported that being involved with Breakthrough has increased their knowledge about the steps necessary to get to and graduate from college
• 86% of families responding to an annual survey reported that Breakthrough helps them support their child’s success in school.

At the same time, Breakthrough became a more robust and sophisticated organization to support that growth. It expanded staffing, adding 8 program staff positions across high school and postsecondary teams, restructured advising into more specialized teams, created new leadership roles such as Chief College Access Officer and Chief College and Career Success Officer, and launched a search for a Deputy Executive Director to strengthen organization-wide program oversight. Breakthrough also deepened partnerships with colleges, as well as workforce and credentialing providers. These aforementioned changes show an organization that is not only serving more students, but also building the systems, leadership, and partnerships needed to scale its impact with quality. Below are just selected examples of Breakthrough’s additional outputs and accomplishments in 2025-26:

• Admitted nearly 600 students to join our Schoolwide and 12-Year Experience programs
• Supported our second class of nearly 500 high school seniors to graduate and take their next steps to postsecondary education
• Celebrated 116 college graduates, bringing the cumulative number of Breakthrough’s postsecondary graduates to more than 650 
• Carried out the largest fundraising campaign in org history with the Pathways to Opportunity Campaign 
• Added eight new staff roles
• Increased capacity through a high school staffing restructure and new structure and staffing for the College and Career Success advising team 
• Clarified the role of advising (case management) to align and support our advisors across all of our teams: Middle School, High School, Schoolwide, and College and Career Success
• Piloted initiatives to respond to challenge of academic readiness

*Please note: Breakthrough calculates annual outcome data for high school graduation rates, direct-to-college enrollment, persistence, and postsecondary graduation rates during the fall semester after each school year concludes. For example, data for the 2025-26 academic year will be finalized in Fall 2026, after we have had the chance to verify it with school districts and through the National Student Clearinghouse. The results provided above are from the 2024-25 school year, our most recently finalized data.

What are some of the direct impacts the grant has had on your orgnization?

Austin FC’s Q-mmunity grant supported Breakthrough’s 2026 Middle School Summer Academy, which served more than 700 students in grades 6 - 9 across four summer sites, reaching recruitment and attendance levels not seen since before the COVID pandemic. The program provided learning experiences for our students but also for the college-age AmeriCorps members who taught our students in the Middle School Summer Academy. This past summer was staffed by 113 college-age AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows, who provided 161 hours of instruction in core subjects plus enrichment through more than 28 field trips designed to prevent summer learning loss and support college-going aspirations. Teaching Fellows were supervised and mentored by 16 instructional coaches, who were experienced teachers from partner districts.

For many families, a Breakthrough student represents more than an individual success story; they become a trailblazer whose achievements demonstrate what is possible and inspire others to pursue similar goals. Through this multiplier effect, Breakthrough helps foster educational opportunity and college-going traditions that can influence families and communities for years to come.

Please describe and give examples.

Breakthrough’s 2026 Middle School Summer Academy offered rigorous academics combined with enrichment to help curb learning loss and launch low-income students on a path to college. Each year, our Middle School Summer Academy immerses students in rigorous curricula over a six-week, full-day, academic program for students during the summers before their 6th-9th grade year that includes college-prep curricula in all core subjects, electives, and well-organized field trips. By the time they reach high school, Breakthrough students have attended the equivalent of an entire additional semester of school during their summers with Breakthrough.

Over six weeks of instruction, our students spent 161 hours learning across four core subject areas. Through leadership of Breakthrough’s Curriculum and Instruction Specialist, students experienced relevant, age-appropriate curriculum, aligned with state curriculum standards that help curb learning loss while also preparing students for the year ahead. In addition, our ongoing partnership with EcoRise provided students with hands-on science projects during the 2026 Middle School Summer Academy. Across disciplines, the curriculum encouraged students to explore personal identity, community and societal issues, and the ways historical and current events shape culture and beliefs. Interactive social studies and language arts lessons helped students make meaningful connections across topics, while hands-on math instruction emphasized real-world applications and strengthened students’ problem-solving and mathematical reasoning skills.

Learning also extended outside the classroom, with enriching experiences and more than 28 field trips, including but not limited to activities such as STEM workplace tours, a field trip to AMD to work one-on-one with employee volunteers to build solar-powered cars, college visits to destinations like Austin Community College’s “Make It” Center and Texas State University, career fairs, visits to parks and museums, and swimming field trips. 

The impact of Breakthrough extends far beyond the students who participate in the Middle School Summer Academy program. As students reach important academic and personal milestones, they inspire siblings, relatives, and peers to envision new possibilities for their own futures and pursue higher education. This ripple effect is especially powerful for first-generation college-bound students, who are often among the first in their families to navigate the path to college.

Student impact is evident in our student and family outputs and outcomes, but we also receive feedback from our students, families, and Teaching Fellows. BTCTX is pleased to share a few select quotes from 2026 as just a few examples of the feedback we receive each year: 

• “Here at Breakthrough we have a lot of fun, but we also take classes and learn things to help us for the upcoming school year. I'm currently studying 8th grade English and in my ELA class we are currently learning about conflicts. I really like this class because Ms. Jaileene makes it so fun and she always has us laughing at her jokes. In my science class we are learning about different types of energy and transportation. I like this class because even when I don’t understand or remember things, my teacher, Ms. Alexis, makes the class fun with her positive energy. In math we are learning about rotation, translation, and reflection…….Overall, my classes are really fun this summer and I am excited to be back.   I like when my teachers make activities and assignments more fun and engaging. It's also helpful for me when teachers don't get mad when we ask them questions. Some teachers I’ve had in the past during the school year would get mad when I would ask questions. Having teachers answer me when I'm curious about something  makes me feel like I'm allowed to ask questions and actually learn.” 

Joyce, rising 7th grade Breakthrough student

• “I just wanted to say thank you to everyone at Breakthrough Central Texas for giving Emery such an amazing summer. This was her first year, and she loved every minute of it. At the end-of-summer celebration, she cried her eyes out because she didn’t want it to end. As a parent, there is no greater compliment to a program than seeing your child that heartbroken to leave. Thank you for believing in these kids and investing so much in them. It’s obvious Breakthrough is changing lives, and we feel incredibly lucky that Emery gets to be part of It.”

Katie, parent of Breakthrough student (rising 7th grader)

• “Being a Breakthrough teaching fellow has been an eye-opening experience. I learned so much about the behind-the-scenes of the Breakthrough community and the hard work of the staff, families, and students. Even though my career is not in education, I have gained so many lifelong skills, for example, leadership. Leadership is a powerful skill to have; it's about turning a vision into a reality. And I think that is a key factor in Breakthrough.” 

Shawn, 3rd year Teaching Fellow who is currently majoring in interior design at Texas State University

What advice would you give those who are considering applying for the Q-mmunity Gives grant?

Breakthrough was incredibly thrilled and proud to be chosen as a grantee from Austin FC’s 2025 grant cycle. For future organizations considering applying for a Q-mmunity Gives grant, please keep sharing your program through the application process each year. In our case, we applied multiple times but overall an application is a great way for Austin FC to see who your organization is and what you do in the community.

What is next for your organization and what goals do you have for future growth and impact?

By helping students overcome the systemic barriers that often stand in the way of higher education, Breakthrough opens doors to life-changing opportunities that extend far beyond a single generation. As students earn degrees and credentials, they gain access to greater economic mobility, expanded choices, and brighter futures for themselves and their families. Guided by our 2024-29 Strategic Plan, Breakthrough is poised for significant continued growth, with a goal of serving more than 5,500 students by 2029 and helping hundreds of first-generation students graduate from college each year. To reach this milestone, we will enroll an additional 300 middle school students annually into our 12-Year Experience program and expand our Schoolwide Program to serve 300 or more additional 11th-grade students each year by the end of the decade.

Strengthening postsecondary access and success remains at the heart of this vision. Breakthrough's comprehensive continuum of support helps aspiring first-generation college students from low-income communities prepare for, enroll in, and complete the postsecondary pathway that best aligns with their goals and aspirations. As we expand both the 12-Year Experience and Schoolwide Programs, investments from the Pathways to Opportunity Campaign will also deepen partnerships with K-12 schools and higher education institutions, enhance curriculum and student resources, and strengthen the organizational capacity needed to support a growing population of postsecondary students over the next five years.

Through the Pathways to Opportunity Campaign and our Strategic Plan, Breakthrough is committed to scaling both our reach and our impact while maintaining the quality and individualized support that define our model. By 2029, we aim to:

• Triple the number of Breakthrough students graduating college each year, celebrating 1,100 total first-generation college graduates by 2029
• Nearly double the number of students engaged in Breakthrough to 5,500 served by 2029
• Admit more than 3,000 new middle school and high school students to Breakthrough over the next five years
• Expand the Schoolwide Program to transform high school campuses and bring Breakthrough’s radical long-term commitment to more students
• Provide invaluable field experience to 600 young adults as Summer Teaching Fellows and Student Advocacy Fellows, fueling a diverse pipeline of future educators and community leaders