The purpose of Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano (Breakthrough SJC) is to increase educational opportunity for motivated, low-income middle school youth so they can realize their potential to excel in high school and be the first in their family to go on to college. The program is also designed to encourage talented high school and college students to pursue careers in education and to choose to teach in communities with the greatest need. The teachers that participate in Breakthrough SJC are outstanding high school and college students from around the country.

Breakthrough SJC was launched in the summer of 2006 on the campus of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School. Part of a national program, Breakthrough Collaborative, Breakthrough SJC is the only Breakthrough Collaborative site in southern California and among four in the state. Breakthrough Collaborative was founded in San Francisco in 1978 as Summerbridge, and now serves more than 2,000 middle school students and employs 700 high school and college students in 29 locations across the United States.

The Middle school students enrolled in Breakthrough SJC commit to a minimum of two years of intensive six-week summer sessions where they take classes in core academic subjects and participate in a wide-range of elective courses. They also participate in a year-round after-school program called inSession, where they attend a two-hour after-school session during the school year and continue studying core subjects and receive tutoring as needed.

Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano is funded through charitable gifts from local businesses, corporations, foundations and individuals.