Breakthrough Central Texas
Creating first-generation college graduates
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our region is experiencing an ever-widening economic divide, the results of which mean a deep-rooted and pervasive cycle of poverty. A cycle that has little chance of being broken without aggressive and effective intervention. Nearly two-thirds of new jobs in Central Texas require a post-secondary degree. Any form of post-secondary degree increases an individual’s lifetime earnings by 75% over that of a high school diploma. Yet, less than 8% of middle school students from low-income communities in Central Texas will earn a post-secondary degree. It’s not hard to see the pattern in the statistics. The path out of poverty requires, at the very least, a college degree.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Extended Learning
Breakthrough extends the amount of learning each student receives outside of school by offering academically challenging summer programs, after-school tutoring, Saturday enrichment programs and SAT/ACT preparation. We also offer college-financing counseling and individualized college guidance.
Comprehensive Advising
Breakthrough advisers serve each student, 24/7, as their go-to, knowledgeable, personal advocate and champion. Advisers are a special key to our model's success. Our student advisers, work one-on-one with students for an entire phase of their schooling (middle school, high school, and college).
Leadership Experience
Breakthrough engages students in rich, meaningful experiences that develop leadership and instill confidence and a sense of real-life achievement. These experiences include internships with leading companies like Google and Capital Factory, the challenging opportunity to teach younger Breakthrough students, a two-week personal project and innovative ways that build character and broaden horizons.
College Completion
Students receive the resources, guidance and support needed to transition to college and persist through to college graduation.
Where we work
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Percentage of students graduate high school on time
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Percentage of high school graduates that directly enroll into college
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Earn a post-secondary degree or diploma within six years of high school graduation.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Breakthrough students graduate at seven times the rate of their low-income peers.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Breakthrough builds a path through college, beginning in middle school, for students from low-income communities who will become the first in their families to earn a college degree. Our program combines individualized, long-term case management with extended learning time for students who statistics say will not enroll in or graduate from college without significant support.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Breakthrough’s model is shaped by years of research on the underlying drivers of poverty and educational attainment. Education is the most effective way to overcome poverty.
At the core of our model are three main pillars. Each pillar provides students skills and experiences that address the three critical factors that limit academic success and persistence: unequal out-of-school academic opportunities, the lack of a knowledgeable personal advocate and the development of non-cognitive skills. Our model fills these gaps, levelling the education playing field.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Breakthrough students consistently outperform their low-income Central Texas peers when it comes to grades, school attendance, scores on college entrance exams, college readiness, high school graduation, college enrollment, and college graduation. Last spring, 98% of our high school seniors in the Class of 2017 graduated on time, as compared to 90% of their Central Texas low-income peers. Ninety-two percent of them enrolled directly in college, as compared to 43% of their Central Texas low-income peers. Breakthrough students graduate from college at 7 times the rate of other low-income Central Texas students.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Breakthrough Central Texas
Board of directorsas of 02/22/2022
Eva Garza-Nyer
Sergio Rodriguez
Cyndi Bock
Dr. Eva Garza-Nyer
Ricky Green
Dr. Kevin Ilcisin
Carolyn Long
Diana Lowe
Danielle McNeely
Rick Morales
Walt Penn
Vince Reyna
Sergio Rodriguez
Lynne Rupp
Hannah Temple
Dr. Denise Villa
Jasmin Vara
Javier Valdez
Tito Vidaurri
Ted Whatley
Denise Villa
Center for Generational Kinetics
Javier Valdez
Oracle
Denise Villa
Center for Generational Kinetics
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes