Featured Student

Arbay Ali Arbay Ali was recently selected to be a Nugget for a Day! Only 12 students are selected per season from around the state, and the judging of the competition was based on four basic criteria; good citizenship, scholarship, determination in the face of adversity, and positive character. Denver Nuggets officials surprised her during gym class at Merrill Middle School and presented her with the award. As... read more

Each year, Breakthrough Kent Denver serves 390 individuals: approximately 140 middle school students, 185 middle schoolers who are now in high school, and 65 high school and college age mentors and teachers. Our target DPS students:

• come from low-income families (80% are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program)
• are 97% people of color (primarily Hispanic and African-American)
• are motivated about their education
• want to continue on to post-secondary settings
• are 60% female and 40% male
• are performing at least at grade level
• and have at least one adult in their lives who can support them in achieving their goals

Breakthrough students are motivated youth who want to get to college, and have the basic ability to do so, but need some extra help to reach their goal. They face significant barriers due to lack of access and opportunity, and as a result are shut out from achieving their academic and personal goals. They watch their dream fade, and we lose all that they might have contributed. The solution? Breakthrough Kent Denver!

Breakthrough Kent Denver admits a class of new 6th grade students each year. Any DPS 6th grader is eligible to apply, with recruitment presentations being made at Kepner, Rishel, Smiley, Place, Noel, Martin Luther King, Skinner, Cole, Harrington, Bruce Randolph Middle Schools. Students must commit to participate for at least two years in both the summer and school year program.