About Us

Program Overview
Who are Pathfinder Students?
Teaching Fellows
Meet the Team
FAQs

Program Background

Since 1993, Hopkins School has provided an academic enrichment program to students from New Haven public and parochial schools. Formerly known as Summerbridge New Haven (1993-2005), and Breakthrough New Haven (2006-2016), Pathfinder Hopkins School provides an academically rigorous after-school and summer program to academically motivated middle school students in grades 5-8.

Program Overview

Pathfinder Hopkins School is a tuition-free, four-year, after-school and full-time summer program serving students from the summer before 6th grade until the summer before 9th grade. Pathfinder students attend New Haven public and parochial schools and want enrichment above and beyond what their schools already offer.

Pathfinder provides a tuition-free, four-year program of comprehensive, rigorous academic preparation and high school options counseling to high potential middle school students from New Haven public and parochial schools.

Pathfinder is also a workshop in teacher education for high school and college students who serve as teaching fellows assisting professional teaching faculty, teaching non-core academic classes, and serving as mentors to students.

Pathfinder prepares students with the academic confidence, knowledges, and skills required for academic success at the highest caliber college preparatory high schools and high school programs.

At the Pathfinder Program...

it is cool to be smart!
teachers are passionate about their subjects and excited to work with the students!
four square is a big deal!
science is hands-on and Shakespeare comes alive!

Summer Program

5 weeks in July & August
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am–4:00pm
Hours of homework per night: 2-2.5
5th–6th grade Subjects studied: Humanities, Math, Latin, Reading/ELA, computer programming, plus enrichment classes
7th–8th grade Subjects Studied: English, Math, History, Science, SSAT prep & enrichment classes
Summer Fun Stuff: field trips, extracurricular activities, surprises, celebrations

After-School Program

January - May
6th – 8th grade: Thursdays, 4:15pm–5:50 pm
Hours of homework per week: 1-5
5th–6th grade Subjects studied: Humanities, Math, Latin, Reading/ELA, computer programming, plus enrichment classes
Subjects studied: math, creative writing, chemistry, robots, computer programming, SSAT prep

Who are Pathfinder Students?

The program serves students who currently attend and have demonstrated success in New Haven public and parochial schools.

Students who enjoy Pathfinder are

motivated to do well in school and proud of their grades;
kind and considerate to their classmates and teachers;
curious about lots of different things; and
very interested in going to college.

Additionally, most of our students are

would-be first-generation college students;
from underrepresented minority groups;
come from families that speak languages other than English at home;
immigrants or first-generation Americans; or
students whose families qualify for free or reduced lunch at school.

Teaching Fellows

Pathfinder offers a limited number of paid Teaching Fellowships each year. Teaching Fellows are expected to work full time for six weeks in support of our Summer Program.

These positions are intended for college students who are considering entering the field of education. Hopkins School students entering their Senior year with a proven track record as a volunteer in the School Year program may also be considered.

Pathfinder Alumni and New Haven Promise Recipients are encouraged to apply.

Check back in January 2025 to learn more about applying for a Summer 2025 fellowship.

Meet Our Team

List of 5 members.

Errol Saunders II

Executive Director of Pathfinder / History

Read Bio

A Few Favorites (Then and Now)

In 6th Grade:	Now:
Musician: Boyz II Men	Musician: Lizzo
Athlete: Dominique Dawes	Athlete: Simon Biles
Book: Wayside School is Falling Down	Book: Despite the Best Intentions
Cartoon: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles	Cartoon: Pinky and the Brain
Movie: Space Jam (1996)	Movie: Clue (1985)

What I do with Pathfinder:

As the Executive Director, my job is to think about the big picture of the program and figure out how I can help everyone else do what they need in order to make the program work. Sometimes that involves raising money to make sure that the program is fully funded; other times that involves meeting with cool people around Greater New Haven who are really interested in education. When I’m really lucky, I get to do Admissions interviews, substitute teach a Pathfinder class, talk about high schools or colleges with Pathfinder families, or play four square with the Pathfinder Students during the summer recesses.

My favorite memory from Middle School:

When I was in eighth grade, my friend’s dad took me and her to a fancy Hollywood movie premier! It was the coolest: I got dressed up really nicely, rode in a fancy convertible car to the fanciest part of Los Angeles, saw the movie in a theater with really comfortable seats, and got to hob-nob with Hollywood types for like an hour afterwards. I had never been to such a glamorous party in my whole life. I decided then and there that I would have a job that let me where interesting bow ties whenever I wanted to.

What I do with my free time:

In my free time, I like to ride my bike. During the spring and summer, I try to ride my bike along the water from New Haven to the bird sanctuary on the shore in West Haven. When I’m there, I set up a chair on the beach and take pictures of the cool blues of the harbor or the ships entering and exiting the breakwaters. I also love the feeling of the wind in my face as I am riding fast on the Farmington Canal Trail on a brisk fall day with all the oranges, yellows, and reds rushing past me. Sometimes when I am especially adventurous, I ride my bike all the way to Wentworth’s Ice Cream near Sleeping Giant, have a single scoop cone on the picnic tables, and ride back to my apartment in New Haven.

Dante Brito, Jr.

Pathfinder Dean of Students / Athletic Department Associate / English

203-397-1001 x647

Read Bio

A Few Favorites (Then and Now)

In 6th Grade:	Now:
Musician: 50 Cent	Musician: Drake
Athlete: Allen Iverson (Basketball)	Athlete: Tyrann Mathieu (Football)
Book: The Outsiders	Book: The Color of Water
Cartoon: Dragon Ball Z	Cartoon: Avatar Last Air Bender
Movie: The Matrix (1999)	Movie: Batman Dark Knight (2008)

What I do with Pathfinder:

I am fortunate enough to work with Pathfinder during the school year and during the summer! During the school year, I get to help and inform families about the high school choices they have. The choices of schools that we discuss range from public school to independent boarding schools, depending on the child. We want to make the best decision for the student, with the understanding that everyone is different.

During the summer I am the Dean of Students, so I am the person responsible for making sure that you’re having a positive experience, in addition to you are following the rules. In other words, I am the person who greets you every morning with a smile and high-five but who is also the disciplinarian.

My favorite memory from Middle School:

My middle school years were some of my best memories still to this day. Middle school was a great time for me to meet people and really figure out more about myself as a young person. My greatest memory from that time was when I tried out for the basketball team as a sixth-grader. I was so nervous, but also confident. I understood that not many, if any sixth graders made the team, so I simply just put forth my best effort and I made the team! Not only did I make the team I started in our first game!

What I do with my free time:

In my free time, I enjoy working out and coaching sports. Fitness and sports have been huge for me in my development and something that I love to do when I have free time. I also like playing my gaming system currently a Playstation 5 guy but may be going back to Xbox soon with the Series X coming out. The games that I enjoy most are Madden (Football), Fifa (Soccer), and 2K (Basketball). With all that being said, I simply love and appreciate being able to lay around and just be lazy with no planned activity.

Jennifer Geel

Pathfinder Director of Admissions & Operations / Science

203.397.1001 x790

Read Bio

A Few Favorites (Then and Now)

In 6th Grade:	Now:
Musician: Prince	Musician: Eddie Vedder
Athlete: Terry Fox	Athlete: Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Magazine: Tiger Beat	Magazine: Bed Bath and Beyond Catalog
Food: Pasta	Food: Stone Pot Bibimbap
Movie: Footloose (1984)	Movie: Lion King (1994) & Finding Nemo (2003)

What I do with Pathfinder:

As the Director of Operations I am in charge of all of the behind the scenes details of Pathfinder; important things like busses, technology and snacks! I work to organize all the pieces that are required to get students to Hopkins and in their classrooms with great teachers and tutors. I love my job because I get to solve lots of puzzles and work with families to make Pathfinder run more efficiently. My hope is that each year the process runs more smoothly than the last.

My favorite memory from Middle School:

I looked forward to Summer Camp at the YMCA all year long. Many of the friends I made there I still have today. We still talk about the four square battles and who was crushing on who even though many of us have kids of our own now. Every other Thursday we had a “sleepover.” We made campfires, told stories and slept on the ground in sleeping bags. I remember the feeling of the hard ground under my sleeping bag, being surprised by how cold it gets at night and waking up feeling grimy and covered in morning dew. The Friday following a sleepover was always a half day. Our counselors were smart; they knew we’d be exhausted and cranky. I would get off the bus the next day and go right to bed!

What I do with my free time:

I enjoy spending my free time with my family. My children and step children are ages 12, 14, 17, and 18. I love watching them play sports but I also love when we all have a weekend off and can go hiking or spend time cooking dinner together. During the summer we enjoy going on “road trips” and have traveled as far south as Key West and as far north as Montreal together in the car. When the kids are busy my husband and I are working on fixing up our house - it needs a lot of work!

Joshua Young

Head Advisor Class of 2026 / Science / Pathfinder Co-Director of Summer Program

203.397.1001 x606
Keely Garden

Pathfinder Co-Director of Summer Program

FAQs

General FAQs

List of 8 items.

Who is eligible to apply for the Pathfinder Program?
Read More
Students who attend New Haven Public Schools, Choice Schools, and parochial schools are eligible to apply for admission to the program regardless of the city or town that they
live in.
When should I apply to the Pathfinder Program?
Read More
Students apply to the program in the fall of their 5th grade year. The application materials are usually online by the third week in October and are due in January. Consult the admissions page for more detailed information.
What kind of commitment is the Pathfinder Program?
Read More
Upon admission, Pathfinder families commit to attending the program for four years, from the summer after their fifth grade year to the summer after their 8th grade year. Those years include attendance during both the summer and afterschool programs.
Does the Pathfinder Program make it easier for my child to get into Hopkins School?
Read More
The Pathfinder Program is hosted by Hopkins School but is NOT a direct pipeline into admissions at Hopkins. However, given the quality instruction that students receive at the Pathfinder Program and the relationships that they develop with their Pathfinder teachers, the program staff are often able to give important insights to the Hopkins
Admissions Committee when appropriate.
Can my child participate in only one part of the program: after school only or summer only?
Read More
Pathfinder families make a commitment to both the after school program AND the summer program.
When should we take our family’s summer vacation?
Read More
You can always safely plan your family’s vacation to take place after the first weekend in August. The Pathfinder summer program is five weeks long. It usually begins the week containing the Independence Day holiday and goes five weeks. Given how the calendar works, most years the program ends the last week of July or the first week of August.
How will the program communicate with me?
Read More
The program does most of its communication with families by email to the family’s email account(s). Occasionally, the program staff will reach out to individual families by phone. Students that matriculate into the program receive a path.hopkins.edu email account. Program staff only email students at their path.hopkins.edu email address and expects students to use that address when emailing with Pathfinder teachers and staff.
What is expected of my child if they are accepted and attend the program?
Read More
- Students who are admitted to the program are expected to attend all of the after school program and summer sessions. Students should expect to do half an hour of homework for each class during the after school program and summer program.
- Students who miss more than two unexcused days will be missed from the program. Furthermore, the program considers three unexcused tardies are considered equivalent to one day of absence.

After School Program

List of 3 items.

When does the After School Program begin?
Read More
The after school program generally begins mid-January, after both Hopkins School and New Haven Public Schools have resumed instruction after the winter break.
Does the After School Program Provide transportation?
Read More
The after school program provides transportation to Hopkins School from students’ schools within the City of New Haven. Families are responsible for providing transportation for students to get home after the program ends.
What are my child’s responsibilities during the After School Program?
Read More
Students are responsible for attending the after school program each week that it is scheduled, completing all assignments for their courses, and actively participating in classes.

Admissions

List of 5 items.

When is my child eligible to apply to Pathfinder?
Read More
Children are eligible to apply to Pathfinder in the fall of their 5th grade year. Applications are generally due in January. For more information, please consult the Admissions section of this website.
What is the admissions process?
Read More
To apply, students and their families must fill out the online application, obtain two teacher recommendations, and have their transcript and test scores sent to the Pathfinder office. Once materials are received and evaluated, some students will be
invited to an interview with a Pathfinder staff member. Final application evaluations are made after all invited applicants have been interviewed.
How does my child apply to the Pathfinder program?
Read More
Please consult the Admissions section of this website for detailed information applying to the program.
When will I be notified about the admissions decision?
Read More
Students and families are generally notified about their Pathfinder admissions decision in early March.
My child was placed on the waitlist. Now what?
Read More
You must confirm that you would like your child to stay on the waitlist. Then, the program will contact you if a spot should open up.

Summer Program

List of 6 items.

Is Pathfinder a summer camp?
Read More
Part of the Pathfinder program takes place over the summer, but it is NOT summer camp. In fact, Pathfinder students commit to taking classes over the school year and during the summer.
Does the program provide transportation during the summer?
Read More
During the summer, the program provides bus transportation to Hopkins School for students who live within the City of New Haven. Pathfinder students who do not live in New Haven but who do live nearby can coordinate with the program staff to see if there is a convenient bus stop for them within the city.
Does Pathfinder provide meals for my child?
Read More
Pathfinder does not provide breakfast or lunch. We ask students to come to Pathfinder having already eaten something for breakfast and with a bag lunch that does not include anything that needs to be warmed. We do have refrigerators.
What school supplies does my child need to buy for the summer program?
Read More
None. Pathfinder provides students with all supplies and resources needed for success.
Will my child be assigned homework?
Read More
Yes, your child will generally be assigned homework in each class each day. Homework provides independent practice that is crucial to skill development. To help students manage their workload and get critical questions answered, there is a 45 minute study hall every afternoon. Students use this time to work on assignments and receive one-on-one assistance if they need it.
Is there any outside time during the Pathfinder day?
Read More
Yes. There are two twenty-minute recess periods: one in the morning and one either before or after lunch, depending on your student’s grade.

“Through Pathfinder, kids become more grounded in their dreams and have a clearer vision of how they want to go about achieving those dreams.”

~ Pete Butler, Community Dean, Elm City College Prep
“Pathfinder changed the way I interact with people. I was real shy before. After going to Pathfinder and feeling comfortable with my abilities, I started to blossom and think of myself as smart.”

~ Darrell, Pathfinder alumnus, student at Cheshire Academy

read more testimonials...
“I saw the lightbulb go on the first day my son was there and surrounded by all those folks.”

~ Darrell Draughn, parent
“If you have the chance to change, do it.”

~ J’Nisha, Pathfinder Alumna, student at Lafayette College
“Pathfinder gave me my lifelong friends.”

~ Matt, Pathfinder alumnus, student at Harvard
“People think Middle School’s not important, but what you do now really sets you up for how your life’s going to be.”

~ J’Nisha, Pathfinder Alumna, student at Lafayette College
“Teaching at Pathfinder gave me happiness.”

~ Matt, Pathfinder alumnus, student at Harvard
“It definitely was the switch that turned my life into one of academic rigor.”

~ Matt, Pathfinder alumnus, student at Harvard
“Even though it was a very rigorous program, they also had fun. My son actually looked forward to going.”

~ Doreen Spence, parent
“Every kid who attends is a success story!”

~ Pete Butler, Community Dean, Elm City College Prep
“It helped me interact with my teachers, ask for more help, or ask for more work if I needed it.”

~Maria, Pathfinder Alumna, student at Albertus Magnus College
“Pathfinder changes lives, without a doubt.”

~ Darrell Draughn, parent
“It makes me feel wonderful that they have more options available to them and more doors open.”

~ Angelina Dusa, Counselor, John S. Martinez School
“Pathfinder became a match made in heaven for my son. Not only did he excel, but all these different prep schools wanted him. I’m all excited because now my son is getting ready to graduate from Princeton.”

~ Odell Cohens, parent
“Pathfinder showed me we can combine academics with fun.”

~ Maria, Pathfinder Alumna, student at Albertus Magnus College
“What drives me is the joy of seeing young people exposed to a rigorous learning environment.”

~ Julie Greenwood, New Haven Squash
“These are the kids that will truly help to change this world.”

~ Pete Butler, Community Dean, Elm City College Prep
“Locally, it’s among the best free academic programs available.”

~ Julie Greenwood, New Haven Squash
“It’s been incredible seeing that transformation of students who started the program in 7th grade and now are in high school.”

~ Sarah Crilley, Director of Graduate Support, St. Martin DePores Academy
“Pathfinder is an enrichment experience that your child truly deserves.”

~ Pete Butler, Community Dean, Elm City College Prep

1/20

986 Forest Road
New Haven, Connecticut 06515
(203) 397-1001

- Voted #1
  Best Day School
  in CT, 2024

Hopkins is a private middle school and high school for grades 7-12. Located on a campus overlooking New Haven, CT, the School takes pride in its intellectually curious students as well as its dedicated faculty and staff.

About Us

Program Background

Program Overview

At the Pathfinder Program...

Summer Program

After-School Program

Who are Pathfinder Students?

Students who enjoy Pathfinder are

Additionally, most of our students are

Teaching Fellows

Meet Our Team

List of 5 members.

Errol Saunders II

Dante Brito, Jr.

Jennifer Geel

Joshua Young

Keely Garden

FAQs

General FAQs

List of 8 items.

Who is eligible to apply for the Pathfinder Program?

When should I apply to the Pathfinder Program?

What kind of commitment is the Pathfinder Program?

Does the Pathfinder Program make it easier for my child to get into Hopkins School?

Can my child participate in only one part of the program: after school only or summer only?

When should we take our family’s summer vacation?

How will the program communicate with me?

What is expected of my child if they are accepted and attend the program?

After School Program

List of 3 items.

When does the After School Program begin?

Does the After School Program Provide transportation?

What are my child’s responsibilities during the After School Program?

Admissions

List of 5 items.

When is my child eligible to apply to Pathfinder?

What is the admissions process?

How does my child apply to the Pathfinder program?

When will I be notified about the admissions decision?

My child was placed on the waitlist. Now what?

Summer Program

List of 6 items.

Is Pathfinder a summer camp?

Does the program provide transportation during the summer?

Does Pathfinder provide meals for my child?

What school supplies does my child need to buy for the summer program?

Will my child be assigned homework?

Is there any outside time during the Pathfinder day?

“Through Pathfinder, kids become more grounded in their dreams and have a clearer vision of how they want to go about achieving those dreams.”

“Pathfinder changed the way I interact with people. I was real shy before. After going to Pathfinder and feeling comfortable with my abilities, I started to blossom and think of myself as smart.”

“I saw the lightbulb go on the first day my son was there and surrounded by all those folks.”

“If you have the chance to change, do it.”

“Pathfinder gave me my lifelong friends.”

“People think Middle School’s not important, but what you do now really sets you up for how your life’s going to be.”

“Teaching at Pathfinder gave me happiness.”

“It definitely was the switch that turned my life into one of academic rigor.”

“Even though it was a very rigorous program, they also had fun. My son actually looked forward to going.”

“Every kid who attends is a success story!”

“It helped me interact with my teachers, ask for more help, or ask for more work if I needed it.”

“Pathfinder changes lives, without a doubt.”

“It makes me feel wonderful that they have more options available to them and more doors open.”

“Pathfinder became a match made in heaven for my son. Not only did he excel, but all these different prep schools wanted him. I’m all excited because now my son is getting ready to graduate from Princeton.”

“Pathfinder showed me we can combine academics with fun.”

“What drives me is the joy of seeing young people exposed to a rigorous learning environment.”

“These are the kids that will truly help to change this world.”

“Locally, it’s among the best free academic programs available.”

“It’s been incredible seeing that transformation of students who started the program in 7th grade and now are in high school.”

“Pathfinder is an enrichment experience that your child truly deserves.”