sharpstown high school was one of those four schools. we used to do focus groups on the kids who dropped out. we'd ask, "why did you drop out?" i was just shocked when i heard more and more about, "school's not interesting, it's not challenging, it's not engaging. they don't care about me there." and that's the part that we can fix. and so we started making a program called apollo 20. >> i want to get started by telling you a little bit about apollo. it is called the apollo 20 because we started off with four high schools and then we had some middle schools and we just included elementary schools last year, which makes 20 schools. we have five tenets. human capital-- that means to have a highly effective teacher and principal in every school. >> we started making some changes and holding people accountable. >> increased time on task. and that is, we have a week that we come in earlier... >> we ended up adding an hour to the school day. we added two weeks to the school year. >> high dosage of tutoring. it's great service to our students.

(phone rings) >> sharpstown high school. this is mindy. how may i assist you? >> we're gonna have kids drop out. there's no way around it. but hopefully, they go somewhere else and we know where they went to. that's the goal. this is the room where we keep the files for the students who are leaving, or who have left sharpstown. when a student leaves, i get a folder, and my job is to find proof that the student, where they are, get an acceptable code for the state so that they don't become a dropout. >> why is it important for you to have the numbers in order? >> the state requires it, our whole rating system for being acceptable as a school depends on it, which means our money. it's all about money, it's all about being an acceptable school. >> unfortunately, the education system has sort of created this culture of wanting to make itself look good-- and i think that's all well and good, but any time performance is judged on the numbers you give me, we know that we need to double check those numbers. when we look at sharpstown high school, there was an expectati

sharpstown high school in houston, texas.f dropping out, including this young man whose name is lawrence. >> you don't even appreciate what i do for you. >> i think everybody -- >> i have never done you that way. i never turned my back on you. okay. so that's why you do it? okay. so do you want to withdraw? because you obviously don't want to be here. >> i don't want to be here. >> because you are disrespectful and rude. and we cannot -- >> i don't want to take this test. you keep force it like i have to take this test. >> i said you don't have to take the test. i just don't think he can do school. he is disrespectful and rude to everybody. after everything i have done for him and support i have given him, it pisses me off. >> the principal is joining us this morning and is in houston. in new york is the producer of that frontline piece, prank. nice to have you with us. we certainly appreciate it. frank, i'm going to start with you before i get to the principal of sharpstown high school. he was talking about a test. the teach

sharpstown high school has often been thought of as a dropout factory. but teachers and administrators are trying to change that. here's an excerpt about one of the former dropouts who's profiled. 18-year-old marco is dealing with a complicated family situation that jeopardizes his chances. >> i was learning everything just... like my whole life changed. just seeing my mom cry made me not want to go to school anymore and help me pay had the bills and help my little sister stay in school. i dropped out for a whole semester. i was 17 at the time, 16. i was like working 40 hours or more a week which i still do. i didn't get out until 3:00 in the morning, 2:00 in the morning got home around 4:00 or 5:00 and sleep like three or four hours and i don't know how i got used to that life. i just had to suck it up. my mother she cared. she used to tell me you're going to go back to school one day, right? i was like yes mom i have to graduate from high school no matter what. my brother didn't do it and i don't want to be cutting grass like him. one day i was coming