high school... >> this school was once referred to as a dropout factory. >> ...following four at-risk students through an entire semester at houston's sharpstown high. >> you see how mad i am? i'm shaking! >> what's going to be the breaking point is his anger. >> i have to graduate from high school, no matter what. >> he's tremendously at risk. it's a big push for him to graduate on time right now. >> i think she's been in class about five times in five weeks. >> life is life, school is school. school and life are two different things. >> if i go to college, that's a big, big step for my whole family. >> a look at the struggles... >> you turn your back on me! you don't even appreciate what i do for you! >> ...the challenges... >> this isn't the streets. he wants to press charges right now. >> ...and the triumphs... >> together we can. >> whatever it takes. >> no excuses. >> ...of "dropout nation." >> frontline is made possible by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. and by the corporation for public broadcasting. major funding is provided by the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, committed to building a more just,

we're seeing good data from sharpstown high school. we're seeing good data from somf schools. but we're not seeing in all 20 of the schools, you know, all 20 of them are not being turned around. but i think it's very early to draw broad conclusions. while all the indicators look good, i think time will be able to help us in terms of determining whether this is the answer to our dropout problems. >> have we fixed it? no, no way. but i think we're improving it. i want people to see, okay, they are obviously doing something right over there. congratulations. it's awesome. (enthusiastic applause) so while i was having a celebration with the math fellows, across the hall, marcus punched a student in his class. >> that's what i thought, man. >> go away. >> all right. >> go. go. >> didn't even hurt. >> so we don't know where marcus is? >> i'm calling. >> (on phone): hello. >> where are you? (indistinct) why? (indistinct) why? (indistinct) >> okay, i hope it was worth it. because you're done. you're done. you're done. i hope it was worth it. you're done. you're done with sharpstown, y

we know your real address is nowhere near sharpstown high school. ool and this district do not have to allow you to be on this campus. and mr. g. and everybody else is asking, why are we spending all these resources, our time, our energy, our patience, our money, our space to try to make a way for you to be successful, but we all feel like we're meeting a wall with you? >> i think school, it ain't nothing but adding on to my problems. it's a big situation right now with my son. and that situation, it's not making me happy. >> all i know about sparkle's background is what she first shared in class. she shared that she had a baby. she's from new orleans. moving from new orleans to houston after hurricane katrina was really traumatic. and then her mom died, and she lived with family. and slowly throughout the year it's become, "now i live just with friends, i sleep on their couch, i sleep on their floor." and apparently, somewhere between all of this, now her son has been taken away from her as well. even if a quarter of that is true, it's a devastating

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

high school dropouts. tonight frontline reports on what a houston high school is doing to make sure at-risk students graduate. 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 do