"Pep rally rewards achievers, encourages at-risk kids to succeed in school" (Dallas Morning News, 01/09/09)

Energetic kids file into the Dade Middle Learning Center auditorium. An artist paints kids' faces. A cheerleader-turned-emcee gets the crowd fired up. Students dance in their seats. It's a scene common in many middle and high schools, normally leading up to the big event: the football game.But this pep rally is about the school's stars in language arts, math and science.