Last year, the New York City Department of Education raised the standards for passing the 8th grade and ended social promotion--the practice of letting failing students matriculate to keep them with their peers. Radio Rookie AJ Frazier has always just skated by, so this meant he needed to change his ways. AJ reports on how the higher standards impact his work ethic and explores the shady line between getting promoted or being left behind.

Radio Rookie Rocky Tayeh reports on the City Council's latest effort to improve education in NYC – a hearing held especially for students to testify about the state of their schools.

Kaddeem Wright enjoys reading philosophy and arguing with his friends about history and politics. With his smarts and innate curiosity about the world, Kaddeem seems like a kid who should thrive in school, but he's not. Instead he feels unmotivated and rarely does his homework. He scrapes by with a C average, something that frustrates him and his mom. Like a lot of kids, especially young black males in New York City, Kaddeem is not reaching his potential. He wants to know to why he and so many of his friends are barely getting by, uninspired by school or thoughts of the future.

Keith Harris had a secret when he started school in the U.S. for the first time: he didn't know how to read and write. After falling through the cracks of the educational system in Guyana, he decided to confide in his 9th grade English teacher at his Brooklyn high school. Now a successful and literate high school senior, Keith's story takes us into his journey to literacy.

During the Berlin Philharmoniker’s 17 day stint in New York this month, the orchestra is working with several of the city’s “high brow” cultural institutions – Carnegie Hall, MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Department of Education. Reporter Veralyn Williams spent the last 3 weeks following a group of high school students as they prepare to perform this weekend with members of the Berlin Philharmoniker. They’re created an original work inspired by Stravinsky’s "The Rite of Spring."

Ten years ago my high school was rated one of the twelve most dangerous in New York City. Back when I was in junior high I heard it was still like that, that people got stabbed, jumped, even killed. It sounded more like I was going to jail instead of a school. Now that I graduated I see the school as a safer place. But I wasn’t sure if the school actually was safer or because I’m older now I know how to defend myself.

Allison spends her time in two very different Brooklyn neighborhoods: Brooklyn Heights where she works and goes to school, and Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy) where she lives with her family and gets teased for "talking white."

Anthony's sixth grade teacher made an extraordinary impact on his life. Ms. Figueroa pushed Anthony in class and showed him that she truly cared. In the summer after his sixth grade year, she died suddenly from a brain aneurysm. More than two years later, Anthony is still dealing with his grief over her loss.

When Jaimita got bumped up into a more advanced high school program, all the books were brand new and the students listened politely to each other. Then, because of overcrowding, she got dropped back into the relative chaos of mainstream classes. In the course of reporting on it, Jaimita surprises herself and her principal.

Jamita was mentored by Will Morton.

A year and a half ago, I dropped out of school. The teachers didn't have enough books to give us, there were too many kids in classes, and some teachers gave me a hard time. Sometimes we'd come out fighting, so to avoid that situation, I left school.