Tutor Taft News Today

>> graduation rate is now 95%. >> reporter: ten years ago it was? >> 18%, 12%. >> reporter: and the school with an almost all-black student body closed the so-called racial achievement test gap. taft students outscored white students in ohio on the states graduation test in math, reading and science. now the place where so many once afraid to visit is attracting students. like kenny fouler, who transferred from one of cincinnatis other top schools. >> it wasnt until i peeked into a class where o...

>> there was no way i was going to send my son to taft. >> reporter: then nine years ago taft got a new principal. >> hey, lets hurry up. i dont want to hear it. dont talk. you must be on time. >> reporter: his name, anthony smith. and the motto he brought to taft, failure is not an option. what does failure is not an option mean? >> were not going to let you fall through the cracks. youre going to have an "a" in that class. an "a". >> an "a". >> reporter: failure is not an option directed to th...

>> its not just good enough to give an answer in math. you have to explain or articulate the answer. >> reporter: but smiths most unconventional partnership happened outside the classroom, with the hard-charging ceo of the local phone company. >> yeah, i mean, i got a motto. its go big or stay home. >> reporter: jack cassidy was so inspired by smiths determination, he put his companys name on the line. he promised free cell phones and laptops for every student who maintained a 3.3 average. fall ...