Tutor Taft News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

>> 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 state's 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 cincinnati's other top schools. >> it wasn't until i peeked into a class where one of the students was reading one of his essays and he said he enjoyed a plethora of things and ...

>> there was no way i was going to send my son to taft. >> reporter: then nine years ago taft got a new principal. >> hey, let's hurry up. i don't want to hear it. don't 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? >> we're not going to let you fall through the cracks. you're going to have an "a" in that class. an "a". >> an "a". >> reporter: failure is not an option directed to the teachers, even though taft was designated a failing school he wanted to keep all the teachers...

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