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It's not uncommon to hear high school teachers compare the college admissions process to a race: There are hurdles, baton passes, the final stretch. But being accepted does not mean a student has crossed the finish line.

Twenty years ago, two Teach for America alumni launched a small academy with 47 kids inside a traditional public school in Houston. Today, KIPP academies are educating 58,000 kids in 20 states across the country and last week, the KIPP Foundation was awarded the third annual Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools.

Nine-year-old Alexander Garza had trouble focusing in school and a hard time making friends. As a "Human of KIPP," he shares his fourth-grade experiences for others who struggle to understand they're not alone.

Hundreds of students at KIPP University Prep gathered Friday afternoon to recite a pledge written by their peers. "I pledge to protect the innocence of all children in my world; to support efforts to end child abuse in my community; to believe a child, intervene and report if I suspect child abuse," they said in unison.

As a parent, the most important decision I've made is where my son should go to school. Looking around at the options in my neighborhood in the South Bronx, I panicked: The district schools in my zone were among the lowest-performing in the city.

A five-year study of one charter school system shows its elementary and middle school students have consistently shown strong reading and math skills.

A growing 'grit' movement is taking hold in schools. Teachers at some schools, including Kipp schools, are emphasizing the importance of character skills like persistence and resilience as being crucial parts of a child's education. Rock Center Anchor and Managing Editor Brian Williams reports.

What other organizations can learn from the KIPP network's experiments in taking time for renewal.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg studied at a private prep school, but today he's showing great interest in public schools. Three years ago he donated $100 million to New Jersey schools. Tuesday morning, he attended the opening ceremony for a new public KIPP charter school on 18th Street in San Francisco.

Newark Collegiate Academy is an oasis... In a city where almost half the students don't graduate, nearly all its kids finish, and a remarkable 95 percent of them go on to college.