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Debbie Denmon reports.

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• Spruce H. Grady High School

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DALLAS — For many students, spring break means fun vacations and hanging out with friends.

Students at Dallas' H. Grady Spruce High School, though, are being asked to give all that up to study math.

The school is facing the possibility of being shut down by the state, and this year's TAKS test could change everything.

Spruce High School is the only DISD school taking this drastic step to try to drastically improve TAKS test scores. They are holding a math camp, since math is the area where students are scoring the lowest.

There's a lot riding on these Spruce High students, so they're sprucing up their math skills. But why would they volunteer to do it during spring break?

"I want to pass my TAKS and I want to keep the school open," said student Sh'vel Jackson.

By law, the Texas Education Agency can shut down Spruce High if it makes the underperforming list of Texas schools for the fifth time, so it's crunch time.

"This is the first time I think DISD is having a spring camp like this," said assistant principal Ravi Kamat. "It is all in the expectation. We're expecting students to come."

The academic hunger is here; nearly 60 students showed up on Monday and challenged others to step up.

"I just wanted to come, because I am kind of low on math," said one student.

A dozen math teachers volunteered on their spring break, too.

"If you're a teacher, you're not in it for recognition, you're not it for the money. You are in it for the smile you see on the kid's face," said math teacher Chris Jacobson.

This laid-back group effort seems to be working. These kids know they have one last shot to get their scores up and keep their school open.

Their eye is on the prize and it doesn't hurt that a few were given out.

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The laid back group effort seems to be working.

The students did well on the practice tests.

In February, there was a 50 percent increase in scores for the math portion and 70 percent improvement on English.

The TAKS test is next month, and this math camp will go on two more days as a last-ditch effort to help students pass. School leaders are hoping 100 to 200 kids come on Tuesday.

E-mail ddenmon@wfaa.com