Stand and Deliver: This moving, acclaimed crowd pleaser is the dynamic saga of real0life heroes determined to conquer a foe few people dare confront: the National Advanced Placement Calculus Exam.

Edward James Olmos gives a performance of fire and grit as Jaime Escalante, a math teacher at East Los Angeles' Garfield High who refuses to write off his inner0city students as losers. Escalante cajoles, pushes, threatens and inspires 18 kids who were struggling with fractions to become math whizzes.

Lean on Me: The true story of high school principal Joe Clark, who armed himself with a bullhorn and Louisville Slugger and slammed the door on losers at Eastside High in Paterson, New Jersey. Brought in to save the school, he chained the doors to keep troublemakers out and strivers in. Some parents and teachers fought him. But many kids loved him. He turned the school around and his achievement became a national triumph.