Last week, we reported on the high-stakes and often convoluted admissions process Philadelphia's eighth graders navigate to get into high school. We didn't realize exactly how convoluted this process can get.

The things now being asked of Philadelphia's middle schoolers when they apply to high school — not just getting good grades and taking standardized tests, but writing essays and scheduling interviews — bear a striking resemblance to the college application process.

"I felt very strongly about this store and its place in the neighborhood. I have the means to help, and it's as secure an investment as any nowadays, short of hiding [your money] under your mattress."

CEO Jurate Krokys describes her teachers as "100 percent committed" — to their students and to their ideals. When they approached her about calling out gay, she knew it really mattered to them. "They said, 'This is a human rights issue, one that I am willing to take a risk for."

It's Friday afternoon, and Marc Brasof's ninth-graders are snapping their fingers and drumming on their desks. It's not pre-weekend antsiness; they're showing whether they agree (snap) or disagree (drum roll) with a classmate about the juvenile death penalty.