They're five weeks into the school year at the freshman campus. And so far teachers and administrators feel it's going well.

41 teachers are working with about 635 freshman at the new 9th grade campus in Machesney Park.

We visited a geography classroom there Monday afternoon. The teacher there, Mr. Rush, says he's already noticing better grades and says it helps having the freshman away from the influence of older students.

The Harlem School board voted to start this program last year as a way to ensure long-term success in high school. The principal says nationally, figures show the freshman year is where most failure occurs.

"We're trying to eliminate the opportunity for anyone to fall through the cracks. We're trying to create a cocoon of success if you will in having our own campus and concentrating on the needs of the freshman allows us to do that," Harlem High School Principal Joe Hazan said.

The freshman are also taking part in some high school-wide changes this year, like a 7-period day instead the old block schedule at Harlem High.

There's also been some upgrades to math text books and a requirement that all freshman take algebra.

Another reason the district opened a freshman campus was to free up needed space at Harlem High school.

There's more than 2,600 students between the new freshman campus and the high school.