I have to confess that I had absolutely no idea who "Mario" was when I showed up today at the big bash honoring the eighth graders at Village Academy Charter School for having the best math scores of any open-enrollment public school in New York City. I even made the mistake of asking a fifth grader what Mario's last name was, which drew polite sympathy from his pals for my cluelessness. But when Mr. Mario took to the podium, without an introduction, there was no question in the student section that they were staring at greatness. (I asked the same fifth grader if it would be cool for me to call the R+B star "M-Diddy," but that only seemed to annoy the young lad.)

Simply put, this was the kind of celebration you gotta love being allowed to attend. Here was this big music guy, who is also starring in the film "Freedom Writers," coming to Harlem to mix it up with a bunch of charter school students who are beating the odds academically. The girls, especially, were doing a lot of screeching, especially when Mario planted a friendly kiss on the cheek of one of their classmates.

Very quietly for the last few years, Village Academy has been building a successful middle school model which it is now replicating in Harlem. No visits to Oprah, no N.Y. Times Magazine pieces, etc. Just solid academic performance under the radar.

Today's celebration honored the eighth grade class for having 96% its students pass the New York State math test. But it was about more than that. It was no coincidence that the event was held on the eve of the long weekend honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., something noted by dignitaries like Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, and Edward Lewis, the founder of Essence Magazine and the chairman of the charter school's board. Nearly all of the school's students are black and the Village Academies are part of the unfolding portfolio of options for inner city students who had few choices in the past.

Students described leaving previous schools that were unsafe and had low academic standards. "Here everyone is my friend," said Omari Okubiwe, an eighth grader. "Dr. Kenny, thanks for creating a school where we can actually learn."

Deborah Kenny, founder and CEO, noted that the school's eighth graders came to the school "as our little babies... You've proven that it can be done, with hard work and discipline." She also thanked parents and teachers, noting that more than 1,000 teachers applied for just 10 teaching openings last year.

"These teachers are the most dedicated that I've met in my entire life," Kenny said.

PS - Mario isn't the only one-named star of stage and screen who is hanging out with charter school kids these days.