With less than half of British Columbian aboriginal students graduating high school, one Vancouver teacher may have discovered the secret formula for making the grade.

First Nations student Lawrence Bolan has high hopes for his senior year. He's going to try out for the basketball team, and he's become passionate about math.

"I love how you get one big equation, a whole bunch of numbers, a whole bunch of alphabets, and it comes down to one answer," Bolan said.

Bolan's interest has grown with the help of a program spearheaded by Britannia High School math teacher Vicki Vidas. Vidas launched the program with the help of the Pacific Institute of Mathematical Sciences because she was disheartened by the small number of First Nations students advancing in Math. She offers a strong incentive for kids to get started - money.

Three times a week, Vidas' students receive intensive help with senior Math - not to mention food, and $50 per week.

"It is just so rewarding," Vidas said. "To see these children reach that level, and see them gain that confidence and just see them blossom, it is just a feeling I can't describe."

Vidas was inspired by her own experiences with racism, and some very worrying statistics. In British Columbia, only 47 per cent of First Nations student graduate high school. In Vancouver, that number drops to 23 per cent.

But Vidas' hard work paid off. For the first time in Britannia's history, an aboriginal student graduated in June with the academic Math 12.

When word spread about the success at Britannia, the federal government gave the program a $100,000 grant. This fall, it's expanding to another high school in Vancouver, Windermere Secondary.

"I think we have perhaps turned a corner," Vidas said. "Hopefully, more schools will come on board and really then begin to make a difference for aboriginal education."

The program is even going international. With help from Education Without Borders, Dr. Rahael Jalan is taking the program to an impoverished township in South Africa.

"Absolutely wonderful," Jalan said. "I really think education is a gift. And that gift was given to me, and I believe that I have to share it with others."

It's a gift that has allowed students like Lawrence Bolan to take aim and make it.

"I want to make something of my life, and go further," Bolan said. "To overcome all the challenges, and have a good life."

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Mi-Jung Lee