

When Christopher is challenged to a boxing match by Keach Howard, the last man he defeated, and refuses to fight, Keach beats up Dwight in an effort to make Donlan change his mind. Meanwhile, Leroy becomes a mentor to Billy Hall, a fellow dancer in Miss Grant's class in whom Leroy sees a lot of himself.
Changes abound with the start of the new school year: Bruno, with no means of funding his schooling after his father dies, is forced to drop out; Coco, Danny and Doris find out that even though her mother still lives in New York City, Julie is married and now living in Texas; new students Christopher Donlan, a dance major, and Holly Laird, a drama major, find difficulty in being accepted, most notably by their more seasoned competition, Leroy and Doris, and new vice-principal, Quentin Morloch, intends on ruling with an iron fist.