Students from across the city head to Brooklyn to celebrate their hard work and achievements ahead of state exams.

More than four thousand Success Academy students from 24 elementary schools across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx gathered at Barclays Center Friday morning for a pep rally. The students with the charter school network cheered and danced as part of the "Slam The Exam" event.

Students at Success Academy are primarily low-income children who are admitted by random lottery.

Five students were honored at Friday's event for their hard work and exceptional growth. 

Organizers say the goal of the pep rally is to motivate students before they take state-wide standardized tests.

"They have this entire community behind them, supporting them, they have students who are doing the same work that they are doing and they're working towards a common goal; and that we really are excited for them to show the world what they are capable of," said Regina Loftus, Principal.

Students in New York State are scheduled to take the English Language Arts state exams next week. Three weeks later, they'll take the state math exams.