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Last Friday morning’s pep rally at Wilkinson Elementary School had all the crucial ingredients: cheerleaders danced, a drill team stepped, and the student body stomped, clapped, and waved signs. So who was Wilkinson’s fierce opponent? The Stanford 9, a standardized test administered to D.C. public-school students this week. The rallying cries were a little on the wonky side. “I think they don’t know we can do the Stanford 9 right!” the Ballou High School drill team chanted. “We’re on the move! Ten-five-five!” the Wilkinson cheerleaders screamed. Wilkinson’s goal is to have a 10 percent rise in students who move up to the test’s “basic” achievement level, 5 percent in “proficient,” and 5 percent in “advanced.” The rally culminated with a cheer sung to the tune of “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which suggested that better test results were just a good night’s sleep and a positive attitude away. —Robin Bingham