Molly Healy sees it every year, especially after the first report card.

"We call them 'pigpens,'" said the Lake Oswego High School counselor. "Their notebooks are exploding."

Healy and other educators say many students, especially boys, just can't seem to get organized, and it's often a huge roadblock to their academic success. "It's integrated into almost everything we talk about with kids," said Healy.

Cody Belgarde used to be a "pigpen," but with Healy's help he's cleaned up his backpack. He's also turned his grades around, from C's to A's and B's.

Belgarde said his backpack used to be a black hole. "I just took the papers I got, threw them in the backpack and they stayed in the bottom of the backpack," he said. Belgarde said in addition to the help he got getting organized, a new peer group has been just as important. "I care more and I got new friends, and they did their work and they got me motivated to do mine," said Belgarde.

Dree Warren is another example of a kid who lacked not just organizational skills, but basic motivation to achieve in school. "I would just kind of goof off, get on my cell phone, not really pay attention," said Warren.

"We were afraid that he wouldn't graduate," said Heather Hannam, Dree's mom. She said they knew her son could focus and work hard. They saw it when he organized and executed an Eagle Scout project. Hannam said they needed to find a way to turn that motivation toward his schoolwork, so they hired a life coach.

More: Tips for parents

Dr. Jay Klusky said he tries to make a personal connection with each boy.

"Many of the young guys want to be men, and you can push that button," said Dr. Klusky, who said he taught Dree how to study.

Now Warren has confidence in his academic ability, and he's looking forward to going back to school to study to be a paramedic.