Principal Dr. Marvin Thompson and his staff begin to their journey to transform one of the worst-performing high schools in the country, John McDonogh High, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
As the students and staff prepare for the upcoming homecoming celebration, tensions rise as the community becomes resistant to the charter organization.
The staff come together as they receive the news that one of their students is involved in a shooting while a motivational speaker enlightens the students about creating their futures.
A suicidal student reaches out Principal Thompson for help. Tempers are boiling as disagreeing community activists voice their opinions about the charter school.