Parents' Guide to

Race to Nowhere

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Compelling docu looks at academic pressures faced by teens.

Movie PG-13 2010 85 minutes
Race to Nowhere Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 13+

Based on 13 parent reviews

Kerry D.
Kerry D. Adult
April 6, 2018
age 13+

Must see for parents, educators and mature teens

Our children's physical, emotional and mental well being are so much more important than society's narrow view of them based on grades and achievements. Imagine a society where academic grades, careers and salaries didn't define us? We need a cultural shift to slow down, realize what really matters, be compassionate toward ourselves and others, and redefine success. This film wakes us up and helps that process begin.
MA11
MA11 Adult
March 28, 2018
age 12+

Great Movie

If you have children you will want to watch this movie. This movie is showing a new path for our children. Far too many children are not having a childhood and stressing over school rather than playing. Children need to have play time and down time. Not every waking moment should be about school and grades. This movie is a must see.
See all 13 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Are our high schoolers overstressed and overtaxed? In RACE TO NOWHERE, filmmakers Vicki Abeles and Jessica Congdon speak to educators, parents, tweens, and teens about the pressures they face academically and emotionally, and the physical toll these expectations exact. What results is a picture of a fractured educational system that pushes kids to become successful -- but at a cost.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (13):
Kids say: Not yet rated

If feeling queasy because of what you've watched is a measure of how good a documentary is, then Race to Nowhere definitely succeeds. If you have a high-schooler, the film will either have you second-guessing their academic and extracurricular load or patting yourself on the back if you've been careful about making sure that they're not overwhelmed. The film will certainly stir up loads of examination and debate, and rightfully so. Told in classic documentary style, it's pretty effective.

Still, there are some quibbles: Though East Coasters and Floridians are included in the mix of sources, the film is peopled heavily by Californians. Which would be fine, except the movie is questioning the nation's obsession with academic success; a more varied sample might have made a better case. And it's not clear whether the problems described in the movie are endemic in both public and private schools, and whether that makes a difference. Still, it's a compelling film that will leave both teens and parents of high school students thinking.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what high school and college have become in this country. Is it really a "race to nowhere"? Why?

  • What is this movie trying to say about the current state of education? Can the damage be undone? What resources do educators need to do their jobs more effectively?

  • Does this documentary approach its subject matter objectively, or does it have an opinion? Is it OK for a documentary to take a specific stance on the topic it's covering?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: September 10, 2010
  • On DVD or streaming: July 19, 2011
  • Directors: Jessica Congdon, Vicki Abeles
  • Studio: Reel Link Films
  • Genre: Documentary
  • Run time: 85 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: thematic material involving stress on adolescents
  • Last updated: October 8, 2022

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