Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Compelling docu looks at academic pressures faced by teens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a vital resource for sparking discussions about the overwhelming pressures children face in the competitive academic culture, emphasizing the need to prioritize emotional and mental wellness over grades. While many find it thought-provoking and a necessary wake-up call, a minority view it as a push for lowering academic standards and a simplistic portrayal of complex issues.
- importance of wellness
- academic pressure
- need for dialogue
- various perspectives
- call to action
- emotional impact
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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?
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 :
- MPAA explanation : thematic material involving stress on adolescents
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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