François and his fellow teachers prepare for a new year at a high school in a tough neighborhood. Armed with the best intentions, they brace themselves to not let discouragement stop them from trying to give the best education to their students. Cultures and attitudes often clash in the classroom, a microcosm of contemporary France. As amusing and inspiring as the teenaged students can be, their difficult behavior can still jeopardize any teacher's...

Frustrated by her dyslexic daughter's struggles at a failing inner-city school, Jamie Fitzpatrick tries to enroll her somewhere else. When this fails, Jamie recruits a disillusioned but caring teacher to try to fix the broken school.