The Lottery

And the next number is…50. This is the percentage of students in low-income communities who will not graduate from high school by the time they are 18. Pulled from the enlightening documentary THE LOTTERY, this fact reflects the failures of our traditional educational system and sheds a much needed light on America's current achievement gaps directly linked to income level, and consequently, race. Fortunately, some have been lucky enough to find an alternative to this overwhelming dilemma. One answer is charter schools, which are schools that are alternatively funded, often run by non-profit organizations, and continuously delivering higher test scores and improved levels of education in their students. Regrettably, there are more applicants than there are spots. Thus, these schools must employ a lottery system in which each child's destiny is determined by the luck of the draw. Focusing specifically on Harlem, the film shares the stories of four African-American children whose parents have entered them into the lottery for Harlem Success Academy, a particularly esteemed charter school that offers inner-city children a chance at a better life. Will they be given this opportunity, or will they just have to join all of the other children in New York who must try again next year? – M.M.