10. Race to Nowhere
Site rank 2, IMDb rank 3; Overall Score = 5
Directed by Vicki Abeles and Jessica Congdon
Whether it is grades, sports or community activism, school children in America today are expected to perform. And if they are serious about their future, their performance needs to be top-notch. If they plan on getting into a good college, all aspects of their lives must be perfect. Race to Nowhere explains just what exactly does that mean and the toll it takes on them. The constant pressure and zero tolerance for mistakes make for a very unhappy childhood, yet the race continues. Still, despite all the effort these kids pour into their studies, the key skills like critical thinking and problem solving take the back seat to the need to perform.
