The First Class – Movie Screening
An intimate verité film that follows students and educators at a groundbreaking new high school in Memphis. Their inspiring journey shows what learning can look like—and accomplish—when a city comes together to rethink what high school can be.
“The First Class” is a documentary that chronicles the founding class of Crosstown High in Memphis, Tennessee. This film unveils the journey of reimagining the high school experience at one of the XQ schools that aims to redefine the future of learning. It sheds light on a broader issue where each year, 3.6 million students enter high school in the United States, but less than half of those who graduate are ready for college or a career. In Memphis, only 20% of the graduates are prepared for the next phase of their lives. Crosstown High emerges as a compelling example of the positive change that can occur when a community unites to address these challenges. The documentary is directed by Lee Hirsch, known for his previous work “Bully”.
The documentary aims to not just narrate a local story but to inspire a conversation around the evolution of learning and community engagement in education. By focusing on a local school’s endeavor to redefine educational norms, it touches on a universal theme of community, education, and change.
