Watch The Bad Kids

The Bad Kids is a thought-provoking documentary that chronicles the lives of students at Black Rock High School, a public alternative school in California's Mojave Desert where the educators have a unique approach to helping students who have fallen through the cracks. The film, directed by Keith Fulton and Lou Pepe, takes a fly-on-the-wall approach as it shadows three students over the course of a year, capturing their struggles and triumphs as they navigate their way through high school.

The film opens with an introduction to Vonda Viland, the principal of Black Rock High School. With a no-nonsense attitude and a heart of gold, Viland is a beloved figure at the school who is committed to helping her students succeed. Whether it's providing a student with a place to stay or personally driving them to a doctor's appointment, Viland goes above and beyond to support her students.

The first student we meet is Lee, a 16-year-old who has been expelled from multiple schools and struggles with anger and impulsivity. Lee is open and honest with the cameras, sharing his fears and frustrations as he attempts to turn his life around. We follow Lee as he struggles with his grades and clashes with teachers and staff, but also as he begins to form meaningful relationships with his peers and comes to realize that he does have a future.

The second student is Jennifer, a bright and determined 17-year-old who is raising a child on her own. Jennifer is determined to graduate from high school and provide a better life for herself and her daughter, but she struggles to balance schoolwork and parenting responsibilities. The cameras capture heart-wrenching moments as Jennifer falls behind in her classes and struggles to stay awake during long days at school, but also as she demonstrates incredible resilience in the face of adversity.

The final student we meet is Joey, a 17-year-old who is struggling with addiction and homelessness. Joey is candid about his struggles with drugs and alcohol, and we see him struggle to stay sober and keep up with his schoolwork. Despite the challenges he faces, Joey has a profound talent for art and expresses himself through his drawings and paintings.

Through these three students, we get a glimpse into the challenges that many students face in public schools. These students have dealt with trauma, poverty, and addiction, and have fallen through the cracks of the traditional education system. However, the educators at Black Rock High School refuse to give up on them, and work tirelessly to provide a supportive and non-judgmental environment that promotes learning and growth.

The Bad Kids is a powerful reminder that every student has potential, no matter how dire their circumstances may seem. The film is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the educators at Black Rock High School, and a call to action for those who believe in the transformative power of education.

The Bad Kids is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 75.