General Education 2012

As the long-awaited moment of graduation approaches, Levi Collins (Chris Sheffield) finds himself at a critical juncture in his high school journey, shaped by the unwavering expectations of his father, Rich (Larry Miller). With a full scholarship to Forest Wood in one hand and a tempting offer from Arizona State University in the other, Levi feels the weight of his family’s tradition pulling him toward a predetermined path. However, everything takes a drastic turn the night before his graduation when he learns that his Science grade has taken a nosedive, leaving him in a state of panic.

In a frantic attempt to keep this unfortunate news under wraps from his father, Levi devises a plan to bribe his Science teacher, Ms. Bradford (Elaine Hendrix), offering her tickets to his sister’s avant-garde mime performance. When this fails spectacularly, he scrambles to the school principal in a desperate effort to secure his graduation rights. With the help of his loyal friend, Charles (Skylan Brooks), Levi hatches a plan to fool the principal, ultimately gaining the go-ahead to participate in the ceremony and stave off his father’s disappointment.

Just when he thinks that he might escape unscathed, a pivotal revelation from his counselor, Bebe (Mercedes Masöhn), crushes his hopes: due to his unsatisfactory Science performance, he is, in fact, not eligible to graduate. Refusing to let this setback define him, Levi enters a grueling 10-day summer school session, which just so happens to be led by Ms. Bradford—a fact that complicates things. This decision means he has to forfeit a trip to Mexico with his friends, Sean and Harvey.

In the midst of this challenging academic endeavor, he encounters Katie (Maiara Walsh), who’s found herself in a similar situation thanks to her mother’s relentless pressure to complete the course. Complications arise with Samuel Goldstein (Federico Dordei), who becomes a nuisance until Levi takes matters into his own hands during a tetherball match. Feeling buoyed by this victory, he asks Katie out, and they attend his sister’s mime show together, during which a shocking twist reveals that Ms. Bradford is actually Katie’s mother.

To maintain a semblance of normalcy with his parents, Levi concocts a humorous story about a summer job at a local rice cake factory. His father remains blissfully unaware of Levi’s true motivations, insisting on tennis practice despite the disruptions to Levi’s academic life. Meanwhile, Ms. Bradford keeps pressing him about an upcoming final project, which Levi has yet to decide upon. That’s when Shady Nick, a friend passionate about alternative energy, introduces him to an inspiring video online. Fueled by Nick’s excitement, Levi resolves to modify his Mercedes to run on vegetable oil as an eco-friendly project. Initially skeptical, Sampson, Nick’s handy mechanic buddy, eventually joins the effort. Their hard work pays off when the project shines, giving Levi the academic topic he desperately needed. Unfortunately, his father’s insistence on tennis practice forces him to skip school again, leading to his expulsion from the class.

The situation escalates when Samuel, their rival on the tennis court, is implicated in the theft of Levi’s beloved car. Anguished and furious, Levi mistakenly attacks what he believes to be Samuel’s vehicle, only to learn it’s actually Officer Bob’s, which lands him in serious trouble. His mother arrives to rescue him, listening patiently as Levi vents his frustrations about the pressures of tennis and yearning for independence. She recounts their family’s legacy of farming, encouraging him to break free from tradition and follow his dreams. Emboldened by her wisdom, Levi enlists Charles, Katie, and Nick to reclaim his car and get it back in time for Ms. Bradford’s class review.

As the time to confront his father about his decision looms, Levi encounters resistance. Nevertheless, he takes charge, arriving at school just in time to present his groundbreaking project to Ms. Bradford. After a heartfelt discussion with her, his father’s perspective shifts, leading Ms. Bradford to evaluate Levi’s work more closely. Ultimately, Levi triumphs, passing the class and liberating himself from the expectations that have burdened him. With a newfound clarity, he opts to abandon tennis in pursuit of his aspirations at Arizona State University. In a sweet turn of events, Katie expresses her desire to stay for the entire summer, filling Levi with optimism for what lies ahead.