- Racial and ethnic disparities: The film highlights the sharp racial and ethnic divisions within the school, with students of different backgrounds often forming cliques and rarely mixing outside of their groups.
- Socioeconomic disparities: There are significant differences in socioeconomic status among the students, with some students coming from affluent families while others come from impoverished homes.
- Academic achievement gap: There is a marked achievement gap between students of different ethnic backgrounds, with white students generally outperforming black and Latino students.
- Unequal access to educational opportunities: Students from wealthier families have greater access to educational opportunities, such as private tutors and college preparatory programs, while students from poorer families may lack these resources.
- Bias and discrimination: The film also highlights instances of bias and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, with students from minority groups often facing unfair treatment from their peers and teachers.