The Marva Collins Story

Frustrated with the Chicago Public School System, Marva Collins convinces her husband Clarence to convert the upstairs apartment into a one room schoolhouse. She uses her life savings to start Westside Preparatory and offers tuition only what families can pay. She insists on teaching on her own terms, not relying on state controls.

On the first day six students arrive: Cindy and Patty, Collins's daughters; Eddie from her public school class; Martin, a troubled boy she recruited; Tina, brought by her mother because she cannot read; and Roxanne, another child who cannot read. They are initially unsure and anxious about reading hard books, memorizing poetry, and writing daily themes. Collins begins to set high expectations and slowly builds a sense of possibility in the classroom.

Collins abandons harsh punishment and instead praises progress, helping the unconfident Tina and the troubled Martin engage with the work. Her supportive approach gradually earns the students' trust and increases their participation. The class begins to show signs of enthusiasm for learning.

Word spreads about the small, effective classroom and more students enroll, including many labeled as learning disabled by public schools. The one room classroom gradually expands, though Collins remains focused on individualized encouragement. The atmosphere shifts toward collective effort and growth.

Collins returns to the courthouse to seek state recognition, only to discover that the necessary forms were lost. She declares she does not need recognition and plans to have her students take the hardest standardized test to prove their learning. The clerk warns that minority status could disadvantage her, but Collins refuses to accept statistics and insists on publishing the results to demonstrate progress.

A police officer who had been avoiding her for months comes to inspect the class. He is impressed by the children's advanced abilities but notes that major safety improvements are needed. Collins cannot afford the renovations, so the officer agrees to delay filing the report for several weeks to give her time to address the issues.

Eddie becomes the first student to leave when his mother pulls him out, claiming the school consumes his life. Collins feels deeply upset and questions whether she is pushing too hard. After a talk with Clarence, she receives reassurance and resolves to continue.

A reporter visits to profile the school and is surprised to learn that Collins did not handpick the students. He discovers many had previously been failing in learning disability programs and that Collins does not take federal funds. He leaves convinced that the real substance behind Westside is good old fashioned teaching.

On the day of the test, Tina arrives late, fearing either failing or having to leave Westside. Collins reassures her that she is ready to stand on her own, and the class proceeds with the exam. The moment underscores the school’s mission to empower the students.

After the testing results, a newspaper story is published that shines a light on Westside. Collins is pleased with the scores and the flood of donations and enrollment inquiries that follow. The students celebrate with a party as Collins expresses pride in their achievements.

The film closes with the narrator stating that every student tested at least five grade levels higher and many go on to excel in school. Westside Preparatory eventually moves into its own building with about 200 students and a waiting list of over 800. The story underscores the enduring impact of dedicated teaching.