Meet some of the characters and schools featured in the program.

Why we chose Ohio to best represent the American educational experience.

Call it rural blight, or simply the impact of globalization - job opportunities are fast disappearing in rural Ohio. Once home to heavy industry, agriculture and mining, the Appalachian area of the state has seen many of these sectors shut down or move offshore in recent years. And where there are opportunities, an education beyond high school is often required. That's a challenge in a region with a high school completion rate of just 68 percent.