Teased, doubted, but gifted, a child's escape from a failing system all lies in the luck of the draw. Kurtis Dotson is a smart but quiet fifth grader trying to get into the top charter school in the city. With the unwavering help of his mother they apply to the school in hopes of getting away from their failing school system. Everything, from Kurt's social development to his higher education, rides in his name being called at the lottery.