Schooled: Season One Trailer

Don't Call it the Badlands: The Story of Savannah Zayas

Listen 1:51
Savannah Zayas and her daughter Layla play at Cione Playground in Kensington on June 29, 2016. Savannah doesn't take Layla to parks in her own neighborhood. (Jessica Kourkounis/ For Keystone Crossroads)

Savannah Zayas and her daughter Layla play at Cione Playground in Kensington on June 29, 2016. Savannah doesn't take Layla to parks in her own neighborhood. (Jessica Kourkounis/ For Keystone Crossroads)

“Schooled” gives the insider’s story of America’s public schools, through the eyes of students, parents and educators.

We begin with Savannah Zayas, a teen mother in a struggling high school who’s determined to escape poverty by earning her diploma.  Season 1 is based on more than a year of interviews with Savannah, who’s fought to overcome horrific abuse, and avoid the problems of the world around her — a drug-infused area of Philadelphia known as “the badlands.” Her goal: to graduate high school.

Subscribe to the podcast today.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal