Administrators at Highland Park High School in Topeka, Kan., sneak seven adults into the student body to gain unique access and perspectives on the issues faced by today's teens.
The undercover adults make inroads with at-risk students struggling to beat the odds; two new participants are unsure if they will make any connections at the school.
After two months at Highland Park High School, the undercover adults become closer to students battling major life struggles, while a new undercover student named Gloria replaces Kourtnei.
Students and participants stand in the spotlight when the school hosts a student-led talent show, but the "Showtime at the Apollo" theme has everyone scared of getting booed off the stage.
In their attempt to uncover the barriers that stand in the way of Highland Park's success, the undercover adults learn that the students they have made connections with are caught in cycles of poverty, crime and troubled home lives.
As the end of the school year approaches, students are suspicious of who the participants are, while social media fights circulate throughout the school.
With a few weeks left until the end of the semester and the social experiment, the participants help students at Highland Park High School prepare for and go to prom.
The school year comes to an end; the undercover adults reveal their true identities to the students of Highland Park High School and report back to the administrators what they learned about life in high school today.