By 1808Delaware
Olentangy Schools is opening its doors for a special community screening of Counted Out on January 14 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Liberty High School. The event is aimed at parents, students, educators, and anyone curious about how math shapes far more than classrooms.
The documentary, directed by Vicki Abeles, takes a clear-eyed look at why math literacy has become a form of civic, economic, and even democratic power. Instead of treating math as a hurdle on the way to graduation, the film asks viewers to see it as a gateway to opportunity or, for many, a barrier that quietly decides who gets counted and who gets left behind.
What the Film Explores
Counted Out follows a mix of personal stories and expert voices, showing how fear of math, inequitable instruction, and long-standing structural barriers influence who feels welcome in the world of numbers. The film draws on the legacy of civil rights leader Bob Moses, who argued that higher-level math is essential for full participation in modern society. When only a small group is fluent in the language of data, the film argues, that group ends up with disproportionate control over decisions that affect everyone.
Students and teachers speak openly about the moments they were shut out — or welcomed in — and how those experiences shaped their confidence, their career paths, and their sense of agency.
Math and Democracy
One of the film’s strongest threads is the link between math and democratic power. Mathematician Ismar Volić explains how formulas and models lie behind voting districts, representation, and the ways political influence is distributed. Without the tools to understand these systems, the film suggests, citizens are left navigating a democracy they can’t fully see.
The documentary also shows how misinformation finds fertile ground when people don’t feel comfortable reading graphs, analyzing statistics, or questioning the numbers thrown around in political debate.
Math in Everyday Life
Algorithms run much of modern life, from online dating and social media to housing, lending, and criminal justice. Counted Out illustrates how these systems operate out of public view, and how people affected by them often don’t have the mathematical footing to question or challenge the outcomes.
The film connects this to real stakes: access to stable careers, financial security, and fair treatment. Viewers meet individuals whose lives were shaped by opaque risk scores or data-driven decisions they never saw.
How the Story is Told
The documentary moves like a mosaic, shifting between classrooms, interviews, and real-world stories. It’s less about teaching formulas and more about showing math as a tool for understanding the world. The tone is accessible, personal, and grounded in the belief that everyone is capable of mathematical thinking with the right support.
Educators, community leaders, and people directly impacted by algorithmic decisions appear throughout, giving the film its human core.
Join the Conversation
Olentangy Schools invites the community to watch the film together and take part in a conversation about how to build a more equitable future through math.
Registration is free, and advance sign-up is encouraged.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/olentangy-schools-counted-out-film-screening-tickets-1735354113869
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
