Steiner's film follows the students, teachers and parents of the Barbara A. Sizemore Academy, a charter school in the Englewood area of Chicago.

The film documents the school's unique methods, which rely heavily on African culture, customs and social structure.

In Englewood, a majority African-American neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, children are being dropped off at Barbara A. Sizemore Academy (BASA).

Danielle Robinson, the principal of the BASA, explains that Afrocentric education is not about hate or intolerance of other perspectives, but is about self-esteem and discovering one's roots.

On January 20, 2016, Robinson, Steiner, Terrance and Hayah visit a television morning talk show, and plead their case.

In rebuttal, Ireland, Robinson, Speller and other administrators from BASA state their position and plead that the school be allowed to stay open.

As a postscript, the end credits mention that CPS has sued to overturn the Charter School Commission's decision and has decided not to renew BASA's campus lease.

Saving Barbara Sizemore premiered at the 2016 Capital City Black Film Festival in Austin, Texas on August 27, 2016.