Jaime Escalante is a mathematics teacher in a school in a hispanic neighbourhood. Convinced that his students have potential, he adopts unconventional teaching methods to try and turn gang members and no-hopers into some of the country's top algebra and calculus students.

Edward James Olmos
as Jaime A. Escalante

Lou Diamond Phillips
as Angel Guzman

Rosanna DeSoto
as Fabiola Escalante

Andy Garcia
as Dr. Ramirez

Estelle Harris
as Secretary

Mark Phelan
as Cop

Virginia Paris
as Raquel Ortega

Eliot
as Tito (as Mark Eliot)

Adelaida Alvarez
as Sexy Girl

Carmen Argenziano
as Molina