This is in spite of the system, instead of because of it. Some people were going to do well regardless - because they were well-nourished as children, grew up in stable homes, etc. Most the rest are good worker-bees, or good candidates for filling the prisons (a make-work program).
> I think the biggest problem with attempts to "revolutionize" US education is that nobody has identified an actual problem it has.
I think John Gatto [1] pointed out that "Nothing of value to the individual happens by force" - maybe the quote is in one of his books. Gatto's essay on retiring, "I Quit, I Think" [2], precisely describes professional teachers' dilemma.
[1] http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/
[2] https://web.archive.org/web/20100309061700/http://www.johnta...