Nowadays they just do the levelling with drugs. Teachers have quotas. They might lose their jobs if they advance a kid and didn't properly identify Attention Deficit Disorder and other such bogus disorders. The schools get extra money for having "special needs" kids, so the incentive to drug as many as possible is very strong.

If I thought you yokels would actually investigate I'd get into the New Freedom Initiative. Passed by G.W. Bush. Drug companies are hoping to get the number of drugged kids up to 50%. Serious drugs, too. Scramble their brains and leave them mentally helpless by the time they graduate. More product for the social services industry.