My own belief is that it's a combination of your C) (the subpart:) "more easily kick out struggling or problematic students" as well as kicking out students tha

My own belief is that it's a combination of your C) (the subpart:) "more easily kick out struggling or problematic students" as well as kicking out students that honestly don't want to be there because they either don't understand the importance or have been failed by society too many times and weren't given proper support to reach where their age would normally place them. (Sometimes also those like me who were far enough ahead that we spent half the lesson doing 'homework' at school in a class we didn't need to pay attention to.) With respect to this topic, I think that a more European combination might produce the desired results. * School includes more health checks (including eyesight) and nutrition assurance. * More career exposure and education * Multiple paths from about middle-school on (trade skills/college/etc?) * More aptitude and class of knowledge tests * Less teaching to 'tests'; like none. Tests should measure basic comprehension and ability.