I went to two high schools, one very poor and one moderately wealthy. Both had audition programs in art for “advanced” classes (both music and drawing), where

I went to two high schools, one very poor and one moderately wealthy. Both had audition programs in art for “advanced” classes (both music and drawing), where students were matched with more serious training and where their bands went to competitions and drawings were entered in regional shows. I think you’re confusing “good, on track for professional” with “absolute top tier” — many students from regular schools go on to, eg, be animators at a studio or choir directors. The same split exists in math: - advanced classes you have to place into exist at most schools, eg AP calculus - but to be the “absolute top tier”, you’re talking about STEM schools and private mentoring programs You need the first for engineers, scientists, etc — even if they’re not going to be Terry Tao.