You are partly correct, but bad schools definitely exist. My neighborhood elementary was definitively bad. Underfunded, no PTA engagement, truancy, low scores o

You are partly correct, but bad schools definitely exist. My neighborhood elementary was definitively bad. Underfunded, no PTA engagement, truancy, low scores on everything. It was largely due demographics as the neighborhood aged, fewer kids were around, they tried to attract out of district kids and became a dumping ground. Eventually when the neighborhood demographics changed back to families, instead of fleeing to private schools the parents actually just put in some work, rebuilt the community and within a few years it was turned around. The downside being that now parents are rushing in to get into what is now a good district and home prices skyrocketed. I agree that the difference between an ok school and a "top" school really isn't that much. Rankings are based on test scores, graduation rates and such which almost certainly select for good students more than good schools. When parents push their kids to certain schools, topping the rankings becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I can't find the study, but I had read a while back that getting accepted to top colleges was a better indicator of future success than actually attending.