"kids who are chosen to go to them are often selected by the third grade." Not really. I had a friend during elementary school and he was advised to go to the

"kids who are chosen to go to them are often selected by the third grade." Not really. I had a friend during elementary school and he was advised to go to the Hauptschule (lowest middle school). Right now he is pursuing a PhD program at one of the "elite" german engineering schools. "Wer will, der kann" (more or less "You can if you want to")