Born, not made.
Universal high school is not only a waste of money (bad enough) but it pisses off the majority of sub-90 IQ "students", the boys get violent in response, the girls get pregnant.
My grandmother taught in NYC Public for 55 years, if she were here, she would say in response to the question about how to make non-students into students - "You can't. Somebody's got to clean the subways".
Too bad grandma's not in charge.
Not everybody is prepared for advanced education, as your Grandma said, true.
The difference between a pupil and a student is that a student is truly motivated by the study and pursuit of his subject. They are nearly self guided or on their way. They have an understanding of the theory or what they pursue and an understanding of the theory of what education truly is and they understand that is is never ending. That is why Socrates said he knew nothing.
The vast majority of grade school and high school pupils are that, pupils. They have to be spoon fed material and have no self motivation to pursue anything on their own (Ido not care if they break down into study groups. That is just another way teachers waste time and evade work.). Their desire, perhaps, is to complete the course but not to go beyond the material and make use of it or improve their abilities or understanding. True education is never ending.