I grew up in a blue-collar town that had one of the top school districts in Illinois when I was in school 50-60 years ago. It wasn’t flush with money. We had no learning technology: only books, pens, paper and chalkboards. We had proficient teachers. Students learned, not all at the same level, but each to his own ability. I remember some kids having some problems with reading and math, but they weren’t years behind where they should be. We had time and resources for instrumental music, industrial arts classes, business classes, and home economics. I know kids who picked up interests and skills from them that they were able to use in adult life. Classmates that I have kept up with have done well for themselves.
What changed between then and now?
There was no US Department of Education then.