It’s not always the teacher. I attended a grade school where the teachers favored separating the gifted. This was abolished because parents insisted their child was as gifted as the next.
Back when I was in HS, we were structured as a “ Go to the Head of the Class” game. Best students in front rows. It was a competition every week with each test. Never made it to seat one but was in the front row a couple of times.
Can’t imagine that happening today.