It’s the parents and the teachers. It seems neither is really committed to the kids education. A good comparison is private schools. Look at the teachers and the parents. Both are committed. Also look at the discipline in private schools. There is little give and take regarding discipline. Either a student conforms or leaves. I was in private schools until I hit high school. I convinced my parents to let me go to a public high school that all my friends attended. It was a great school but I skated by for two years because I was that far ahead of them. No unions also in private schools.
From talking to people who grew up and graduated from high school in the 50’s many kids dropped out and went to work at the local factory. You can't do that anymore. If people do not have a job and are not educated they tend to commit more crimes. Are there enough jobs still out there in the trades i.e. welding, plumbing, etc. to employ the 50% or higher number of kids that are not college material? I don't know.