Considering these kids can’t even pass the 3rd grade in our educational system (but they get passed on anyway, I’ve seen teenagers who still can’t read), I don’t think 13th or 14th grade is going to fix it. What we probably need is to dismantle the educational system entirely and let the states handle it on their own.
I also don’t think that every kid has the same aptitude. No more one size fits all. I would consider opening up schools that actually include things like building stuff, how to construct a house, carpentry, working with metal, wiring up a house, etc. Produce students who can do working-man’s jobs, along with regular classes.
We had those kind of high schools and the Left got rid of most of them. They want every child to go on and get at least a 4 year degree for some reason.
Why not have the taxpayers pay for education through a doctorate for every American — whether they’re capable of it or not? A person who reaches the age of 25 and still needs five more years of formal education to learn even basic life skills is considered a huge success story for the education industry.