See "Bell Curve". In 1900 the schools used to pick maybe 15% of the brights, now - maybe 80-85% [if half of them go through the public schools, then 15-20% overall failure to pick rate becomes 30-40% in public schools, ascribing all the failures there]. And that would mean that even the public schools do manage to pick 60-70% of the brights despite ritalin. 60-70% is an abominable failure - what is needed is 95%, and 99% would be still better.
Whether they "pick" them or not (I guess I'd better read The Bell Curve !), they not only do very little for them, they drug them and indoctrinate them. And I'm suspicious about the increase. Only 1% of special education funds are devoted to the gifted, a lesser percentage than in years past. So - more kids splitting a smaller percentage means zip.
Let me tell you one little story. My kid was tested because she was "disorganized" in her advanced reading class. Most professionals should recognize this as one indicator of high intelligence, but they choose to call it a LD. The IQ tests indicated my (then) 9yo was reading, comprehending, and had spatial abilities of a grade 16 level. So what did they want to do ? Pull her out of advanced reading, put her in special ed, give her Ritalin, and 30 minutes a day of "remedial" work. Remedial in what, I asked. They didn't have a specific curriculum in mind, but they were adamant that she could not stay in her advanced reading class. I fought that battle and "won" for 2 years - they (teachers, administrators and some kids) made her life miserable in class. I decided I needed to homeschool, and she's thrived ever since.
So - my point is, they're identifying the bright kids, and attempting to level them down.