In a meritocracy you don’t care about the “average” … you’re looking for the exceptional ones.
When I worked in corporate management we would get 100+ applicants for open positions in the company. Having 10 home-schooled applicants instead of two gave us more options … because only one person was going to get hired anyway, and the home-schooled kids were the ones who stood out.
I work at Home Depot part time in CA. there are HUGE co-ops of parents sharing homeschooling of kids, these parents are teaching these kids how to plant food gardens, how to fix basic things, how to build things along with the basics of history, math, English!! The parents bring the whole class of kids into Home Depot with a list of things they need, a budget they have to spend and the kids are doing the shopping with their budget!! These kids are REALLY SMART and very polite!! ALL parents should start these co-ops EVERYWHERE and help each other!!
I have a number of homeschooled kids. And know a number more. Most are doing very well.
They stand out. But they aren’t joining the organizations that provide change.