Well consider that statement for a minute. Who says they are the best and by whose and what criteria? The governments?
Actually yes, the NEA says so, but my kids go to private school. The best and the brightest move away as soon as they can anyway.
"Iowa students are bringing home some of the best report cards in every subject in the latest NAEPs (National Assessments of Education Progress): Iowa ranks 6th in the nation in proportion of 4th graders with high scores in reading. *NCES, Digest of Educational Statistics 1999. Iowa ranks 8th in proportion of public school 4th graders scoring at the highest two levels in math. The proportion of Iowa 4th graders who scored at the highest two levels in math increased by 27% between 1996 and 2000. *NCES, Nation’s Report Card: Mathematics 2000. August, 2001. Iowa ranks 2nd in the nation for having the highest percentage of public school 4th graders scoring at the highest two levels in science. *NCES, Nation's Report Card: State Science 2000 Reports. November, 2001.
etc, etc