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You have to take an entrance test to get in.

That's why it is successful. Public schools are not allowed to pick-and-choose their students... and they are rarely allowed to get rid of those whose only interest within the building is disruption and indulging their appetites. If school attendance were not compulsory (as is espoused by the Communist Manifesto), schools would then have the power and responsibility to eject those who intentionally destroy the system for everyone.

Keep in mind that those disruptors behave that way primarily because they are rebelling against being forced to do something they have absolutely no interest in doing. That's the typical American attitude, and I don't hold it against them... but I do expect the schools to enforce proper behavior.

This is a public school and we also have a science academy in my county that requires an entrance exam. Some of the very good high schools in New York City require entrance exams.

I've always said that school leaving ages should be at 14 or 15, with kids who opt out of school going into apprenticeships, taking full-time jobs, or even taking on-line courses or college courses at junior colleges -- not in a high school setting. If kids want a diploma, let them get a GED and a college education at the same time, like my brother-in-law who dropped out of school at 16 (and drove for the Mob Omigod) and is now the vice president of a pediatric care firm. There is more than one way to skin a cat to get an education in this country; however, the almighty teachers unions don't like it. My opinion on that is if they limit kids' ability to choose what they want, they deserve all the grief they get.

All these problems connect to the fact of compulsion, in the funding of and, more importantly, attendance of government schools.

How pathetic that a republic with citizens supposedly fit for self rule accept compulsion schooling.