other SEC factors. "The critical factor is that private independent schools not only expect but require more of their students." as Paul has stated. They expect more, because the students have a more or less a solid foundation in the 3 Rs, compared to the public schools, where expecting more runs on the income levels and SEC factors between income groups, and within the income groups. Solutions, plenty of them, providing the solutions do not considered the SEC factors as critical and/or to be used as excuses for the failures of an education system. One of the favourite ploys by the educrats, was to questioned my parent ability via through my high standards, that I expected for my younger child. No different from my other children, except in the goal setting. Of course it does not help, when the educrats saw my child, as not having the stuff for academic learning, and more so when I focus on the fundamentals of the 3 Rs. I was looking out for her long-term future, rather than the myopic short-term goals of standard outcomes and grade levels. As my youngest improved in the 3 Rs, her social-status increase as well, and more importantly accomplishing the short-term goals of outcomes and grades. In order to get there, the setting of goals, just like the private schools (the very good ones), setting goals for the individual students to improve their weaknesses. And where the public education does a terrible job as income drops. We've covered