A pubic schrool diploma is now a participation trophy.  That happened when we decided that graduation rates were more important than quality of the graduate.  If you raise the level expected from students, they will raise to the challenge.  Everyone is capable of college level work, with very few exceptions.  It's the teachers/administrations fault for passing students who don't put in the work.  It's the parents fault they don't meet the level they should.  

Maybe we should just double the amount of money.  17k per student is just not enough I guess.......