Is this a problem only for smart poor kids in regions with no magnet/exam schools?
My parents moved to one of the wealthier (per-household) cities in America (not the wealthiest neighborhood; they had a professional services small business on the high end of work-for-a-living income from paying customers, and a few assistants in their employ) and my seemingly ordinary high school was one of the best neighborhood schools in the country in terms of student performance, non-crime, etc.
One could certainly raise a family in that school zone on an engineer and teacher's salary if one would forgo a big house and new car lifestyle.
My parents moved to one of the wealthier (per-household) cities in America (not the wealthiest neighborhood; they had a professional services small business on the high end of work-for-a-living income from paying customers, and a few assistants in their employ) and my seemingly ordinary high school was one of the best neighborhood schools in the country in terms of student performance, non-crime, etc.
One could certainly raise a family in that school zone on an engineer and teacher's salary if one would forgo a big house and new car lifestyle.